Chapter one: Meeting Alexander again. Edited.

Elsa stepped off her black Porsche, tugging on her coat to keep the cold off.

It was the begining of winter and the sun was hidden behind a smoke of white clouds. providing no warmth whatsoever.

She stumbled slightly as she walked up the stairs of the restaurant, her heels kicking on the ground in a moment of inattentiveness.

Cursing under her breath, she steadied herself, before walking pass the glass doors.

The restaurant was a high head place that wasn't the least easy to book. One will have to make a reservation from a month back in order to get a table.

Today was supposed to be her resting date. But since her best friend who is also her business partner was unable to make it she had to attend this business meeting on her behalf.

As if things wasn't bad enough, nothing was going her way at all.

The receptionist smiled brightly as she approached.

"I have a reservation for 2'0clock. Under the name Dorothy."

"That will be upstairs. Please follow me." Another lady took her place while she leas Elsa upstairs and to a table with a good view next to the to the glass wall over looking the bustling roads below.

With a slight nod in appreciation, Elsa placed her bag on the table, sliding into a seat.

The floor is a VIP section and all the tables are spaced well away from each other creating an air of privacy.

Checking the time, it was just a few minutes before the appointed time for the meeting.

Elsa might look unreliable in most aspects but she was one to keep to time. An habit beaten into her by her mom.

She sat in silence, legs crossed, and shaking slightly as time ticked by. Her lips turning into a frown when it becomes five minutes past the meeting time but the other other side's representative is no where to be seen.

It already gave her a bad impression of who ever it is. Such sloppy attitudes was unacceptable to her.

The partnership to work together with the other company has already reached the last stage and it was very beneficial to herself and her company so she had no choice but to sit and wait.

If it was any small company she would have definitely stormed out, unfortunately B&G Dawnspire was a multi billionaire company that she can't ignore.

Taking her time, she arrange the contract she brought with her on the table, then in the middle her thoughts drits away aimlessly and she stared out of the glass wall with unfocused eyes.

When she recovered there was already someone standing in front of her.

"Miss Dora." A magnetic voice reached her ear, and before she could refute that she was acting in Dora's place the familiarity in the voice had her snapping her head up so fast a snap should be heard.

There was equally a trace a surprise in his eyes, yet it disappeared in the blink of an eye making Elsa want to question herself if she saw it right or maybe hallucinated it just now.

"You...." Her voice quacked, and the sudden acceleration of her heartbeat made her short of breath in seconds.

His light shadow feel on her, overwhelming His presence like a ghost at the door.

Elsa felt a little lost under his gaze. The pair of dark grey eyes hit her as familiar yet unfamiliar at the same.

The corner of his lips quirked up a little in a smile that wasn't a smile. "Elsa...or rather should I say.... Wife."

'Whose wife?"

After been knocked speechless for a few seconds by his words, Elsa shoved all the rampaging emotions into a small corner in her mind, while faking a smile. "Mr Alexander please try to stick to the right address. We are already divorced."

"You really know how to hide." His voice was toned with a touch of indifference which matches his stoic, almost faced paralyzed expression.

Heartless scumbag.

Elsa couldn't help but doubt how she ended up falling in love with him in the first place.

Ignoring his question, she glanced at where he was sitted opposite her, nudging the files on the desk forward. "We have already reached this stage so I propose that we put our difference behind us and talk about what is more important. The partnership."

"No." Came a crisp reply from Alexander.

"No?"

"Come back home with me." The words dissipated in the air, forming an awkward silence.

"Home?" Elsa laughed at the thought. She tried not to sneer, irritation bubbling in her stomach. Leaning back into her seat she said cynically. "Mr Alexander I think you are missing the point. Like I said before 'We' are divorced and I have nothing to do with you. Not in this lifetime."

"We are not divorced." Alexander looked at her calmly and stated.

'how so? She made sure to leave the divorce paper right on the dinning table were he could easily find it. He didn't like her in the first place so there wasn't a reason he wouldn't sign it.'

"Don't make me laugh."

"I didn't sign the divorce papers so we are technically still married." Alexander said. "You still remain as Mrs Alexander."

"What are you playing at?" Elsa sat upright, eyes narrowed and glaring at him.

"That's exactly what I'd like to ask you. What do you think you are doing?" Alexander eye's flickered, his voice suppressed into a low buzz that brushed pass the narrow channels of her ear. Demanding and dangerous. "Running away from home leaving just the divorce papers...disappearing for more than three years!"

"What was I supposed to do? Stay at home and act like your goddamm secret house wife? You think you married mother Mary or something?" Elsa raged, her eyes coincidentally meet the incoming waiter who was frozen in his step. Not knowing if to advance or retreat and she let out a curse. "F**k."

Alexander stared at her, not expecting her outburst. His voice turning cold once more. "Do you know how long I have been searching for you?"

"You think I care?" Ignoring the little bit of surprise that sprang at his words, She chuckled cruelly and he frowned.

"I don't want to see you. Never, ever again. That's why I left." Elsa said word for word.

