Chapter 16

As I sat across from Shraf, munching on my toast, I couldn't help but let my mind wander to the intimate moments we had shared on this very kitchen table just a few hours ago. The way his hands had explored every inch of my body, the soft whispers of our shared desires. It was a memory that made my cheeks flush with heat.

But my thoughts were interrupted as Shraf's phone rang, pulling me back to reality. I watched as his expression shifted from relaxed to serious as he listened to the voice on the other end of the line.

"Uh-huh...Yes, I understand. Alright, I'll get to it right away." Shraf hung up and turned to me,

"Eva, I need your help with an urgent file. Can you please take a look at these legal documents and make sure everything is in order?" Shraf said firmly, his voice indicating the urgency of the situation.

I nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "Sure, Shraf. I'll get on it right away."

We both got to work, scanning through the papers and double-checking every detail. As I dove into the legal documents, I quickly became immersed in the task at hand. My proficiency in these matters had always been a source of pride for me, and I effortlessly pointed out the mistakes and discrepancies that needed to be addressed.

Shraf watched me work in silence, his intense gaze never leaving my face. When I finally finished, I looked up at him, feeling his eyes on me.

"Good work, Eva," he said, his voice low and intense. "I knew I could count on you."

I smiled at him.

"I've been thinking about your resignation," he said, leaning back in his chair. "And I've decided that I want you back."

I clenched my fists, feeling a wave of anger rising up in me. He had no right to just demand my presence back in his office to work for him.

"I'm sorry, Shraf, but I can't come back," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

"What do you mean you can't come back?" he demanded, his eyes narrowing.

"I need to take some time for myself. I need to figure out what I want in life," I replied, trying to keep my tone even.

"You can figure that out while working here. I need you here, Eva," he said, his voice getting louder.

"I'm sorry, Shraf. I can't do it," I said firmly, my voice finally showing some of the anger I felt.

"I'm not asking you to come back, Eva. I'm telling you," Shraf said, his tone turning darker as he stepped closer to me. "You can't just quit on us like this. I need you here."

"I can't just put my life on hold to fulfill your needs," I replied, my voice trembling slightly as I took a step back. "I need time for myself, Shraf. You can't expect me to be at your beck and call whenever it suits you."

"You're not just anyone, Eva," he retorted, his hands balling into fists. "You're the COO of this company. You have responsibilities."

"And I fulfilled those responsibilities to the best of my ability," I countered, my anger rising. "But that doesn't mean I owe you my entire life."

"You're making a mistake, Eva," he said, standing up from his desk. "You're throwing away everything we built together."

"We built this together, Shraf," I shot back, my emotions starting to get the better of me. "But you're the one who wanted a divorce. You need to appreciate me for who I am, not just what I can do for you. And until you can do that, I can't work for you anymore."

Shraf's eyes narrowed and his jaw clenched as I spoke. He took a step towards me, his hands balling into fists. "I didn't ask for a divorce because I didn't appreciate you, Eva," he said, his voice rising with frustration.

My heart was pounding in my chest, and I felt tears prickling at the corners of my eyes. I couldn't believe that Shraf was standing here, demanding that I come back to work for him after he had asked for a divorce. It was like he wanted to have his cake and eat it too.

"Why did you ask for a divorce, Shraf?" I demanded, my voice shaking with emotion. "You never loved me, you took me for granted, and you never made any effort in our marriage."

Shraf looked troubled, and I could see a flicker of pain in his eyes. For a moment, I thought he was going to say something, but he remained silent, his expression inscrutable. It was like he was struggling with some inner turmoil, and I couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy for him, despite my anger.

"Answer me, damn it!" I shouted, my voice rising. "Why did you ask for a divorce?"

Shraf's jaw clenched, and he looked away, his hands balling into fists at his sides. "I made a mistake, okay?" he said, his voice low and rough. "I was foolish, and I didn't appreciate what I had. But that doesn't mean we can't work together."

I scoffed, feeling a surge of resentment. "So, what? You want me to come back to work for you, just like that? Like nothing ever happened?"

Shraf took a step closer to me, and I felt my heart race as his gaze locked onto mine. "Yes," he said, his tone unapologetically firm. "Because you're the best damn COO I've ever had, and I need you close."

I felt a surge of anger and disbelief. How could he be so selfish? So demanding? It was like he didn't even care about my feelings or what I had been through since we separated. I clenched my fists, feeling the anger bubbling up inside of me.

"You're delusional, Shraf," I spat. "I'm not going to come back and work for you, not after what you put me through. You can forget it."

Shraf's expression darkened, and he took another step closer, his eyes blazing with anger. "You're making a mistake, Eva," he said, his voice low and menacing. "You don't know what you're throwing away."

I felt a chill run down my spine, and I took a step back, feeling suddenly vulnerable in the face of his anger. But I refused to back down. I had been through too much to let him bully me now.

"I know exactly what I'm throwing away," I said, my voice shaking but firm. "And it's not worth it."

Shraf's expression was troubled once again, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of regret in his eyes. But then it was gone, replaced by a cold, hard look.

"Fine," he said, his voice clipped. "If that's how it's going to be, then so be it. But don't expect me to make it easy for you, Eva. You made your bed, now you'll have to lie in it."