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CHAPTER THIRTY NINE
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2024-11-12 17:23:12Related chapters
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER FORTY
The drive home was silent. Isabella stared out the window, Seth's words about "bad feelings" echoing in her mind. When they pulled up to his house, she moved to get out, but Seth caught her wrist."Wait." His voice was soft. "About Sterling—""I have an early meeting tomorrow," Isabella cut in. "Tuberose submission deadline, remember?"Seth released her wrist, his expression unreadable. "Right. The deadline."The next morning, Isabella buried herself in her research. She'd barely slept, but work was a welcome distraction. Around noon, Karen appeared at her desk."We are ready for you," Karen announced. In the conference room, Leo and Paige were already waiting. Seth entered last, his eyes finding Isabella's for a moment before focusing on the presentation screen."Show me what we've got," he said.Five hours, 40 minutes later, they concluded on what they would be working onThe next few days flew by in a caffeine-fueled blur. Everyone was running on fumes, trying to get the entry des
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER FORTY ONE
Three days later, Seth gathered the team back in the conference room, an unopened email on his screen."The results are in but I haven't looked at it yet," he announced. "Wanted us all to see it together."Isabella gripped her tablet tightly. Karen held her breath. Leo and Paige exchanged glances.Seth clicked the email. The room was completely silent as his eyes scanned the text.A slow smile spread across his face. "We're through to the next round."The room exploded. Leo actually jumped up, pulling Paige into a hug who, for once, didn't maintain her usual ice-queen demeanor. "About damn time!" she laughed."Alright, alright," Seth raised his voice over the celebration. "This calls for drinks. Landon Lounge tonight, on me."As the team filed out, chattering about evening plans, Seth caught Isabella's arm. "Hey, you did really—""The team did," Isabella cut him off, but gently."Isabella, can we just talk for a minute?""Let's focus on the celebration, okay?" She stepped away, her mi
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER FORTY TWO
Victoria Stone burst through Martinez's office door, making him jump in his seat."I just got off the phone with my son," Victoria spat. "Care to explain why their design is moving forward?""Mrs. Stone, I—""Stop." She held up a manicured finger. "Do you know how much money I've invested in you? How many strings I pulled to get you on that panel?"Martinez tugged at his collar. "The head of the committee—""I don't care about the head of the committee!" Victoria slammed both hands on his desk. "When I put someone in position, I expect results. Do you know what happens to people who disappoint me, Martinez?""Mrs. Stone, please—""Ask Donald from Mason. Oh wait, you can't. He's working at a gas station in his hometown now." She leaned closer. "Nobody will hire him in this industry. Funny how that works, isn't it?"Martinez's face went pale. "I-I can still fix this.""You'd better. Because right now, your career is hanging by a thread." She straightened up, adjusting her cuscustom-made
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER FORTY THREE
Isabella came downstairs the next morning, finding Seth already at the kitchen counter with his laptop. The silence between them felt heavier than usual."Are we still not talking?" she asked, reaching for the coffee pot."Didn't know we were not." Seth kept his eyes on his screen.Isabella took a deep breath. "Well, since we apparently are...I could use your advice about something.""Sure, what is up?" His tone was carefully neutral."It is about Sterling." She noticed how Seth's jaw tightened at the name. "He has not returned any of my messages.”"And that surprises you?" Seth finally looked up. "The guy was practically force-feeding you wine.""He was not force-feeding me anything," Isabella protested. "I just...I feel like I handled it badly.""By choosing not to leave with someone who was clearly trying to get you drunk?""You make it sound so calculated.""Because it was." Seth closed his laptop. "Look, if he actually cared about you, he would be more concerned about your safety
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER FORTY FOUR
The look in his eyes told Isabella he wasn't just talking about the house. Still, she decided to play along "Really?" She tried to hide her smile but failed."Really." He pressed his credit card into her palm. "And speaking of perfect things, this has no limit. Get whatever makes you happy.""You're not going to let this go, are you?" Isabella shook her head, amused by his persistence."Not a chance." Seth grinnedShe studied the card in her hands. "Are you serious about this?""Very." His eyes sparkled with amusement. "Go crazy.""You're going to regret this, you know." She turned the card over, still not quite believing his offer."Somehow, I doubt that." He winked. "Go spoil yourself. You deserve it."Isabella wandered through the mall until a Gucci handbag caught her eye. As she reached for the store's door, a voice behind her made her freeze."Well, isn't this cute?"Isabella didn't need to turn around to know it was Eliza."Look who's window shopping,” Eliza said, her heels cli
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER FORTY FIVE
Victoria Stone stared out the window of her study, her nails tapping against the crystal tumbler in her hand. That confrontation with Eliza had shaken her more than she cared to admit. Not from fear - Victoria Stone didn't do fear - but from pure, unadulterated rage. How dare that girl challenge her?She took another sip of whiskey, letting the familiar burn steady her nerves. The family photo albums she'd brought lay untouched on her desk - a prop in a play that hadn't gone according to script. Victoria reached for her phone, then hesitated. This needed finesse. Precision.She dialed Richard's number."Mother?" He answered on the third ring. "This is a surprise. I'm just heading into a meeting-""Oh, I'm sorry, darling." Victoria kept her tone light, and conversational. "I don't mean to interrupt. I just..." She let her voice trail off."What's wrong?""Nothing, really. It can wait until-""Mother." She heard rustling, then a door closing. "You never call during work hours unless it'