Then she stood up, clasp the strap of her bag between her fingers. Eyes looking down at him. "It turns out we won't be able to cooperate after all....."

"Elsa." Alexander called out but she stepped back, saying threatening.

"Try to stop me and see how hard I will scream 'murder'."

Without another glance she strolled right pass him, her steps accelerating when she reached the stairs before turning into a sprint.

Reaching her car, she turn on the engine, stepped on the brake and swerved out of the parking lot in one breath.

"Shit, shit, shit!!" She barely avoided an incoming car as she bounced into the main road, beads of sweat she hadn't noticed rolling down the side of her face.

The uncomfortable feeling filled her with panic, as if there was something chasing after her. Threatening to pull her into the abyss behind her called her past.

She couldn't think about it, she didn't want to think about it and she wouldn't think about it.

Whatever Alexander was here for, she was sure it wasn't because of her and that they had coincidentally meet because of the appointment.

Yet she cursed him under her breath for coming and throwing her life into turmoil once more.

'what kind of big CEO attends such a small partnership meeting. Didn't they say it was going to be a manager acting as the representative? Motherf**cking scumbag.'

She hesitated if she should call Dorothy and fly out of the country for now, but shook the thoughts out of her head.

Thinking that Alexander wouldn't have that much free time to trouble her, after all he was the CEO of the biggest company in the word.

He had never given her any time in his day when they were married not to talk of now.

Exhaling a breath, Elsa's mood turned sour, both resentment and anger welling in her chest.

Thinking about it I haven't seen him for three years.

During the less than ten minutes they sat for lunch in which was entirely doesn't fighting she hadn't gotten a good look at him.

Yet it was easy to envision his tall frame that stood over a head taller than her even if she wore heels, his broad back that she found herself often staring at, and the indifferent face framed by a sleak hairstyle of right combed black locks held in place by a unholy amount of gel until they are caked like a rock.

Yet he still looked unhealthyly handsome.

Damn scumbag what do you think you are doing popping in front of me again.

### Revised Chapter

Elsa stepped out of her black Porsche, tugging her coat closer around herself.

It was the beginning of winter, and thick white clouds obscured the sun, offering little warmth against the biting cold.

She hurried up the restaurant steps, her heels clicking against the pavement, and pushed through the glass doors.

The restaurant was one of the city's most exclusive establishments. Securing a table usually required a reservation weeks in advance.

Today was supposed to be her day off. Unfortunately, Dorothy, her best friend and business partner, had been unable to attend the meeting, leaving Elsa to take her place.

As if things weren't bad enough, nothing seemed to be going her way.

The receptionist greeted her with a bright smile as she approached the counter.

"I have a two o'clock reservation under the name Dorothy."

"Certainly. Please follow me."

Another employee took over and led Elsa upstairs to the VIP section, where the tables were spaced far enough apart to ensure privacy. Her table stood beside a glass wall overlooking the busy streets below.

Elsa nodded her thanks, placed her bag on the table, and took her seat.

She checked the time.

A few minutes remained before the meeting was scheduled to begin.

Elsa might have her shortcomings, but punctuality wasn't one of them. Her mother had drilled that habit into her from a young age.

She sat quietly, her legs crossed beneath the table, occasionally glancing at the time.

Five minutes passed.

Elsa checked her watch again, her lips tightening. The other party's representative was nowhere to be seen.

She already disliked whoever she was supposed to meet. Tardiness was something she couldn't stand.

Unfortunately, B&G Dawnspire was a company she couldn't afford to offend. The negotiations had reached their final stage, and the partnership promised considerable benefits for her business.

Under different circumstances, she would have walked out without a second thought.

Instead, she straightened the contract documents before her and glanced out through the glass wall.

The city moved on below, oblivious to her growing irritation.

Her thoughts gradually drifted elsewhere, and she found herself staring at the passing vehicles without really seeing them.

"Miss Dora."

The deep voice made her freeze.

Elsa knew that voice.

Her head snapped up so quickly that she nearly knocked her chair backward.

Alexander.

For a moment, she forgot how to breathe.

The man standing before her looked almost exactly as she remembered him. His dark grey eyes were cold and unreadable, and his expression revealed nothing.

Yet she could have sworn she had seen surprise flicker across his face.

It vanished before she could be certain.

"You..." Her voice faltered.

Three years.

She hadn't seen him in three years, and now he was standing right in front of her as though nothing had happened.

His tall frame cast a shadow over her, his presence overwhelming in a way she couldn't quite explain.

Elsa felt strangely lost beneath his gaze. Those dark grey eyes were both familiar and unfamiliar, stirring memories she had spent years trying to bury.

One corner of his mouth lifted in a humorless smile.

"Elsa," he said. "Or should I call you... wife?"

Whose wife?

Elsa stared at him for a moment, stunned by his audacity.

Then she forced her emotions into submission and returned his smile with one of her own.

"Mr. Alexander, please use the correct form of address. We are divorced."

"You certainly know how to hide."

His voice was indifferent, matching the almost expressionless face she remembered all too well.

