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Chapter 18
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Chapter 18
My supposed date with Charles last night fell through again because he couldn't make it, saying he had a work emergency. I moved back home, feeling crushed. I got all ready for bed. The next morning, I swirled around in the lights of the charity gala as I smelled champagne. With a perfect smile, I could certainly tell Tania had gone overboard this time—there was just opulence everywhere within the ballroom, filled with the elite circles of Mexico City. I smoothed out my crimson dress, very aware of the eyes following my every move. Whispers hadn't stopped since I walked in—murmurs about Alejandro's treachery, about my highly unwelcome tenacity. Let them whisper. I was through with being intimidated. "You look ravishing," a familiar voice purred in my ear. I turned around to find Miguel drop-dead gorgeous in his fitted tux. My stupid, skipping heart managed to keep my voice cool. "Thank you. You look pretty good yourself."<Related chapters
I'm in love with my Billionaire Ex-wife Chapter 19
Chapter 19 Battle in the Boardroom The atmosphere was palpable in the boardroom when I stood at the head of the table. Perspiration underneath a well-composed exterior, heart pounding, ahead lay nothing but varieties of skepticism and hostility coming from the faces looking back at mine. I took a deep breath, and so the battle began. "Gentlemen," I began in a voice not quite bristling, as nerves throbbed, "I know what's on your minds—all these mishaps that happened lately. Let me assure you, the Antonio Group stands more stalwart than ever." A snort of derision cut me short from my left. "Stalwart?" That was Rodrigo Vega, one of the most outspoken of our board members. "If your own brother tried to sabotage the company, how can we trust anything that comes from the same Antonios?" A flash of anger, ruthlessly squelched. "Alejandro's actions were his own," I managed to say firmly. "I've put new security measures in place to ensure nothing as such ever happens again." When I c
I'm in love with my Billionaire Ex-wife Chapter 20
Chapter 20 Bang! It was almost unbelievable, cause of all the work I almost forgot about my birthday, like I've been so stressed out lately, that I couldn't even prepare anything for myself, but luckily for me , I still had people who care about me and my happiness; this was all that Charles had set up for my birthday. I mean I didn't expect this. Here I was, walking into this really beautiful, tastefully decorated room , and my heart just started swelling in appreciation. Right in front of me stood some of my dearest friends and coworkers; their faces gleamed with smiling faces and happiness for my sake. "Surprise!" they cheered, and warmth flushed all over my face. At that moment, all the stress and drama that had been in my life lately—the Antonio Group, the everlasting struggle for power, the feelings that were there lingering for Miguel; just all of it faded from my mind as I was bathed in love and affection. Sofia, my brand new, bubbly work friend, came bouncing over with
I'm in love with my Billionaire Ex-wife Chapter 21
Chapter 21 I never thought that one day I would be sitting here, wine in hand, very interested and envious about my friend's dating life, listening to the latest Sofia's escapades. sprawled on my couch in the living room and catching up after work, sharing a bottle of wine, we dined into discussions. "And he tried to impress me with his French tone when he ordered lunch," Sofia went on, the evil spark once again dancing in her eyes. "And then he asked for a 'shoe' instead of saying 'wine'. You need to have seen the waiter's face!" I couldn't help a guffaw at that. "Oh my god, that is so funny. How do you find these guys?" Sofia shrugged again, the rascal gleam flickering once more on her smile. "What to say? I got the gift of interesting men. Speaking of which, what about you, Ximena? How's this area of life working out for you?" Now my smile faltered a bit. "You know… nonexistent. Work takes up most of my time." Sofia smiled more gently now. "Hey, I understand that. But you ca
I'm in love with my Billionaire Ex-wife Chapter 22
