All Chapters of Seducing my Ex-husband back: Chapter 91 - Chapter 100

EXCUSES ~ALEXANDER'S POV~I hung up with Darla, her words still echoing in my head. "I told Claire everything. She's furious. With both of us."Perfect. Just fucking perfect.I leaned back in the rental car, staring at the burned remains of the Mexico factory through the windshield. Fifty million dollars turned to ash. Deliberate arson. And someone had wanted me here. Away from New York. Away from Claire.My phone buzzed. Rick Elderman."Hayes. I got your message from Darla.""Can you help?" I cut straight to it.A pause. "Depends. How desperate are you?""Desperate enough to owe you a favor.""Good." I could hear the smile in his voice. "I will stabilize your stock prices. Bring in Soft Star Limited for a deal. Should cover the Mexico losses and then some.""What's the catch?""The catch is you remember who saved your ass when you needed it most." His tone shifted. Business. Cold. "And you don't ask questions about my relationship with Darla." The message hung between us. A warning

CLOSER TO HOME~CLAIRE'S POV~The morning sun hit the sheets, but the other side of the bed was already cold. Panic, quick and instant, spiked in my chest. I sat up, heart hammering, looking for a note, a sign, anything. Had he left for Mexico without me? Had he broken his promise already?Then I saw it. A piece of paper on the nightstand.'Gone to the office to sign the transfer papers with Rick. Back in an hour. Pack your bags, angel. We're wheels up at noon.'I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding, clutching the note to my chest. He hadn't left me. He was just tying up loose ends so we could leave together.But the fear didn't fully fade. The text message from last night replay in my head: 'Next time, the fire will be closer to home.'I couldn't just sit around and wait. I needed to move. To burn off this nervous energy before I exploded. I changed into leggings and a sports bra and headed down to Alexander's home gym. It was state-of-the-art, of course. Heavy bags, weights

MADAM CEO~CLAIRE'S POV~I had been staring at the heart monitor for two hours, watching the ongoing green line that proved Alexander was still fighting, when my phone buzzed.David.I stepped into the hallway to answer, keeping my voice low. "Is it done? Did you cover up the explosion?""The police report says 'gas main leak,' and the press bought it," David said, but his voice was tight with panic. "But we have a bigger problem. The Board of Directors. They found out Alexander never landed in Mexico."My stomach dropped. "How?""Rick Elderman was waiting for him at the airstrip. When the jet didn't arrive, he called the Board. Now they think Alexander has abandoned his post during a crisis. They've called an emergency vote of no confidence. They're going to strip him of his CEO title, Claire. Today.""They can't do that.""They can. Unless someone stops them. I can't do it....I am just the CFO. They need Alexander."I looked back through the open door. Alexander was pale, hooked up

WAR PAINT~CLAIRE'S POV~I didn't sleep. Not really. I spent the night in the armchair beside Alexander's bed, watching the rise and fall of his chest, waiting for an enemy I couldn't see to strike again.When the sun finally broke through the heavy curtains of the Villa, I moved.I didn't wake Annette, who was sleeping in the guest room down the hall. I didn't call Darla. Today wasn't about friends or comfort. Today was about blood.I stood in front of the bathroom mirror, applying my makeup with extreme care. Foundation to cover the sleepless circles under my eyes. Sharp eyeliner to hide the fear. And finally, the dark red lipstick.War paint.I chose a black suit.....fierce, tailored, expensive. It was something Alexander would have approved of. It looked like armor.When I walked back into the bedroom, Alexander was awake. He was struggling to push himself up against the headboard, his face pale and slick with sweat from the effort."What do you think you're doing?" I asked, rushi

UNWELCOME GUEST~CLAIRE'S POV~The ride back to the Villa was long and quiet. The excitement from the courtroom was wearing off, and I felt very tired. I looked at the trees passing by the dark windows of the SUV, counting the miles until I could be back with Alexander.We turned onto the private road leading to the estate. I started to relax."Ilynos," I said, reaching for my bag. "Do we need to stop at the gate for clearance?""No, Ma'am. I have the remote..." Ilynos trailed off. His eyes flicked to the rearview mirror, his expression hardening. "Hold on.""What is it?""We have a tail. Silver sedan. It's been back there since the highway exit."My stomach dropped. "I thought we lost the press.""It's not the press."Ilynos hit the brakes, bringing the SUV to a halt just outside the massive iron gates of the Villa. He unbuckled his seatbelt. "Stay inside. Lock the doors."I twisted in my seat to look out the back window. The silver sedan had pulled up right behind us, blocking us in