Chapter 5

Thane's pov

I gulped down another shot of whiskey, feeling it burn down my throat. I've been seething since Andera left in her Rolls Royce, swaying those lush hips as she walked past me. I still can't believe Andera is the daughter of The one and only Campbell. Did my father know? Was that why he forced me to marry her after I....? 

Goddammit!

Everything about her has changed. She's confident and sassy and ..... beautiful, with her auburn hair flowing in waves, framing her heart-shaped face and her captivating hazel eyes, polls of green and brown. 

" She chose me. " I muttered to myself

" Sir? " Paul, who had been with me ever since they left, asked.

" Paul, I think she chose to partner with me to spite me, rub off her wealth and affluence in my face. " I groaned as I set the glass down on my desk.

" Well, sir, perhaps she chose to collaborate with Renihardt's infrastructure given how outstanding we are. I mean, when it comes to large-scale infrastructure and managing complex construction projects, we are the best." Paul's voice was layered with pride.

I stand from my leather chair, walking towards a corner of my office; Paul does have a point. But right now, I can't focus on anything except Andera. The anger in her words, the vehemence in her eyes. 

      I never wanted her out on the streets. Since the time of our divorce, I believed she was living with Pa Eugene's relatives. What if her father hadn't found her? My heart clenched tightly in my chest. She has every right to be furious with me; I should have searched for her; I should have made sure she was doing okay.

" Dammit, Thane! " I mutter.

I loosened my tie from my neck, suddenly feeling suffocated. 

I need to make this collaboration with her company work so that my conscience can be at peace. But that would mean getting rid of every side distraction.

" But I do have some concerns, sir, if I may? ". 

Paul's brows furrow and I can already tell what is bothering him; it's bothering me, too. 

" What is it, Paul? " 

 " Sir, I know this partnership with Auraspire Energies will push us forward and benefit the company in the long run, but don't you think it's risky to go into this deal with.. her, I mean, she's your ex-wife and you're soon to be married. " Paul said carefully. 

I snorted and laughed dryly. He looked at me with confusion. His worries were different from mine

I laughed again, and the image of Andera came to my mind. My body suddenly heats up. I can still see her hair flowing freely in my mind's eyes. I can see her eyes, eyes that used to look at me like I was the most marvelous thing in the world. 

 " Thank you for not believing me, thank you for breaking my heart, thank you, Thane, for never once in your life, loving me. I owe who I am today to it.".  

 Her words echoed in my ears. There's no denying the transformation, her confidence, her charisma, even her body, like since when did she have tits? Andera, I remembered, was two steps away from being flat-chested, and those hips.....fuck! Who knew she had it in her? But what blew my mind away was her newfound boldness. The old Andrea would never question me. She was always willing to follow my orders. She was like the flowers she kept in our room, soft and easy, That Andera is gone, and all that's left is a sassy, confident, and strong woman and I can't help the sense of loss that overwhelms me at that

A woman such as that should still be......

   

"Sir? Sir? Sir! ". Paul barks

" What is it? " I hollower back

" I've been calling your attention for a minute, but you were lost in thoughts of your own. Thoughts, I assume, have something to do with your ex-wife. " He grins, and I shoot him a stop-talking look.  

 Paul has been my assistant since I became the CEO, which was about eight years ago, not to mention that we are both cousin's, which affords him the leniency to talk to me causally.

" I wasn't thinking about Andrea. " I lie

" I think you were, sir; as I said, be careful, you're getting married soon, and speaking of your wife-to-be, she's been calling you nonstop. " 

He points to where my phone is vibrating on my desk.

Not now, I don't need Melissa's drama today. 

 " I'll get going now. " 

He picks up his files and walks out of my office, leaving me alone with my phone ringing nonstop.

The minute I answer the call, I have to pull the phone away from my ear because of Melissa's shouting.

 " I said I wanted lasagna, you good for nothing cook, what in the world in this atrocity!...... " 

She's yelling at the help again; no matter how many times I tell her to be nice to them, she always loses her temper.

" .....oh, Thane has answered. Hello babe. " Her voice softened 

" What is it this time, Melissa? " I ask tiredly.

" Baby, I think we should get another cook. Could you believe this one made me wait thirty minutes for my lunch, and she couldn't even get it right? " She whines

"Is that why you called me? I'm working my ass off here, while you're at home, doing nothing but still bothering me about what the cook didn't make to your taste?! Melissa, if you want something done right, do it yourself. "

 I end the call before she can start another World War Two with me. Ever since we started our wedding preparation, Melissa has been on edge. 

This is getting too much for me; I don't need it right now. In fact, after today, my priority is to find out the sole purpose why Andrea chose to partner with my company. Something tells me there's another reason, a more personal reason. I need to eliminate any form of distractions from my mind, so, I pick up my phone to make a call.

I'm about to make a big, impulsive decision.

" Hello, Good day sir. " She answers 

" Good day, I want my wedding plans canceled. " I reply the woman 

" Sir, if it's about what happened last time, I made sure to make the preparations more grand and....."

" It's not about your plans." I cut her short 

" I've decided to postpone my wedding. "