Chapter 22 Tired, hobnailed, I must have dozed off on the couch. The next thing, the light of day burst through the room via the curtain, and my phone buzzed like a hornet. I groaned, picked it up, and took a look at the screen with just one eye. A dozen missed calls and texts. What great news. I scrolled down to read one, sent by Charles. It hovered there for a minute before I tapped it open. "Hey, can we talk about something? It's important." I heaved a deep sigh and ran my hand through tangles in my hair. The last thing I wanted now was drama, especially after last night's news about Miguel, but Charles never really texted unless it was dire. "Sure. Rosie's in an hour?" I typed back. The response came almost instantly: "See you there." An hour later, I crawled into the coffee shop booth and felt like death warmed over. Charles must have been there for some time because he was seated, preppie pin-up-like in his shirtsleeves and jeans when I arrived. His sharp, brown eyes grew
I'm in love with my Billionaire Ex-wife Chapter 23
Chapter 23 Shattered Glass, Broken Trust Bass pulsed up through the floor and into me as I wove my way around the crowded apartment. This was my colleague Jake's birthday party, and the air in the place was thick with perfume, booze, and anticipation. I moved through the masses with red wine held to my chest like a shield. "Ximena! You're here!" Jake's voice roared over the music as he scooped me up into a bear hug, nearly spilling my drink. I plastered on a smile. "I dare n't have missed it, Jake. Happy birthday!" Honestly, I'd rather be home curled up with a good book. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to contact Sofia when I tried calling her on the phone. Well, it was all part of networking, a fact of life as included in the job description, and Jake was one of the big fishes of our marketing department. So here I was, playing the role of a sociable CEO. I surveyed the room, recognizing faces from work mixed with strangers. Before me, the night stretched out with so much small ta
I'm in love with my Billionaire Ex-wife Chapter 24
Chapter 24 Peaks and Valleys And here I was, on some flight bound for some state with mountains that I had never even heard of before. Great. The plane kept going up, and my cell almost buzzed without a break. On impulse, I brought it up to take a glance, and there was a list of calls and texts I had missed from Sofia. Each one made my stomach turn. 'Please, Ximena. It wasn't what you think. Please let me explain now'. 'Call me back. I'm really scared'. 'Where are you? Charles is going nuts? I snorted and clicked over to put my phone into flight mode. Let them sweat. I had bigger fish to fry—like how in hell I was going to get out of wherever it was that I was going. "Welcome aboard our flight to Copper Canyon," the flight attendant bawled over the intercom in a super hoarse voice. The voice was just familiar; the name, too—some colossal system of canyons up in northern Mexico. Well, by the sound of it, probably as good a place as any to lose oneself for a while. I had barely
I'm in love with my Billionaire Ex-wife Chapter 25
Chapter 25 Miquel's POV I caught a glimpse of myself in the shiny elevator doors. The man staring back in my face was a stranger. Dark circles around his eyes, five o'clock shadow which by this time I just couldn't give a damn to shave off. I had looked like hell, and felt like it too. That familiar, annoying ding went off as the doors were pried open onto the top floor of Ricardo Group Headquarters. Literally, my stomach somersaulted as I stepped out. "Good morning, Mr. Ricardo," my secretary, Camila, greeted, the greeting receiving neither a flinch nor a blink in response. "You have an appointment set for 9 AM in the conference." I nodded, grunted a response that might have been thanks, and pushed on through into my office. The minute the door shut behind me, I let out a shaky sigh. Goddamn it. Another day playing everything all right when it wasn't. Another goddamn day of carrying that secret around like a ticking time bomb. My phone buzzed. Tania. Again. I let it go to voice
I'm in love with my Billionaire Ex-wife Chapter 26
Chapter 26 The New Ximena, Who Dares? Ximena's POV I went into the Antonio Group building like a boss. Well, I was, just that this time, it was different; I had just returned from hiking and up for work rejuvenated, bearing even more of it all for the shaking. My assistant Lisa tweeted, meanwhile her eyes wide as saucers scanned my new change. The perfectly pressed suit and carefully styled hair was now replaced with me in hiking boots, jeans, and a messy bun. "You look different." I grinned at her. "Thanks Lisa. I feel different. Clear my morning meetings, okay? And call Detective Rodriguez right away. I want him here in my office ASAP" Lisa's jaw fell nearly to the floor, but she nodded. "Yes, Ms. Antonio." I slid into my oversized chair, cackling. If Lisa thought this was a surprise, she had another thing coming. An hour or so later, Detective Rodriguez shuffled in, and he managed to look as disheveled and permanently put upon as ever. "Ms. Antonio," he greeted me, nodd
