005

I blinked innocently at him. "Mr. Armstrong. Surprised seeing you here." 

"You're surprised? You aren't even supposed to be here," he growled. "I'd have thought you'd have moved on after divorcing me and disappearing for five years. But no. You came back and found a way to get close to me, as you did before." 

I just smiled at that. I was almost certain I was starting to look crazy by then. 

I had to admit, I was expecting him to confront me, but I hadn't expected it so soon, and definitely not on a table that was slowly getting occupied by most of the richest men and women in Chicago. I expected more... class. But I guess not. 

I smoothed a hand over my dress and sat straighter. "I don't eat leftovers, Mr. Armstrong." Not anymore, at least. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but," I tilted my head, "I believe I passed your seat on my way here. You came all the way here just to talk to me." 

His jaw clenched, and his expression grew more furious. 

Behind him, I noticed a powerful-looking man approaching the table with his beautiful wife by his side. 

Dean opened his mouth to speak, but I was quicker. 

"Save yourself the embarrassment and find your place before Mr. Gilbert and his wife get here." 

I didn't know why I even bothered, because of course, he didn't listen to me. How could he? 

He scoffed. "So now you think you suddenly belong because you found a way to sneak in here? You're a nobody, Joan. You're—" 

"I believe I see my name on the seat," a voice interrupted. 

I watched with sheer satisfaction the way his mouth hung open before he turned back. 

"O—oh, Mr. Gilbert. I—I," he stood quickly, "I'm sorry. I just came to say hello to an old friend." 

Gilbert's eyes flicked to me. I smiled and waved a little. 

We knew each other from a few times I'd accompanied Victor on one of his not-so-famous old man self-maintenance dates at the elderly gentlemen's club. 

He barely even looked at my pathetic ex-husband before pulling out a chair for his wife. "Know your place." 

"Of course," Dean muttered.

And I could've sworn I saw him curtsey a little before walking off to his seat down the table. 

Once he was gone, I let my shoulders fall. 

I knew that was going to be the last I saw of him, but I was taking as much relief as I could get per time. 

"You did good,"  Brandon whispered in my ear. 

I let out a quiet gasp. I'd forgotten he was next to me. 

My face flushed when I looked over at him. "I was nervous." 

"Doesn't change the fact that you did well. Acknowledge it."

I swallowed, but didn't say anything. 

It was almost scary to me how nervous he made me feel. I hadn't felt so nervous around a man in years, and the last time I felt that way, I ended up with a man who made me feel worthless in every possible way. 

Inside me, I made a plan to avoid unnecessary future meetings with him after this. 

The early parts of the ball went in a blur, without any more disturbances from my ex-husband. I was sure he was sure he was itching to find a way to embarrass me, but too bad for him because I wasn't that woman anymore. 

I sat quietly in my seat, barely saying anything except when a question was directed at me. I preferred to listen, to observe and take notes. 

Seated around us were some of the most powerful businessmen in the state, and this was my first interaction with them. I needed to learn as much as I could because as soon as I was introduced—which was happening in a short time—I was no longer going to be seen as Dean's ex-wife and Brandon's date. They were going to see me as an equal... a partner, but to some, a competition, and they were going to let their guards up. This was my chance to catch each of their slip-ups and determine their characters from a good vantage point. 

I felt a familiar, uncomfortable pang in my abdomen, and a wave of annoyance hit me. 

Of all days for my period to arrive, it just had to be today. 

I stood to go use the bathroom when a hand grabbed my wrist softly. I looked down to see Brandon staring with questions in his eyes. 

"I have to use the restroom," I told him. 

He let go as he glanced behind me. "Do you need me to come with you?" 

I almost chuckled at the question. "I'll be fine." 

He nodded and then turned back to the table, excusing me.

I exited the ballroom toward one of the corridors by the side. The women's room was just a few steps to my right, and I went in to check myself. Thankfully, it wasn't what I thought it was, but I was sure it was coming any day soon. 

As I washed my hands under the tap, the door opened, and someone walked in. 

I turned, and when my eyes made contact with hers, I froze, recognition hitting me instantly. 

She didn't recognize me immediately, though. I noticed the moment she did. "Jo... Joan?" She did a double-take. "Is that really you?"

I shrugged without saying anything, keeping my hands under the dryer. 

I felt it when she stepped closer. "You look... You look different." 

I cracked a small smile at that, then turned to her. 

Something about her blue dress caught my attention, and my smile froze—it wasn't the fact that I recognized it as mine, but that the stomach area was... protruding. She was pregnant. 

I'd done occasional checks on them, but I never knew she was pregnant. How had I missed that?

I masked my surprise. "So do you. Congratulations on the baby." 

Her face glowed with the praise. "Thank you. Dean and I had been trying for years. He was really desperate for a child, and I'm so glad I could give him one."

My mind instantly pictured what was going to happen if he ever found out I had a child for him, but I shook the thoughts aside. He was never going to find out. 

"Congrats, again." I forced a smile and made my way to the door. 

But as I passed by her, she grabbed my arm. "Joan, wait." 

I stopped, my eyes trained on the door. 

"There's no bad blood between us... right?" That made me look back at her. Her smile faltered. "I mean, Dean left you for me, and I know you took it quite badly. I promise I wasn't trying to ruin your marriage when I started working for him. We just fell in love and..."

"It's fine," I cut her off stiffly. "You aren't the first secretary Dean's been with. I can't blame you for his..." My eyes darted around her face. She looked very similar to how I looked when I was still married to him. It was well hidden behind all the makeup, but I could identify the misery from a mile away. I hoped, for her baby's sake, that she found the courage to leave before he decided he was done with her. My lips tilted, "...kink."

Something in her expression shifted, and it didn't take much to tell she understood what I meant. I was once her, after all. 

She let go of my arm, chuckling. "Well, at least that's settled. Enjoy the ball, Joan."

I turned and walked out without a glance back at her. 

Physically, I put on an act like I hadn't cared, but deep down, I was unnerved by how much I didn't know. 

Something had changed in the lives I was back to ruin, and I had to find out what.