Chapter 0011

5 YEARS LATER

•DARLA•

"We are delighted to inform you that the board members liked the architect design copies that you sent and would like to offer you a project that will take place in Michigan. The allocated amount will range from one billion dollars to 10 billion, and you will have the privilege of hiring your own team of architects to work with. You will be in partnership with Elijah Houston, who will be assisting with construction men and all the needed materials. Thank you, Miss Sullivan, we hope to hear from you very soon.”

My heart stopped for a second when my eyes lingered on Elijah's name in the email.

I needed the project to add to my portfolio, especially since it was going to be big and spanning for quite some time.

But seeing Elijah's name on the email filled me with doubts and hesitation.

“A collaboration with Elijah Houston…” Ethan sighed as he looked at me as I sat down on the couch next to him after he received the same email. “I'm sure we will find something else. We don't have to go.”

“This is a good deal. We've received and collaborated on numerous good deals before, but this one is way better. Except that the conference meeting has to be in Atlanta.”

“A week in Atlanta, and then we will be working in Michigan for a few times a week or month. It might work,” Ethan answered.

He then looked at me and placed a gentle kiss on my lips. “If you're sure that you can work with Elijah, then I don't see why not. We are independent contractors now.”

I smiled at him. “Of course. He won't be a problem to me.” I hoped that he wouldn't be a problem.

Even though my heart skipped a beat at the sound of his name and my blood boiled with anger every time he crossed my mind, I wanted to believe that I was over him and that I would be out of my mind if I ever thought of him.

“There's something else,” he said as I got up from the couch.

I tilted my head and looked at him. “What is it?” I furrowed my eyebrows.

“Your brother will be there. He's one of the board members.”

“Okay.” I sighed, just thinking that it had been five years since I hadn't seen nor heard from him and my parents and now I was going to be in the same room as him for a whole week.

“I didn't expect that. What is he doing there?” I folded my arms on my chest.

“Finance manager.”

“Ugh, it's fine. It will only be for a week. After that, he can kiss our asses.” I said as I walked to the twins' room to tell them that Ethan and I would be leaving for Atlanta in two days.

"How long are you going to be gone for?" Will asked as he scooched closer to me.

"A week, and then Uncle Ethan and I will be back. We'll call you every day and make sure that you're okay." I kissed his cheeks while Maddie turned her back on me.

After tucking Will inside his bed and giving him kisses, I walked over to Maddie's bed and sat down next to her.

When she tilted her head and looked at me, there were tears at the corners of her and a frown on her face.

Gosh, I was paying daily for birthing a girl with the same attitude as me.

"Maddie, what's wrong?" I asked, trying to turn her back toward me.

She didn't even want to move a muscle. "You promised to take me to watch Frozen 2, remember?" She snarled.

I chuckled softly as I lifted her from the bed, placed her gently on my lap, and wrapped my arms around her while she was trying to wiggle herself free from my grasp.

She sighed as she gave up fighting to free herself from my arms. "Can't you leave next week?"

"I'll bring back, baby. You and I will have as many girls' day outs as possible, watch any movie we want, and eat whatever we want." I promised her with a kiss on her forehead.

"I'm going to miss you."

"I'm going to miss you, too," I wrapped my arms around her and felt so blessed to have her and her brother.

***

In a boardroom full of men, I was the only woman, and among them was my very own brother and ex-husband.

After the first half of the conference meeting about building a public hospital, school, and library for a poor local community in Detroit MI, I went to the restroom to relieve myself..

Just after I finished using the restroom and was heading to the sink to wash my hands, I heard a few whispers outside the door that caused my heart to skip a beat.

“I heard that he will be doing business with his ex-wife now. They’re collaborating for the building of public infrastructure in Michigan. I’m sure Abigail’s going crazy over the news.”

“I would too if I were her,” one of the ladies replied as they chuckled softly.

Another scoffed. “Are they even still dating? After he got someone to replace her as his secretary, things changed, and he's hardly been seen with her in public. Maybe he misses his wife and finally sees that vile excuse of a woman for who she is.”

I stopped right behind the door and didn’t want to interrupt their talk.

“I’m glad she left, but now that Darla showed up, I wonder how things are going to turn out. Abigail won’t just sit back while her fiance would be working with his ex for over a year, seeing her every other week for hours.”

‘Fiance?’ My heart skipped a beat.

It had been five years, and though I expected that they were already married, I still felt an ache when I heard that they were still together.

Frustrated and no longer wishing to eavesdrop on the conversation, I opened the door and walked past the cleaning ladies back to the boardroom, where I found Ethan talking with my brother, Anthony.

“What are you still doing with my sister, Ethan? The worst thing you could’ve done was to bring her here with you and accept a partnership with the Houston building project,” Anthony hissed at him.

“I will not discuss what I do for business with my wife. We are here because of our excellent expertise and experience.”

I cleared my throat and drew their attention.

When Anthony saw me, his face countenance changed, and he frowned.

He looked at Ethan as if he were whispering something to him that I couldn’t hear before he walked out of the room and left me and Ethan alone.

“Did you hear that?” Ethan asked as he walked toward me.

I nodded. “Yes, but it doesn’t matter. They mean nothing to me as much as I don’t mean anything to them.” I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him.

“Someone might walk in here and find me unable to keep my hands off you, miss.” He chuckled as he kissed me.

“Let them,” I smirked. “I'm not shy to give them a show to enjoy,” I said as I slammed my lips on his and kissed him.

Someone cleared their throat behind us, and we chuckled as we leaned back from each other, thinking that someone almost walked in on us doing something inappropriate.

But when I saw Elijah, I sighed.