Heartless scumbag.

Even now, she couldn't understand what had possessed her to fall in love with him.

Ignoring his remark, she gestured toward the empty seat opposite her and pushed the contract documents across the table.

"The negotiations have already reached their final stage. Whatever differences we may have, I'd prefer to put them aside and discuss the partnership."

"No."

Elsa blinked.

"No?"

"Come home with me."

His words hung in the air, leaving an awkward silence between them.

For a moment, she wondered if she'd heard him correctly.

Then she laughed.

"Home?"

She leaned back in her chair, regarding him with open disbelief. Irritation bubbled in her stomach, and she struggled to keep the sneer off her face.

"Mr. Alexander, I think you've forgotten something rather important. We are divorced. I have nothing to do with you anymore."

Her smile sharpened.

"Not in this lifetime."

"We are not divorced."

Elsa's smile faltered.

"What?"

"I never signed the divorce papers." Alexander regarded her calmly. "Legally, you are still my wife."

She stared at him, struggling to comprehend his words.

How is that possible?

She had left the divorce papers on the dining table, right where he couldn't possibly miss them. He had never loved her in the first place. Why would he refuse to sign them?

"Don't make me laugh."

"Then tell me," Alexander said, his eyes narrowing slightly. "What exactly were you doing, disappearing for more than three years after leaving nothing but divorce papers behind?"

His voice had dropped, losing its earlier indifference. It was low and controlled, yet there was something threatening beneath the surface.

"Running away from home without a word. Disappearing for three years. Did you honestly think I wouldn't look for you?"

Elsa's composure finally cracked.

"What was I supposed to do?" she snapped. "Stay in that house forever, pretending I was nothing more than your dirty little secret? What did you take me for?"

Her voice rose with every word, years of resentment spilling out before she could stop them.

Alexander stared at her, apparently unprepared for the outburst.

"Do you know how long I've been searching for you?"

For a fleeting moment, Elsa was caught off guard.

He had been searching for her?

The thought stirred something in her chest, but she quickly pushed it aside.

What did it matter now?

She had waited long enough for him to care when they were married. She wasn't about to start caring about his feelings now.

A waiter approached their table, carrying a tray, only to stop short when he noticed the tension between them. His gaze shifted uncertainly between Elsa and Alexander, as though he couldn't decide whether to proceed or retreat.

Elsa caught sight of him and cursed under her breath.

"Fuck."

Alexander's expression turned cold once more.

Elsa couldn't care less.

"I don't want to see you. Never again. That's why I left."

She enunciated every word, making sure he understood.

Then she stood, gripping the strap of her bag.

"It seems we won't be able to cooperate after all. I'll inform my business partner that the negotiations have fallen through."

"Elsa."

Alexander called her name as she turned away.

She took a step back, eyeing him warily.

"Try to stop me, and see how loudly I'll scream murder."

Without another glance, she walked away.

Her pace quickened as she reached the stairs, and by the time she stepped outside, she was practically running.

She hurried to her Porsche, threw herself into the driver's seat, and started the engine.

The moment she pulled out of the parking lot, she nearly collided with an approaching car.

"Shit! Shit! Shit!"

She slammed on the brakes, narrowly avoiding the other vehicle before swerving onto the main road.

Only then did she notice the beads of sweat rolling down the sides of her face.

Panic gripped her.

It felt as though something was chasing her, something lurking just behind her, waiting for the right moment to drag her back into the abyss of her past.

She couldn't think about it.

She didn't want to think about it.

And she wouldn't think about it.

Whatever Alexander was doing here, she refused to believe it had anything to do with her. Their meeting had been a coincidence, nothing more.

Still, she couldn't help cursing him under her breath for barging into her life and throwing everything into turmoil.

What kind of CEO attends such a small partnership meeting personally?

Hadn't she been told that a manager would represent the company?

Motherfucking scumbag.

She considered calling Dorothy and leaving the country for a while. The thought lingered for a few seconds before she shook her head.

Alexander was the CEO of one of the biggest companies in the world. Surely, he had better things to do than chase after her.

He had barely spared her any time when they were married. Why would that change now?

Elsa exhaled sharply, but it did little to ease her sour mood. Resentment and anger continued to churn inside her.

It had been three years since she'd last seen him.

Their last meeting had been brief, lasting less than ten minutes, and most of that time had been spent arguing. She hadn't even had the chance to take a proper look at him.

Yet she could still picture him perfectly.

His tall frame, standing more than a head above her even when she wore heels. His broad shoulders and the back she had often caught herself staring at despite his indifference toward her.

And that infuriatingly handsome face.

His black hair was always combed neatly into place, held stiff by what must have been an ungodly amount of hair gel. Every strand seemed determined not to move out of position.

He still looked ridiculously handsome.

Unhealthily handsome, even.

Elsa tightened her grip on the steering wheel.

Damn scumbag.

What the hell do you think you're doing, popping back into my life after three years?

She had worked too hard to leave that part of her life behind.

She wasn't going to let Alexander destroy the peace she'd finally found.

Not again.