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER FORTY SIX
Eliza stared at her phone screen until it blurred. Twenty-seven missed calls, all sent straight to voicemail. Richard hadn't come home last night. She'd waited up until 3 AM, alternating between calling him and pacing their bedroom, her mind racing with increasingly terrible scenarios.Standing in front of her bathroom mirror, Eliza barely recognized herself. Her mascara was everywhere from the sleepless night, her hair a mess from running her hands through it too many times. That bitch Victoria had actually done it. She'd turned her son against her.Eliza's hands curled into fists. She couldn't lose everything. Not when she had come this far. If Victoria wanted to play dirty, she would play dirty. But first, she had to get Richard back. And that meant doing the one thing she had sworn she would never do.Beg.She wiped her face roughly with a washcloth. She'd go to Victoria's house and put on the performance of her life if she had to. Say all the right things, act all sweet and sorry
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN
"I received an email with the prompt needed to move to the next phase," Seth announced, walking into the conference room where he had summoned Leo, Paige, Karen, and Isabella. He didn't waste any time with pleasantries, immediately handing his tablet to Leo. “Pull this up on the projector.”Leo quickly connected the tablet and displayed the email for everyone to see. He let out a low whistle. “This is going to be a serious challenge.”Karen leaned in, studying the requirements. High stakes, massive visibility, and the budget to match.” She whistled softly. “They weren’t kidding about the scale.”“But hey, look at this.” Leo pointed at the screen, his excitement obvious. “It has our name written all over it.”Seth shook his head, but there was a ghost of a smile on his face. "Don't get ahead of yourself, Leo. Every top firm in this city wants this project." He paused, his expression growing serious. "Listen, I know we're good. But one slip-up, one moment where we think we've got it in
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Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER FIFTY EIGHT
The private room at Circa was exactly what Victoria Stone needed - intimate enough for secrets, but public enough to keep things civil. She watched Catherine walk in, noting how her confident stride faltered slightly upon seeing her."Mrs. Stone," Catherine said, smoothing her designer dress as she sat down. "When your assistant called, I must admit I was... intrigued."Victoria smiled, the kind of smile that never quite reached her eyes. "Please, call me Victoria. We're all friends here." She gestured to the waiter. "The Domaine de la Romanée-Conti 1945.”Catherine raised an eyebrow. "Expensive taste.""Only the best for important conversations." Victoria waited until the waiter poured their wine and left before continuing. “You know, I saw you with Seth last month at Le Chaumiere. You two made quite the striking pair."Catherine's face remained neutral, but her fingers tensed around the stem of her glass. "That was nothing. Just business.""Business?" Victoria took a sip. "Is that w
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER FIFTY SEVEN
Richard sat in his study. He leaned back in his chair, one hand massaging his temple while the other clutched a glass of water. His head throbbed, the fresh stitches pulling every time he moved. He glared at the water, clear and tasteless – a poor substitute for what he really wanted. His eyes drifted to the cabinet in the corner where he kept his scotch, eighteen years old and smooth as silk. The bottle stood there, taunting him"Try to stay away from alcohol while this heals," the doctor had said just yesterday, looking between him and Eliza. "Both of you need rest." Richard had nodded along, but now, with his head pounding like someone was using it as a drum, that promise seemed impossible to keep. He took another sip of water and made a face. Might as well have been drinking nothing.The painkillers sat on his desk, still in the pharmacy bag from last night. They helped with the pain, yeah, but they made his brain feel like it was stuffed with cotton. The scotch... now that would
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER FIFTY SIX
"Guess who brought lunch?" Isabella burst into Seth's office, dramatically posing with her lunch box like she was presenting a game show prize.Seth looked up, a slow smile spreading across his face. "Let me guess. McDonald's?"She rolled her eyes. "Do I look like I'm bringing fast food to the CEO?""Well, you look like you're about to win 'Lunch Presenter of the Year'," he teased, pushing aside his paperwork."Careful," she warned, setting down the lunch box. "Compliment me too much and I might start believing I'm actually good at something."“Something?” Seth laughed. “Is there anything Isabella isn’t good at? I haven’t seen it.”Their conversation was always easy. Comfortable. Like they'd been doing this dance for years, not months.Isabella started unpacking containers. Homemade food, each dish carefully prepared. No takeout. No quick fixes. This was deliberate. Thought out."Wow," Seth said, looking at the spread. "You actually cooked all these for me?"She rolled her eyes. “Is t
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER FIFTY FIVE
