Page 92 of The Accidental Wife

“Are you going to explain what the hell is going on, or shall I just walk out of here?” I snap agitated, uncrossing my arms and placing them on my hips.

“I bought out the company. As of this morning, I own Starlight.” I gape at him and shake my head.

“You did…you did what?” I utter scowling at him. He did not just say he bought out the company I work for, did he?

“I bought—”

“I heard you!” I shout, and he frowns, throwing his hands up in the air.

“Then why ask?!”

I pinch the bridge of my nose and count to ten to calm myself down before I smack him over the head with my shoe. “Cole, please, please tell me this doesn’t make you my boss again. Tell me you’re just a silent investor or something?” I question, peering up at him, and he raises his brows and purses his lips.

“Well…”

“Oh my God!” I shout at him and start pacing the room frantically. “Of all the companies you could have bought, you come and buy the one I work at? Are you fucking serious? Why, Cole?!”

Cole shakes his head and shrugs. “It’s a good investment; they were struggling financially, so I stepped in and bought it. I’ve been wanting to expand Cult Designs for some time now. I saw an opportunity, and I took it. Starlight and Cult Designs are now linked, so technically speaking, I’m your bosses, bosses boss which effectively makes me—” He explains calmly, and I glare at him furiously.

“—An arsehole.” I finish for him, and he stares at me unamused. “You could have bought any company. I refuse to believe this was another coincidence. There’s just no fucking way! I cannot be this unlucky surely.” I snipe, running my fingers through my hair as I continue to pace. I’m going to lose my mind— this boy is going to make me lose my mind at the tender age of twenty-seven.

“Actually, it wasn’t a coincidence. I knew you worked here. I asked Heather to track you down.” He confesses, and I stop pacing and look at him incredulously.

“Why? Why, Cole, why would you do this? I don’t understand. We agreed to walk away from one another. You promised me you would let me go.” I state, not bothering to mask the annoyance in my tone as we stood staring at one another.

“I did!” He shouts, taking another step toward me. “I kept my promise. I walked away and left you alone, didn’t I?!”

“For good. I said for good, Cole, not just a couple of months! What the hell do you want from me? Huh? What?” I question desperately while looking into his eyes, and he licks his lips holding my gaze.

“I want you back at Cul—.”

“No.”

“Will you just listen to me before you outright refuse?!” He yells angrily, and I shake my head.

“I’m not coming back, and if you keep pushing me, I will quit this job and disappear for good. Do you understand me?!” I scream back and take a sidestep to walk past him, but he grabs my arm and jerks me back, his angry eyes looking over my face.

“Shayla, this is strictly professional, I swear to you. It’s got nothing to do with us. You belong at Cult, not here. I want you to come back as an architect and the head of the hotel project in Dubai. Let’s make your dream a reality.” He says, and I watch him dubiously for a couple of seconds.

I bite my lip and shake my head, “My dream Cole,” I say, placing my hand on my chest. “It’s my dream, which means I wanted to do it MY way, not through yours or anybody else’s handouts or pity.”

Cole’s brows fuse as he glowers at me. “Pity? You think I came looking for you because I pity you? You’re talented, Shayla, more than you’re clearly aware of. Why won’t you let me help you achieve your goals?” He cups my face in his hand, and I pull my face away.

“Maybe I don’t want your help, Cole. I want to do it on my own. That way, when I make it one day, and I will make it, no one can tell me I got to where I did because of you,” I answer earnestly, and Cole exhales glances around the empty conference room before he looks at me.

“Shayla, nobody gets that more than me. I get it, sweetheart. All I’m asking here is a chance to help you up that first step because that’s the hardest, after that, I know you’ll fly.”

“Cole, you have helped me. Do you think I don’t know that I got this job because I was married to you? Or that I worked for you? I would have never been considered for an opportunity to work as an architect anywhere if it wasn’t for you,” I explain, and Cole watches me, his eyes searching mine. “I have to do this my way, without you, however hard it may be. At least that way, I know I earned it, and it wasn’t just handed to me because your name was involved.”

Cole remains silent for a moment and shakes his head before he steps up close to me and looks down into my upturned face. “Shayla, listen to me. I have never met anyone more deserving of this opportunity than you. You didn’t get to where you are because of me. You got there because you fought for it tooth and nail, and you still are. Even when life threw every obstacle your way— when most would—you never gave up on your dream, and I fucking love that about you. Your passion to achieve your dream is what got you here, maybe my name helped open that door, but you walked through it.” He tells me, his hands on my arms while his green eyes intently stare into mine. “All I’m asking is to mentor you. That’s all.”

“And what about Sophie?” I ask him, and Cole shrugs. “Won’t she mind that you’re working with me again?”

“Sophie is mature enough to understand it’s just business. We need your talent at Cult, and I can arrange for your tuition at Uni to be covered by the company.” He assures me and probably foresaw I would push back when I open my mouth, so he holds his hand up. “Which you can pay back once you get your degree,” He adds with a little smirk.

“Cole, I don’t know,” I whisper, looking down at my feet, and he slides his fingers under my chin and lifts my gaze to his.

“Tell me you’ll think about it.”

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