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I'm in love with my Billionaire Ex-wife Chapter 140
Chapter 140: Breaking the CircleThe tension in Antonio’s Group grew tighter with each passing day. The threat of Henry's betrayal hung in the air; Miguel couldn't help but look over his shoulder, even in private. Miguel paced back and forth across the floor of Ximena's office while his mind reeled with schemes on how to handle their multiplying suspicions. Ximena sat with her elbows propped on her desk, sharp-eyed, going over Clara's findings once again."We need more than suspicion," Ximena said without looking up. Her voice was steady, but her hands had tightened on the edge of the desk. "If we confront Henry without solid proof, we risk tipping off Vega and worse, we could lose whatever leverage we still have."Miguel nodded, rubbing his chin in thought. "You're right. But we cannot afford to let this fester. If Henry's feeding Vega information, then we need to take action well before the quarterly report. We need proof, hard and clear."Ximena sank back in her chair, her gaze
I'm in love with my Billionaire Ex-wife Chapter 139
Chapter 139: Boundaries of TrustMiguel couldn’t shake the tension lingering after the latest meeting with Henry. Whereas the older board member did give some critical information, the web of suspicion around them seemed to only thicken. It would seem with every new revelation to deal with that the walls of Antonio's Group closed in; the thin line between friend and foe increasingly harder to define. Determined to protect Ximena and the company, Miguel knew they'd have to tread carefully with every decision.Longer meetings and quieter strategy sessions in the privacy of Ximena's office had run the day. As night fell, she leaned back in her chair, massaging her temples. "I can't shake the feeling that we're running out of time," she admitted, her tone thick with frustration.Miguel watched her closely, his chest constricting where the fatigue was etched across her features. "We'll get through this," he told her with a calm, yet resolved tone. "But we cannot afford to miss one det
I'm in love with my Billionaire Ex-wife Chapter 138
Chapter 138: Shadows of BetrayalMiguel could feel the tension radiating through the air as he and Ximena prepared for their next meeting with Antonio’s Group’s core team. Every step toward unmasking the truth was like peeling away from hidden agendas and shadows.They'd tightened every security measure they could, yet it gnawed on him thinking that someone on the inside could be working against them.As they turned toward the conference room, Ximena stopped, staring off into space."The whole thing with Vega.... it's changed everything. I hate that we have to question people we once trusted."Miguel nodded, catching the tumult in her voice. "I know. But until we are sure, we can't take any chances. Vega has made it clear that he will exploit any weakness he finds."They entered the conference room, Ximena taking her seat at the head of the table with confidence belied by the tension in her features. A few board members filed in, one of them Henry who paid silent respect to Ximena b
I'm in love with my Billionaire Ex-wife Chapter 137
Chapter 137: Shadows in the DarkEvery word in the email's subject was a promise of retribution, spelling out in detail what was envisioned to happen if Antonio's Group continued to resist the influence of Vega.Miguel's hands clamped down on his desk as if to restrain himself. But his gut was screaming at him, to act now.He strode toward Ximena's office in rapid, determined steps. She was still hunched over her desk going over files under the muted office lights."Ximena," he said low but urgent.She looked up; instant concern flickered in her eyes as she took in his tense expression. "What's wrong?"He showed her the email, watching her face change from shock to steely determination. "So Vega's threatening me now?" she muttered, her tone barely containing the anger. Miguel nodded, his voice equally strained. "It would appear he is becoming desperate. I do not want you here alone-not with these threats hanging over us. We are increasing your security detail immediately."She shook h
I'm in love with my Billionaire Ex-wife Chapter 136
