Ann's pov
I didn't sleep,it literally eluded my eyes.
I cried, stopped, stared at the ceiling, and cried again. Every look was replayed, every word, every moment where I almost lost myself became someone I promised myself I wouldn't be.
Desire had a way of rewriting reality, of making wrong feel like fate.
By morning, my eyes were swollen, my head throbbing, but my mind was clear.
I wouldn't act on it no matter what.
Whatever Andre represented,be it nostalgia, unfinished love, temptation,..it for sure ended there. He walked away once, I guess it's my turn to redo history
I dressed with intention,neutral colors and sharp lines,no softness.
If my heart insisted on being fragile, my looks would have to say differently.
At the office, I buried myself in work,numbers grounded me, strategy reminded me who I was before love complicated everything,i guess this was my own therapy.
Then Naomi knocked.
"Ms. Carter," she said carefully,
"How many times do I have to correct you Naomi,it's Ms.Ann now" I corrected her,she had become accustomed to addressing me as Leo's wife but after repeated correction it was either intentional or she was just stupid.
"Hawthorne Financial confirmed the follow-up meeting for this morning."
My fingers paused over my keyboard.
"They are sending the representative as agreed on yesterday right?"
"No ma'am,the CEO called,he said he'll be here himself"she replied
"Andre isn't required for that meeting,the meeting is just to finalize the number, what's he coming for."
"I don't know ma'am," she said. "But he insisted that he'll be in attendance."
I exhaled slowly. "Alright." What trick was he trying to pull now,well,it didn't matter anyway,I definitely won't fall for it. I just had to be professional.I could handle it . I kept repeating to myself.
The boardroom door opened and the air stifled, everyone stared at me,my anxiety setting in.
Andre stood when I entered,beside him was a woman,she looked elegant, poised and beautiful in a quiet way that still spoke volumes.
"Ann," Andre said, gesturing toward her. "This is my wife, Lydia."
The word hit harder this time,"Wife".Why the hell would he bring his wife to this meeting,was he taunting me for saying no?
Lydia smiled politely, extending her hand. "It's nice to finally meet you, Andre has told me so much about you,so when I heard that our company was going to work with yours,I insisted on seeing you."
Her grip was warm,confident. Not the woman I'd imagined in my anger.
"The pleasure is mine," I said, my voice steady despite everything screaming inside me.
The meeting proceeded, but the room was thick with unspoken tension. Andre avoided my eyes,Lydia didn't.,She watched silently, listened keenly and took notes.
She was intelligent and smart,she wasn't someone to be toyed with,it was written all over her like a billboard.
I felt like an exposed nerve.
Halfway through, my chest tightened,I needed some,I could not hear the awkwardness anymore.
"Excuse me," I said, standing abruptly. "I need a moment."
"Bathroom break?" Lydia questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes i guess" I replied as I quickly rushed out of the boardroom gasping for air.
I didn't go to the bathroom,Leo's office was exactly opposite the executive bathroom and my secretary had earlier informed me that he came today.
I have to get rid of him,I just have to buy out his shares,but first,I have to take care of this Andre problem.
I went to my office but before I barely had time to set my bag down , the door swung open before me
Andre stepped in and shut the door behind him.
"What are you doing Andre?" I hissed.
"You left," he said quietly. "I needed to talk to you."
"This is wildly inappropriate."
"I know," he said, moving closer. "But so is pretending I don't feel this."
"Stop it Andre,this is my office space and your wife is right across the hallway for crying out loud," I warned.
He stood for a second, staring down at me which made everything much worse.
"I brought her because I thought it would make things easier," he said. "I wanted to see who my heart would beat for with you two in the same room."
"Ohh,so this is some game to you?"
"Don't be like that Ann,I just thought that bringing her here would convince me that maybe what happened yesterday was just a mistake_"
"And?" I asked coldly.
"And it didn't work," he admitted. "Because all I can think about is you."
"You don't get to say that," I snapped. "Not after everything, you're a scumbag and you know it."
He reached out, stopping just short of my face. "You feel it too Ann,stop fighting it."
I did,and I hated that he was right with every fiber in me.
"Leave Andre " I thundered
He leaned closer. "Ann_"
"Please stop it Andre_" before I could resist him, placed a kiss on my cheek,then he slowly ran his tongue down to my kneck
He gently raised my dress and slid his hands into my gown, his hands gripping my thighs.
"Stop it Andre"I mouthed,I was fighting the urge to go further but he was persistent ,he pinned me against the office wall and began to kiss me passionately. I kissed him back,I held his shirt tightly,I wanted all of him.
He let out a little laugh and continued kissing me hard,it was a laughter of satisfaction,he was getting what he wanted but I didn't care,I was already too horny to think.
His hands were almost in my panties when the door opened.
Lydia stood there.
Silence exploded between us.
Her eyes moved from Andre to me. "I was looking for you," she said calmly.
Andre froze.
My heart dropped into my stomach.
This_this_was the line.
And it had just been crossed.