I wasn’t part of her world anymore, but he clearly was.
And I couldn't lie to myself any longer, I was jealous as fuck.
When I refreshed her page again and found no new upload, I was disappointed because it was my only insight into her day. I leaned back in my chair with a groan, but a knock on my office door had me sitting straight again.
Before I could answer, the door swung open. Vanessa stepped inside like she owned the place, which was, unfortunately, partially true, since her family held a minority share.
My ex-wife was the last person I wanted to see on a normal day, let alone when I was spiraling over Tessa.
Her expression was already tight with annoyance, one I’d grown accustomed to seeing. “Please tell me the rumor about you throwing a divorce party was just vicious gossip.”
I heaved a sigh. “It was canceled. So I don’t see what you have to complain about.”
“It’s true, then?” Her eyes narrowed, hurt flashing across her face. “You told me repeatedly that you wanted our divorce to be amicable. And then you planned a party to celebrate the end of our marriage?”
I wasn’t the least bit surprised she tried to twist what had gone down during our mediation and turn it back on me. “You’re the one who made sure it wasn’t amicable.”
She set her hands on her hips. “I was just fighting for what I deserved.”
“You fought because you couldn’t stand the idea of losing the small amount of control you had over me as my wife.” I waved a hand toward the chair she refused to use. “And we both know it.”
Ignoring the gesture, she perched on the edge of my desk, a position I was sure she chose because it put her physically above me. Her gaze slid toward the computer screen, and the moment she caught sight of Tessa’s profile pulled up on my monitor, she smirked. “Still pining over the woman you dumped to marry me. Some things never change.”
I locked my jaw to stop me from taking the bait that she’d thrown out countless times over the past three years, but that didn’t stop her. It rarely did.
She bent toward me. “No wonder our marriage didn’t work.”
I turned away from her before I did something I’d regret. “I don’t have the patience for whatever game you think you’re playing.”
“Game?” Her soft laugh didn’t sound the least bit humorous. “It wasn’t fun at all having that woman as a ghost between us the entire time we were married.”
“Do not start,” I warned.
“Oh, I’m not starting anything.” She gave the screen another glance, then looked back at me with triumph glinting in her eyes. “You made the decision to marry me because it benefited you, but you kept one foot still planted in your past. It’s pathetic.”
For once, I didn’t bury my anger at her. “We never should’ve gotten married in the first place.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t have.” Her eyes flashed. “But don’t you dare speak for me.”
I stood, my chair rolling back across the floor. “You can rewrite our history all you want, but it won’t change anything.”
Vanessa’s expression iced over. “We were good until you decided to abandon me.”
“We married for all the wrong reasons.” I fisted my hands at my sides, furious with her ability to rewrite history. “Both of us.”
“You mean your reasons were wrong because you were stuck in the past.” She pushed off my desk and took a step closer. “How many times did I tell you she was holding you back? But you never outgrew your little fling with a woman who was never good enough to belong in your life in the first place.”
My voice came out deadly. “You will not talk about her like that.”
A flicker of surprise crossed her face before she smoothed it away. She opened her mouth to speak again, but I cut her off.
“Get out.”
“Gage—”
“Now.” I narrowed my eyes. “And next time you want to speak with me, it better be about business.”
Her chin lifted in defiance. “Be careful. If you keep down this path, people will start to talk. And the board?—”
