His Brother's Ex-Wife

Chapter 3

OPHELIA'S POV

At morning, a number called my phone.

“I have it ready ma’am” he answered.

“Sure, I’ll be there soon” I hung up and drove out of Leo’s mansion, out of Leo’s life.

Earlier, when I had made up my mind to finally leave my family and my pain behind, I decided to give everything up. From my place in the family, to selling almost all my belongings to get enough money to fly Aria and I out of the country and also get settled at our new place.

Without my father’s consent, I booked plane tickets and cut off everything connecting us together. If he has decided not to pay for Aria’s surgery, I’ll gladly do it even if it means working without a break.

Leaving the luxury life of thorns behind, I chased a challenging one with peace.

~~

Everything I needed for a new life ahead of me was ready. Money, tickets and Aria.

I went to the hospital that morning to get Aria out of the hospital. She hardly knew anywhere aside the walls of the hospital. And somehow, I’m glad about that.

“Where are we going, Lia?” she asked, her fingers wrapping around mine as we approached the doors of the hospital

“Somewhere safe, away from Vanessa and Christie”

“And dad too?” her face lit with joy

“Yes and dad too” I said. It still hurt that I had cut ties with my father but it was best for me.

“Where is your car, Lia?” she looked around.

My lips pressed to a line looking straight ahead at a taxi. I had sold the car to buy tickets and make reservations at New York.

“It’s home, we can leave it there” I said and placed her into the taxi along with her bags. The taxi zoomed off soon.

~Aurelia international airport.

I held on to Aria’s wrist as we made our way through the airport checkpoints.

I sat at with Aria whose curious eyes searched through the airport

“Where is your ring, Lia?” Aria’s finger brushed over mine

“I gave it back. it wasn’t mine” I said with a short smile, though I could see the confusion in her eyes.

Everyone still thought I was somewhere bawling my eyes out like a child over the divorce but I was far from that.

“Attention! Passengers traveling on flight 234 to New York…” the attendant spoke through the intercom.

I grabbed our bags soon and headed to the boarding queue to get checked in with Aria.

Soon, we boarded the plane and took our seats in the exclusive lounge.

I immediately buckled Aria in who fell asleep before the flight began.

Outside the window were people waving some of their family bye, mine doesn’t even have a single idea.

The plane soon took off as I leaned in on the headrest as the city disappeared beneath a blanket of clouds leaving behind a life I never owned nor chose.

When I’ll be back, I won’t be the Lia they knew.

~~Four Years Later~~

OPHELIA’S POV.

My phone buzzed continuously on the table before me while I fixed my shirt in front of the mirror.

I picked it up and a stern, firm voice came through

“You better be at work by now” he simply said and hung up.

I grabbed my bag and dashed out of the house to work.

It’s been four years since I started working at Vane holdings, and with the difficult CEO I’ve ever met who keeps me up on my feet for hours.

I’ve always been brought up in luxury and comfort, being accountable to someone else felt tiring and strange the moment I started working as Julian’s personal assistant.

So far, it’s been mentally derailing dealing with the kind of person that he is. People often quit because of poor employees’ benefits but this man is worse than just poor employees’ benefits.

I arrived in a taxi in front of Vane Holdings company, the company that worked my ass off as soon as I stepped In, each day.

I made my way to the elevator doors, almost running through the corridors in my favorite pair of stiletto heels while holding my bag and tablet firmly.

I got to the department to the CEO’s office. I took in a deep breath before knocking. I pressed my ear against the cold doors waiting for a simple hum to go in.

I went in immediately after the hum to my boss’s office

“Good morning, Mr. Vane” I greeted fixing my employees’ tag before he turned around from looking out the window.

Really what does he look at from up here?

“You” he spoke and turned to look at me slowly. I held that firm smile hoping he wouldn’t scold me for coming late

“I’m sorry, I had a lot on my table and it wasn’t just-“ my words ceased immediately he held his hand up.

Seriously this man has some kind of aura and presence I don’t want to get involved in but at the same time I want to get tangled in it.

“I’ll let it go if you’ve completed your tasks for today” he stretched out his hand towards me.

My lips formed into a thin line

“If you’d give a little more time…”

“Ophelia Monroe!”

