Chapter 5: My Ex, My Dilemma

Leonard’s POV

I honestly thought I was imagining things.

I couldn’t believe my eyes.

For a split second, I actually convinced myself my mind was playing tricks on me.

She stood there, holding a mop, dressed in a cleaner’s uniform, her hair tied back plainly—yet it was unmistakably her.

Camille.

My heart slammed hard against my ribs.

“No… this can’t be real,” I muttered under my breath.

I needed to be sure.

“Camille.”

She turned.

The moment our eyes met, something twisted violently inside my chest—shock, anger and fear.

Before I could think twice, I crossed the distance between us, grabbed her arm, and dragged her toward my office.

“Let go of me!” she struggled, yanking her hand free as we stumbled inside.

I slammed the door shut and turned to face her. 

“What the hell are you doing in my office?” I demanded.

She raised an eyebrow slowly and unimpressed. “Your office?”

She glanced around deliberately, mock surprise in her eyes. “Are you blind? Can’t you see I’m working?”

Of all places in the city, it had to be here.

“Of all the companies you could work,” I snapped, “it had to be my office?”

She shrugged. “Well, I didn’t know you worked here. You never told me where you worked.”

Her tone changed to anger. “Wait Leonard, so you knew my father before now, yet you never said a word.”

My eyes hardened. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I said flatly.

“You know him,” She insisted on her accusation. “He was the CSO and there was no way you would pass through those gates without knowing him.”

I scoffed. “How do you expect me to know every common security man in this company?”

“He wasn’t common!” She yelled now, getting offended.

“Well, well, well. I don’t care,” I replied coolly. 

I stepped closer, pinning her against the wall before she could move.

“You will quit this job,” I growled. “And you will never show your face here again. We cannot work in the same place.”

“No,” she said firmly. “I won’t.”

Her eyes didn’t tremble. Her voice didn’t shake.

She placed her finger on my chest and calmly added “You don’t own me anymore, Leonard. I’ll do whatever I want and listen and listen carefully. You no longer have a say in my life. 

She leaned closer.

“So fuck off Leo.”

She shoved me aside, opened the door, and walked out.

I stood there, stunned.

Camille… talked back?

And even walked away unafraid?

This was bad.

Very bad.

If Duke found out she worked here, I was finished.

My hands shook as I pulled out my phone.

“Mum,” I whispered as it rang. “Please pick up.”

She didn't pick until the second ringing.

“Hello, my boy.”

“Mum, there’s a problem.”

“What is it?”

“It’s Camille.”

“What has that infertile goat done again?” she scoffed.

“You know the divorce papers we prepared to always use to scare her.. She signed it yesterday and left the house.”

A pause.

“Hmmmmm. Why didn’t you call me yesterday?” she snapped.

“I thought she’d come back. She left with nothing. No clothes. No money.”

“Why are you panicking? Then she added "Relax son, it's not that serious, she’ll come home.”

“No, Mum,” I cut in. “She’s here.”

“Where?”

“My office.”

Another pause.

“You see? I told you she’d come around. She said smugly. “She can't survive without you.” she said confidently 

“No, you don’t understand,” I said 

breathlessly. “She works here. As a cleaner.”

“What?” she gasped.

“If Duke finds out—”

“Calm down,” she said quickly. “Duke won’t be back until Monday. Today is Wednesday. You have until then to get her out.”

“How?” I whispered. “She’s changed. She’s not scared of me anymore.”

“There’s always a way,” she said. “Maybe she wants your attention. Give her what she wants. You’re a man, make use of your charm son.”

“Ok mum. I'll try.” I replied calmly 

“Don't try, make it work. Remember there's a bigger picture. Don't let that infertile rat ruin it.”

I ended the call, my head spinning.

All day, I couldn’t focus.

I kept glancing out the window, hoping to catch a glimpse of her again.

Nothing.

That evening, I leaned on my car, waiting for her to come out. 

After 15 minutes. She finally came out of the building.

“ Ca. Camille.” I whispered

She looked up at me. Rolled her eyes and sighed deeply and continued walking towards the gate.  

Anger burned through me. I ran after her.

“Cammi. I called again, careful not to raise my voice.

“Camille.” someone called loudly.

I looked up. It was one of those dirty, old, annoying gatemen.

I walked past them without a word, stood outside the gate for a while waiting but when she didn't come out.. I went back inside, saw her still chatting with the security man.

I got into my car, and drove home, hoping she might come home.

But Camille didn’t come back that night.

For five years, she had never slept outside our house.

I didn’t sleep at all.

The next morning, I arrived at the office before sunrise.

At 6 a.m., I found her cleaning quietly.

I looked around. No one.

I moved behind her and grabbed her waist, pulling her hard against me.

“Good morning, my caramel,” I murmured, inhaling her neck. “God, I missed you.”

“Stop,” she struggled, trying to break free.

“Why should I?” I whispered. “I’m your husband.”

I kissed her neck and slid my hand up, squeezing her breast. “Oh! I mis”

“Leonard, stop, We are divorced” she said urgently, cutting me off. 

“This is a workplace and someone might see us.” she shifted uncomfortably.

“I don't mind my love… I know I messed up,” I said softly. “Can we just start all over—”

Click. Click.

The sharp sound of heels froze me.

I released her immediately.

Zoe. 

Why now? Why must she show up now?

She walked in like she owned the place, hips swaying, lips curved in that smug smile she always wore.

“Well, well,” she said sweetly. “Look who’s here so early”

“My sugar boy,” she said sweetly. “I know you missed my absence yesterday. After the fun we had on Monday night, I needed a whole day to recover.”

My jaw tightened.

I wished—no, I prayed—she would just shut up.

Just minutes ago, Camille had almost melted in my arms. I could still feel the warmth of her body, the way she stiffened but didn’t completely pull away. And now this?

“I can't get enough of your body.. She playfully placed her hand on my chest.

“Zoe, stop. We are in the office” I shifted 

“No one is here yet, we can take one quickie breakfast in your office before work starts. She continued rubbing my chest.

“Stop, someone is here,” I said.

Who? When did you care about a common cleaner” she laughed. Tilted her head.

Her eyes narrowed as she finally noticed Camille properly.

“Wait… isn’t this Camille?”

Her eyes swept Camille’s uniform. “Why are you in our cleaners uniform?” Her lips curled in a mocking smile. “You work here?”

“She does,” I muttered, walking away.

Camille’s POV

“Leonard. What is happening?” Zoe tried running after him but changed her mind.

She turned and walked towards me laughing.

“Hey wifey! “So this is where you ended up? From calling him leftovers to crawling back?".

“I am not interested in Leonard or you. I'm only here for work.”

 I turned and started mopping the floor.

Suddenly, water splashed everywhere.

She kicked the bucket and shoved me hard.

I fell on the slippery tiled floor.

Pain shot through my back as I hit the floor.

The mop slid away.

Footsteps rushed toward us.

Leonard.

I lifted my head slowly, my heart pounding.

Zoe cried instantly, “how dare you, you lowlife cleaner!”

I met Leonard’s eyes.

Just minutes ago, his hands were all over me.

His lips on my skin.

Now, I lay on the floor, soaked and shaking.

I waited.

Whose side would he choose?

Before he could speak, another voice cut through the air.