Page 32 of Chasing His Bride

And there’s only one way to get that.

Chapter 13

Amber

I chat with Leon as I pour myself a coffee in the staff room; he’s asked me out on a couple of occasions, but I’ve refused. He’s handsome, intelligent, and a thoroughly nice guy, but I’m back on my single-minded track of my career coming before a man.

“See you later,” I say, walking away from him and down the corridor toward my office, pushing the handle of my door, and striding inside.

I stop and stare at the dark-haired, tall figure dressed in a knee-length coat over charcoal trousers. He stands with his back to me, but the delicious shiver that runs down my spine, landing at my core, tells me who it is.

I blink hard for a moment, inhaling in his masculine, woody scent as he looks at the picture of the million dollar check on the wall—his check. I’ve blanked out his bank details, name, and signature. It’s not on my wall to gloat that I turned down that much money; it’s there to show me I can live my life without a man’s help.

He knows I’m here; he senses me; I know that when his shoulders tense and spine straightens. He points to the copy of the check on the wall and then turns and locks eyes with me. My heart is thumping so strongly it resonates in my ears.

“Why didn’t you take the check?” he asks.

I smile. “Writing a check like that is nothing to you... but for me, cashing it is everything. I didn’t marry you for your money; I did it to help you out. And yes, I won the bet.”

He swallows and nods.

“Why didn’t answer my email,” he says as his eyes roam down my blouse, to my pencil skirt and my high-heeled shoes, taking in my smart office attire. Now standing in front of him is a powerful, successful lawyer. I look so different from the girl he left behind.

As his gaze rises back to my face, my heart thudding so hard it’s like it’s trying to crack open my rib cage.

“There was nothing to answer, unless it was divorce papers,” I say. “The email wasn’t to catch up.”

“I needed to talk to you,” he grunts.

“You can talk now that you’re here?”

He glances at my hand. “Where’s your wedding ring?” he growls a little louder than I would expect him to.

My eyebrows furrow as I give him a look that says, “Are you for real?” It turns out the words come out too.

“You should be wearing it.”

I laugh out loud, rearing my head back before looking back at him and shaking my head. “We’re not married in the true sense of the word, Jack. I have a legal agreement with you, which will end once you send the divorce papers through. You made it very clear that was all it was, so don’t be a hypocrite now.”

There’s a knock at my door; it creaks open, and Leon stands at the entrance. “Are you okay, Amber?”

I nod. “This is Jack; he’s a friend.”

“I’m her husband,” Jack growls, his eyes glaring at Leon.

I can feel Leon’s gaze on me, likely pondering why I haven’t uttered a word to him about being married.

“On paper,” I hiss. “Again, why are you here?”

“Are you sure everything is okay?” Leon asks.

“I’m trying to have a conversation with my wife,” Jack says, exhaling loudly behind my back.

Leon stares at me one last time before he gives me a quick nod of understanding of why I keep turning him down.

The door clicks shut.

I spin to Jack. “Why. Are. You. Here,” I spit.

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