Whenever he called my full name like that, he meant business

I lowered my gaze and apologized immediately

“I’m sorry, I’ll get it done right away” I said and left. At door, I took one last look at Julian Vane at his desk, his clothes hugging every bit of his body muscles like they should.

I sat at my desk, ready to start the day’s work.

After my experience with Leo, I never expected myself to get attracted to another man, at least not in the next ten years. Julian was cold and mean to a lot of people but that didn’t stop my stupid self from seeing him other than a boss.

After a while, Julian called me in through the intercom. He placed an envelope and I hesitantly reached for it.

When I saw what was in it, I looked up from the papers back at Julian. He was buried in work so took that chance. He focused too hard on business and hardly looks up from his screen. Everything about boss Julian was just…

“Why are you smiling?” his voice cut through my thoughts. He caught me smiling again

“Do you not understand what that is?” he got up from his seat.

I returned my gaze to the papers and flipped through

“Well, a business trip for two weeks, am I going with you?” I asked trying to wave off the fact that he was now standing in front of me

“Is there someone else you’re hoping would accompany me?” he asked. I could feel that piercing gaze on my skin

“No” I looked up at him “Shall I book a flight then?” I asked

He reached for my employees’ tag turned face down

“Do that and meet me at the board meeting room in five” he said and walked out of his office. My eyes followed his frame till he got out of sight.

I grabbed the mirror on his table and saw how red my face was. He must have seen that! Oh God!

“Didn’t he love to book tickets few days or hours to the flight?” I typed on my laptop till I could finally get the tickets.

I rushed over to the meeting room and took my seat next to Julian. Whether this was on purpose or not, bless the person who said personal assistants could sit next to the CEO.

While the meeting went on, I kept taking down points from the meeting while Julian talked as fast as he could.

Out of habit, the tip of my tongue stuck out of the side of my mouth. Julian suddenly slammed the pen against the table

“You’re distracting me” he said in a more serious tone than I have ever heard.

“Sorry” I whispered.

Before I knew it, it was back.

Old habits.

After the meeting, I packed up the files opened on Julian’s side of the table as the other staff members made their way out.

“I packed it all, do you need me to do anything else?” I asked

Julian stepped closer, his height closing in on me

“I need you to stop with that habit” he said

“I have many habits, you mean this?” I did it for a split second

“That!” he slammed the table I was leaned on

“I didn’t know that bothered you, I’ll work on it” I blinked away, holding my face back

“The tickets?”

“Booked” I gave a thumbs up, only then did he leave the room. I let out a sigh, my hand trailing up my chest. Though he left, his scent still remained in the air.

Julian was an epitome of wealth and influence in the city, nothing was hard for him, almost nothing.

But despite his wealth, influence and good looks, he had a problem.

A lady walked towards my desk soon in a short dress that exposed her skin so much

“Is Julian in?” she asked

“Yes, I’ll inform him you’re here” I spoke through the intercom and he immediately let her in.

She gave me a, ‘I told you’ smile before walking in.

That was his problem. Women.

All my years of working with him, not a single woman came in more than four times except that one lady who claims to be his fiancé.

At this hour, going into Julian’s office would be…not the best option. How come I always end up with men like this?

About an hour later, the lady left. I couldn’t tell if she was angry or not.

Julian ordered me into his office

“I’m done with the meeting proceedings” I said, handing in the file and was about to leave when he spoke

“I didn’t say you could leave” he leaned lazily into his chair, two of his buttons down. Of course, what was I expecting.

I looked back at him

“From today on, when she comes, don’t bother informing me” he ordered

“Yes Mr. Vane”.

That one lady was a problem though, she’d always looked at me like I’m trash.

My daily reminder came on while I worked. It was night already, I needed to leave work soon.

I slipped into Julian’s office while he worked

“Are you getting off work soon?”

“You can go ahead, I’m meeting someone else” he looked at me briefly. Probably another woman. Fine, do what you want. Do all the women you want, I’m in no place to complain.

“Have a goodnight” I said hoping he actually doesn’t.

Everyone around me knew I was that one obedient assistant but no one really knew what I did at night.

I stood still in front of Velvet bar and lounge staring at the huge glowing signs.

A call came through my phone

“Where are you, it’s almost time”, hearing that, I rushed in.