I Want You Back!

I hesitated, staring at Ethan’s name flashing on my screen. My heart raced. What did he want now?

I watched as the call ended, hoping that would be the last of it. But then it began ringing again. I rolled my eyes in annoyance; the ringtone seeming louder than usual, as if urging me to answer.

Taking a deep breath, I picked up, trying to keep my voice steady. “Hello?”

“Alice,” he said, his tone sharp.

“What do you want?“ I asked.

“Who was that guy you were with at the restaurant?”

I frowned, taken aback by his question. “Why does it matter to you? We’re done, remember?”

“I just want to know. Tell me who he is,” he pressed. “You didn’t mention you were seeing someone.”

“Look, it’s none of your business,” I shot back, frustration boiling over. “You lost that right when you decided to cheat on me with my best friend.”

“Alice, wait—” he began, but I cut him off.

“Goodbye, Ethan.” I hung up, my heart pounding in my chest. What was that about? How dare he?

The next day, I sat in my office, the call with Ethan replaying over and over in my mind. Was it because he saw me with Jake? Or did he think my life would be miserable without him?

I was lost in thought when my door swung open, snapping me back to the moment.

My boss walked in, a look of amusement on his face. “Guess what, Alice? We got the deal!” he said excitedly.

“Wow!” I exclaimed. “That’s great news!”

“I know. It’s all because of you. Mr. Jake mentioned he liked the speech you gave, and he’s willing to have dinner with you to discuss the business further,” my boss continued.

“Sir—please excuse me, but why me?” I asked, stunned. My boss frowned slightly.

“You still need to finalize the deal. He’s interested in collaborating, and we need to assure him he’s in safe hands. Besides, he insisted it must be you he meets with,” he explained. I nodded slowly, feeling a wave of nerves wash over me.

“I’ll forward the address to you once I get back to my office. I trust that you'll make me proud,” he said, giving me a warm smile before turning to leave.

Once my boss left, I finally found my breath again.

Why? Why can't I escape him? First, he turned out to be the CEO I had to impress. Then he picked me up from work, leading to a dinner date, and now he’s asking me on another date. Again!

I sank back into my chair, battling with my confusion. Is this just business for him? Or is there something more?

I ran my hand through my hair, wondering if I was ready for this. I glanced at the clock on my desk, the seconds ticking by, each one pulling me closer to our meeting.

Just then, my phone buzzed with a new message. It was from my boss, confirming the dinner time and place. I read it twice, trying to steady my racing heart. Why did this feel so different?

---

Once I got home, I carefully chose my outfit, wanting to strike the right balance between professional and approachable.

I settled on a simple black dress that made me feel confident. I couldn’t help but wonder if Jake would notice.

When I arrived at the restaurant, I spotted Jake at a table, his presence immediately drawing my attention. He looked up and smiled as I approached, his eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief.

“Hey. You look great,” he said, gesturing for me to sit.

“Thanks. You too,” I replied, trying to ignore the fact that he had just complimented me.

Jake leaned in slightly, his expression serious. “I really enjoyed your presentation. I’m willing to offer you a deal—only if you can accept,” he said. I frowned.

“And what's that?” I asked, curious about what this deal could be, if not the one we just closed with him.

Just before he could speak, the entrance door swung open, causing everyone to turn.

My heart raced as Ethan stormed toward our table, his expression a mix of anger and disbelief. I stole a glance at Jake, his gaze locked onto Ethan as he approached.

“You!” Ethan shouted, his voice echoing in the restaurant. “What are you doing with my wife?”

I winced at the word “wife.” It felt like a knife twisting in my chest, a painful reminder of everything he had done. I glanced back at Jake again, who remained seated, his brow furrowing in concern.

“Did you follow me here?” I stood up, meeting his gaze as he shifted his focus to me.

“None of that matters right now. I want to know what you’re doing with him,” he said, his tone laced with vulnerability.

“Ethan,” I paused, taking a quick breath, “my life is no longer your concern. You agreed to that when you signed the divorce papers.” I tried to keep my voice steady.

He stepped closer, his eyes pleading. “Did you move on this fast? Just a month after everything?” He dropped to his knees beside the table, desperation etched on his face. “Alice, please. I’m sorry. See, My life hasn’t felt complete since the divorce. I made a mistake and i want to fix it. Please,”

My heart twisted at his words, but anger bubbled up. “You think this is how it works? You cheated on me with my best friend! You shattered everything we had, and now you want me back?”

He shook his head, his voice rising. “No! We can fix everything. I made a bad choice, i know. I let my ego get the best of me, i know. But I can change. I’ll leave Natasha. I’ll do anything. Just come back to me,”

“Ethan,” I said, my voice firm. “You made your choices. You don’t get to just take back the pain you caused me. I'm sorry but we are done.”

His expression shifted from desperation to a mix of anger and disbelief. “You can’t mean that. I love you Alice. Okay, Okay fine, tell me what you want me to do. I'll do anything, Just mention it,” he said, i giggled, folding my arms.

“You'll do anything right?“ I asked.

“Yes, i promise, anything,” he nodded.

“Good, Now leave my life and never show up again. As you can see. I have moved on. And i am happy with him. I'll advise you do the same,”

“No, Look, Alice i cant do that. Please, you have to understand. Okay, you know what? I'll call Natasha right now. I'll tell her we're done. Just watch,” Ethan said, getting up on his feet as he hurriedly took out his phone from his pocket, his hands shaky.

Just before i could tell Ethan there was no need for that, Jake stood up from his seat, his posture commanding. “Hey, you heard her, she's moved on, which means you have no business with her.” His voice was steady, but there was rage in his eyes.

Ethan turned to Jake, bewildered. “Who the hell are you to tell me what to do?“

Jake stepped closer, locking eyes with Ethan as he spoke.

“Hate to break it to you, but I am her fiance, Now i believe that gives me enough right to tell you to stay the hell away from her,”

My eyes flew open at Jake's words. What did he just say?