Chapter 136: Lines of DeceptionMiguel sat at his desk, his mind heavy with tension since the beginning of the day. First, it was the threatening messages to Ximena, which were unsettling; now he had another angle to contemplate-a batch of documents from Henry.The subject line had read:"For the Protection of Ximena," an unsolicited move by a man who had long kept himself aloof from the politics of business.Miguel passed the documents along to Ximena with a simple message: "Take a look at these when you have a minute."Within minutes, Ximena knocked on his door frame; her eyes were already filled with incredulity. She came in and closed the door behind her, looking at his expression for explanation. "You just sent me those documents from Henry?" she asked, brow furrowed while holding up her phone.Miguel nodded, gesturing her to his desk. "Yes. He says they contain critical details about Vega's takeover strategy, supposedly information he thinks we'll need to counter Vega's next mo
I'm in love with my Billionaire Ex-wife Chapter 135
Chapter 135: Lines of TrustMiguel and Ximena worked tirelessly in the days leading up to Antonio Group’s quarterly report. They knew if Vega had any plans to strike, this report's release was the avenue to spread chaos. They made sure they were not going to allow that to happen by revisiting every single security protocol there was: access to sensitive files was tightened, background checks of all their team members were reviewed again, and access lists of all personnel that would be in contact with the report were reassessed.Miguel leaned over a stack of security files, his face tense as he scanned the list of employees with access to the report. "We need to ensure that nobody outside of that list sees anything of the report before it is released. One misplaced file or leak and it's going to spread faster than we will ever be able to contain it.Ximena nodded, her intensity level matching his. "Agreed. We're in the spotlight more than ever right now. Vega's just waiting for us to
I'm in love with my Billionaire Ex-wife Chapter 134
Chapter 134: A Suspicious AllyBack at the office, Miguel sat at his desk, the recent conversation with the unknown number weighing heavy on his mind. The interest of Vega for his support sounded disconcerting, unethical and not good enough to act upon. They needed hard evidence, concrete plans that could stop Vega's influence from dribbling any further into Antonio's Group. Just as he reached for his coffee, a knock came from his door."Miguel, may I have a minute?" the voice of Henry, one of the oldest board members, filtered through.He had always been present, the man who had shared work with Ximena's father in the past.Miguel nodded to let him in. "Of course, Mr. Henry. What seems to be the problem?"Henry shut the door behind him and for the first time, his face was somber.He sat down facing Miguel and wrung his hands."I'm coming to you because I feel this is the time I need to say something important. Vega… he contacted me recently and proposed a deal to work against Anto
I'm in love with my Billionaire Ex-wife Chapter 133
Chapter 133: Bound by Trust Most of the day had been taken up at Antonio's Group, poring over the security protocols. They went over every recent interaction and activity by each board member with fine-tooth combs. Trust was even more fragile now since the confluence with Salazar. "We can't afford to miss anything," Ximena whispered, her eyes running down the latest reports. "I want to believe the rest of our board is loyal, but after what Salazar pulled, I won't take any chances." Miguel nodded, his eyes unflinching. "We are on the same page. And if anyone else gives any indication of being disloyal, the same thing that happened with Salazar will happen to them." They exchanged a glance; the weight of the day crowded in upon them suddenly. As the hours wore on, tiredness crept in to let them know they had reached their limit for today. Miguel looked at his timepiece and let the breath out. "Let's head back. We can pick this up tomorrow with fresh eyes," he said, giving her
I'm in love with my Billionaire Ex-wife Chapter 132
Chapter 132: Breaking the SilenceMiguel continued pacing his office, the echo of Ximena's words from last night still reverberating in his head. She had asked him not to let her go, and he felt the weight of her trust settling deep inside. Their fragile but growing bond with each passing moment had become his source of motivation. But for that, he knew they had to bring an end to Vega's shadow over Antonio's Group and fast.Ximena entered the room, a determined look on her face. "I went over more of Salazar's records this morning," she said, handing him a folder. "The pattern is there, Miguel. Encrypted messages, confidential files shared outside our firewall, all leading back to him."Miguel took the folder, scanning over the documents she'd gone through and meticulously marked."So it is true. He's been feeding Vega with all that he needs to keep fanning doubt inside the company. The timing of these leaks, it has been deliberate. But we will have to make our approach with him su
