Chapter 6

Jules swallowed as she stared, her face unreadable, lips pressed in a thin line. Luckily, the party didn't seem to notice her as they just made their way into the building—her building.

Isn't that your ex-husband?” Zee whispered, as she leaned in, her eye tracking the men walking in.

Jules spun around, a crease forming between her brows. "What are you saying?"

Zee quickly averted her gaze, shifting uncomfortably on her feet. “I'm sorry." She apologized, silently cursing herself for running her mouth.

Jules just squinted at her and turned back to face the car. "He’s not my ex-husband. He's just a man I used to know.”

Without another word, she got into the car, and the car sped out of the premises.

In no time, their car slowed down as they approached a brightly painted building with pretty drawings of simple objects, like apples and balls drawn on the walls.

Jules spotted Nancy immediately they got closer, her arms folded with a worried look on her face as she stood by the gate.

The moment she saw Jules step out of the car, she hurried toward her, steps urgent. “Ma’am, I tried everything to make him come with me. But he wouldn’t listen. I didn’t know what else to do, so I called you.”

“It's alright.” Jules said, looking ahead. "Where is he?”

"This way." Nancy said, and two of them made their way through children and their guardians, into the school.

“Mummy!" Asher yelled, tossing away the toy boat in his hand, as he sped towards Jules, drawing the attention of the other kids who were yet to be picked up.

Jules bent in time to receive him and pull him into a tight hug. A smile spread across her face as every other thing melted away. “Glad to see you too, my love.” She pulled away slightly. “Now what’s this I hear about you refusing to go home with Aunty Nancy?”

Asher's face fell, his eyes dropping to the floor as he fidgeted with his fingers. “I wanted to go with you."

“Oh no, baby. You know mummy works. I promised I would come take you home if I wasn't, didn't I?”

Asher nodded.

The first time he'd done this, Jules was surprised and wondered if Nancy had said a bad word to him. But turns out it was nothing, and her mom told her she'd spoiled him with too much attention.

“What about daddy?”

Jules' heart skipped a beat, but she blinked it off and ruffled Asher's brown hair playfully, his innocent blue eyes staring into hers. "Oh, you know daddy's away too. He'll be back soon.”

Asher smiled, excited.

Finally, she rose to her feet, holding his tiny hand. “Now, let's get you out of here. Mummy has a meeting to attend.”

As they turned to leave, Jules waved to their teacher, who sat smiling at a corner, watching. Then they all left the building.

After convincing Asher to go home with Nancy, Jules got into her own car and headed back to her company. Reminding herself of what was ahead.

*****

He glanced at his wristwatch for the umpteenth time. And when he glanced up, he caught George's face, which held an apologetic look for the delay.

The chairs around the table were already filled and everyone talked in murmurs while avoiding every other person's eyes.

Nolan sighed inwardly, his eyes straying to the one empty chair since he got there.

Left for him, he'd have never attended this meeting in person if his assistant hadn't told him how strictly the CEO ran the company.

He was intrigued when he heard about a CEO as strict as he was and he just had to be present.

Except now, it seemed punctuality wasn’t part of the package.

As he shifted his focus to his phone in his hand, his assistant, standing behind his chair, leaned forward in a whisper. “She's arrived."

The doors opened, and she walked in.

Nolan looked up. He froze.

‘It can't be,’ his mind whispered.

His eyes watched her every movement as she walked with calm authority, every step purposeful, like she didn’t just own the space—she created it.

The murmurs died down as soon as she took her seat at the head. Then, as if making a head count, her eyes swept across the faces at the table.

And just like the rest of the others, her eyes on him didn't last up to a second.

It was like he wasn't there.

“Oh, my God,” Nolan murmured, unable to take his eyes off her like he was trying to draw her attention.

Three years and she'd transformed from the woman on her knees to a woman whom a room filled with men went quiet for when she walked in.

‘Wonderful,’ he thought.

“Sorry for the delay.” Jules apologized with a straight voice, her eyes resting on George. "I had a few personal issues to take care of, like I said earlier.”

Nolan's head was spinning.

He'd forgotten how confident she could be. But this was more than confidence. This was steel.

“Shall we begin?” Jules asked with a raised brow.

George cleared his throat and sat up in his seat. “Well, I’d like to begin by drawing your attention to the new face at this table." He turned his gaze to Nolan, making Jules finally look at him.

“This is Nolan Cross. Tech visionary, CEO of Cross Tech, and the reason for this meeting.”

Jules' lips curled into a polite smile. "Good to meet you, sir. I hope we have a fruitful partnership.” She turned away again.

‘Good to meet you? Sir?’

‘Sir?!’ Nolan yelled in his head. He was this close to losing it and just match down to where she sat and ask her if she'd lost her memory.

Was three years enough for her to forget him? He asked himself, tapping his foot impatiently on the ground as his eyes watched every movement her body made.

Every breath she took.

She was just as stunning as he could remember, only she looked even better without him.

‘I messed up,’ he told himself, squeezing his knee beneath the table, his jaw clenched.

Just as George's voice rose in the room, Nolan signalled to his assistant and whispered in his ear. “I need to speak with her after this meeting.”

He had to, or he'd lose his mind.