Isabella was flying high. Not only had she woken up in the same bed as the man she could confidently call the sexiest alive, but she'd also gotten a follow from Catherine Fox. Yes, *the* Catherine Fox. The actress. The style icon. The queen of "effortless glam." She had met Catherine twice before, and Catherine had even asked her for a favor, but this was different. This was a social media validation that everyone could see. A follow from her wasn't just a notification—it was a whole event. Isabella felt like she'd hit a double jackpot.The morning couldn't get any better. She savored every bit of it, knowing mornings like this don’t come often. Some days, life just decides to be ridiculously good to you.She smiled to herself as she grabbed her things and headed to work. Today was already shaping up to be one for the books.At the office, she was relieved to find no whispers or gossip about Paige. It was a sign Seth hadn’t shared what he’d uncovered—something that could have demolis
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER FIFTY FOUR
Richard tripped as he entered the front door and knocked the umbrella stand over. He had his jacket creased and clenched in his hand, his tie was half undone around his neck."Where the hell have you been?" Eliza's voice pierced through the entryway from where she stood at the base of the stairs, her arms crossed so tightly they seemed to be holding her together. "You didn't come home last night. Not a word. Nothing."Richard's bloodshot eyes struggled to focus on her. "Weren't you—" he swayed slightly, "—weren't you supposed to be at some doctor's thing?""Seven hours ago," she spat. "You missed it. Again. Couldn't even be bothered to send a text, could you?"He made a dismissive gesture that nearly threw him off balance. "But you're back now, aren't you? That's what matters." A hollow smile spread across his face. "I'll make it up to you. How about that necklace you were eyeing at Cartier's?""This isn't about jewelry, Richard."Her voice turned cold. "Where the hell have you been?"
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER FIFTY THREE
Seth sat for a long time in his car, his hands on the driving wheel. His head heavy from processing everything that had happened so far, he finally turned on the engine and drove home. He pulled into the driveway and found Isabella sitting on his front steps. She saw the fatigue in his movements as soon as he stepped out of the car and stood up. Without a word, she opened her arms.Seth hesitated for just a moment before stepping into her embrace. All the tension he'd been holding finally broke, and he let his head drop to her shoulder."I got you," she whispered, holding him tighter. "It's okay. Everything's going to be okay."They stayed that way for several minutes, Isabella's hand making small circles on his back. When they finally pulled apart, Isabella kept one hand on his arm.Come on," she said softly. "Let's get inside."Inside, the house felt unusually quiet. Seth headed straight for the stairs, exhaustion was evident in every step."I'm going to change," he said, loosening
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER FIFTY TWO
Paige stumbled out of the restaurant, her whole body trembling. She could feel the scorching sensation of the wire under her blouse. Her legs failed her and she slumped into a concrete barrier, struggling to breathe, immediately she reached the parking lot. David was already listening to the recording through his earpiece so he and Monica hurried to her side."Breathe, Paige," Monica said softly, kneeling beside her. "It's over now.""Did you—" Paige's voice caught. "Did you get what you needed? Please tell me this wasn't for nothing.""We got everything," David confirmed, carefully removing his earpiece. "Multiple admissions of blackmail, detailed accounts of the corporate espionage, even his plans for future theft. He handed us everything we needed."Seth stepped forward from where he'd been leaning against his car. "The security team will be with you to make sure Richard doesn't try anything stupid. Go home, Paige. We'll handle things from here.""Seth, wait." Paige stood on shaky
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER FIFTY ONE
"Everyone else can go," Seth said quietly. They filed out, shooting mixed looks of anger and pity at Paige as they left. But Isabella remained behind, standing near the door.Paige sat hunched in her chair, tears still streaming down her face. Seth waited until the door closed before speaking again."I meant what I said about helping you," he said. "But I need something from you first."Paige looked up, wiping her eyes. "Anything. I'll do anything to make this right."Seth pulled out his phone. "I'm calling our legal team. We're going to need their help to handle this properly." He paused. "Are you willing to tell them everything? About Richard, the blackmail, all of it?""Yes," Paige whispered.Twenty minutes later, two members of the legal team, David and Monica, arrived. Seth gestured for them to sit."Go ahead, Paige," he said. "Tell them what you told me."Paige took a shaky breath. "It started three months ago. Richard... he got hold of a video from a party. I was drunk, I did s
Regrets From Ex Won't Win Me Back CHAPTER FIFTY
The presentation hall felt different this time. Seth's team sat in the waiting area, each lost in their own thoughts. No one was sharing stories about Dr. Vivian now - they'd been through too much for small talk."Is everyone ready?" Seth asked, though he already knew the answer. They'd spent days perfecting each section."All set," Karen said, gripping her portfolio. The others nodded."Good." Seth stood up. "But I'll be handling the presentation today.""What?" Leo straightened in his chair. "You don’t have—"“Trust me,” Seth said softly. “I know how hard you all have worked, and I’m so grateful for each of you. No matter what happens today, I want you to know you gave it your all. So let me carry the weight this time.”In the presentation room, Richard was waiting with his team. Before they began, he raised his hands to speak.“Go ahead, Mr. Stone.” One of the judges said “I want to apologize in advance,” Richard began. “It looks like we’ve ended up with the same design again. I r
