CHAPTER SEVEN

Easton said nothing throughout the ride home and even when got home, he was still quiet. I could tell he was upset, he must be suspicious and jealous about Gabriel and I.

I needed to talk to him about it. I needed him to understand I would never betray him… again.

“Easton?”

I called as we ate dinner in silence.He looked at me.

“I would never betray you.”

I told him.

“How can you promise that? You’re still in love with Damasco, even a blind man can tell.”

He said, bitterly.

“It doesn’t mean I’ll go back to him. He hurt me.”

I said.

“If hurt was enough reason to stop loving someone, the world would be filed with hate.”

He told me and then continued eating.

I had no comeback to that.

I stared at myself in the mirror as I did my nightly skin care routine. I had the face and body I always wanted but my heart was heavy.

I should be happy, I should be fulfilled but I wasn’t and it felt so frustrating.

I needed to get over my feelings for my ex husband or it would cost me more than I could imagine.

GABRIEL: Tomorrow at 6:00pm.

I read his recently sent text.

He must be talking about the dinner with his family.

How would Easton feel about it? He would certainly not approve and I shouldn’t even be going!

Gabriel and I were over. I had no business with his family anymore.

ME: My husband would not approve. Good night.

I replied and immediately an incoming video call came.

I hesitated before picking.

“Yes?”

I rasped, nearly moaning from the sight of him shirtless.

He wasn’t home again, he was in the same hotel room we had sex last time.

I prayed in my heart that this wasn’t another booty call.

“Hello beautiful.”

He smiled and I frowned.

“Stop calling me, Damasco.”

I gritted.

“Hmm, Damasco? What happened to Gabby or honey or my heart? You used to call me all that.”

He drawled, his lips tipping over to a smile.

“Well, that was when I was in love with you and we were married!”

“You will be mine again Melda, you know that deep down so call Easton Grant your husband as much as you want but it won’t be for long. You belong to me.”

He told me with a possessive look.

I clench my thighs together, already getting wet.

“You made me leave. You treated me like trash.”

I said to him, tearfully.

“I know.”

He admitted, calmly.

“But I love you. I was just foolish and my priorities were misplaced. God knows I love you, Imelda. I may have done some bad things, I may have hurt you and I’m deeply sorry.”

He told me and my heart was warming up to his apologies.

“You divorcing me was the worst to ever happen to me—

“Only because you were going to lose my father’s company !”

I blurted out, tears spilling down my cheeks.

“No, Imelda, no. I own a company just as big as your father’s, you know how wealthy and fulfilled I am, you’re the only thing that matters! I want you back.”

No. Never.

Gabriel would never play me for a fool again.

“It’s all too late now.”

I shrugged, sniffing.

“Have a nice life, Damasco.”

I told him and ended the call abruptly.

Good riddance.

.

.

.

Unlike Gabriel, Easton shared his business ideas with me. In fact, he put me in charge when he was away for very important business trips. I wasn’t accustomed to being at the frontline of a company much more a huge one like my husband’s but I was prepared to try.

“Ma’am , you have a business meeting with D&H by 1pm.”

My newly appointed PA, Teresa Hawkins, told me.

D&H?

That was Gabriel’s company!

“Are you sure about that?”

I asked, getting anxious.

“Yes ma’am. It was scheduled this morning and approved by Mr Grant.”

She told me.

Wow. I didn’t know Gabriel and Easton were business partners.

“Alright. Thank you.”

I told her and she left.

I had two hours to put myself together and have a successful meeting with my ex husband.

I decided to text him just to know what he was thinking—or maybe, I was missing his texts.

ME: I didn’t know you had business meetings with my husband.

GABRIEL: I have shares in Grant’s company.

ME: Well, your scheduled meeting is with me now. He left me in charge.

GABRIEL: Leaving a deer with a lion. Not a very wise choice Grant made. See you in two hours love.

I exhaled. This meeting was going to be a disaster.

Gabriel was early for the meeting, we sat alone in a reservation and I was as nervous as a stage frightened speech giver.

“So, how do we go about this?”

I asked, nervously and trying not to stare at Gabriel too much.

He looked splendid in his dark suit and his nice cologne was intoxicating. I on the other hand was in a lovely black sleeveless jumpsuit.

“Did you really come alone?”

He asked, radioing his brows at me.

“Yes. Don’t think I can handle big businesses?”

I straightened up like a peacock spreading its feathers.

“I actually don’t. You’re not acquainted with things like this but no matter, I can reschedule with Grant’s PA and we can skip this boring meeting and go have lunch.”

He told me with a sexy smirk.

“How dare you think I’m not capable of handling a simple business meeting!? You still think I’m dumb and unworthy..”

I slammed my hand on the heavy documents between us.

“I never said that. You’re an intelligent woman, I just think you should have come with someone more experienced to discuss the business plans with me.”

Gabriel explained and he wasn’t totally wrong.

Maybe I was being dramatic but it wasn’t my fault, I didn’t want to be treated like a simple dumb housewife again.

“How is Jessica, your secretary? You used to take her to all your business trips and only God knows what happens from there on.”

I said, trying not to sound as jealous as I felt.

“Imelda—

“You cheated on me with her, Gabriel.”

I interrupted him.

“I knew from the beginning.”

I tried to hold back the tears but I couldn’t, I could only wipe them off my face.

Why did I always feel weak in his presence?

“I never slept with Jessica on any of the business trips. Yes, she did flirt with but there was nothing until you got missing. We started dating three months before you returned.”

He explained to me.

“And you dumped her just to engage Hilton’s daughter!”

“I don’t love her. It’s all business.”

“Just like our marriage!”

“No! I did love you. I still do.”

“Liar!”

I spat.

“Stop being so stubborn, Melda!”

He scolded and I was not having it so I got up to leave.

“I’m leaving. Call Easton’s PA and reschedule your stupid meeting.”

“My love, please wait.”

He stopped me.

“Don’t call me that!”

“Why not?”

He asked, pulling me to himself and our bodies collided.

“Gabriel were in public.”

I whispered, my heart racing for many reasons.

“This is a private reservation, no one can see us.”

He told with a sweet smile.

I opened my mouth to say something but he closes it with a kiss.

We kissed slowly for what felt like hours, our tongues rolling together and our hands roaming on each other’s body.

It felt so right but it was so wrong.

“Will you come for dinner?”

He asked, breaking the kiss and leaving me breathless.

“I can’t—

“Please baby.”

He begged with puppy blue eyes and I was sold.

“Okay. I’ll try.”

I muttered, licking my swollen lips.

“Thank you.”

He rasped and kissed the tip of my nose.

“Goodbye.”

I muttered and walked away, my knees as weak as my heart.

I was going against my own plan but I couldn’t help it.

Would I eventually lose myself to my ex husband?