How my EX-HUSBAND became my BOSS

Chapter 3. Tom's Secret Thoughts

Tom Stanley sat in his office, looking out of the window at bustling London. The city lived its own life: people hurried on business, cars scurried here and there, in the distance you could see the silhouettes of skyscrapers. But Tom's mind was far from the bustle of the city. He thought of Mary - her eyes, her voice, the way she carried herself at work. It hadn't been long since she'd arrived at the office, but Tom had already realized that his feelings for Mary hadn't faded.

He thought back to their life together: how they met, how their relationship developed, how happy they were in those distant days. Moments of tenderness, passion, joy, and sadness came back to me. Tom knew that despite the divorce, Mary still held a special place in his heart.

But at the same time, he was aware of the complexity of his situation. He had a family, a commitment, a reputation. Tom couldn't just give up everything for Mary, even though the thought of being with her warmed his soul. He was torn between the past and the present, between love and duty.

Every day in the office was a challenge for Tom. He tried to keep his feelings under control, not to show them to others. But in his heart of hearts, he hoped that he could rekindle his relationship with Mary, that they could start over.

Tom watched Mary: how she worked, how she interacted with her colleagues, how she reacted to his presence. He could see that she was trying to keep her distance, to avoid looking directly at him, but at the same time he could see subtle signs in her that Mary was not indifferent to him either.

Sometimes it seemed to him that he saw glimpses of old love in her eyes, that there were hints of old feelings in her behavior. But in the next moment, Mary would become reserved and distant again, and Tom knew that he had a long way to go to win her heart.

He was thinking about how to approach Mary, how to express his feelings without startling her. Tom knew he had to tread carefully, take into account her worries and fears. But at the same time, he didn't want to miss out on the chance for happiness that seemed to be looming on the horizon again.

At the same time, Tom couldn't help but notice the stares of Elizabeth Taylor, his secretary. Elizabeth was a beautiful and intelligent woman who was clearly interested in him. Tom felt an interest in her, even a certain passion, but it didn't move him as much as the thought of Mary. Elizabeth might have made a good match, but Tom's heart was in someone else's.

Nevertheless, he tried to be polite and correct with Elizabeth, not to give her false hopes. But secretly, Tom was plotting how to get closer to Mary, how to find a common language with her, how to break the ice that had accumulated over the years of separation.

At work, Tom tried to give Mary interesting tasks, create situations in which they had to communicate. He wanted to get to know her better, to understand what she was thinking, feeling, and wanting out of life. In every conversation he had with Mary, Tom had looked for hints that she, too, was looking forward to a revival of their relationship.

But every time he looked at Mary, there were conflicting thoughts in his mind. On the one hand, he wanted to be with her, fight for her love, start over. On the other hand, he understood that it could destroy his marriage, damage his reputation, and change the lives of everyone around him.

Tom often wondered if it was worth risking everything for a chance to be happy with Mary. Or is it better to leave everything as it is, maintain the appearance of well-being, but live with the knowledge that true love is in the past?

These thoughts haunted him day and night. Tom lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, and replayed the memories of Mary, their life together, their divorce, over and over in his head. He was analyzing his feelings, trying to figure out what was more important to him: the family he had built, or the love that seemed to still be alive.

Deep down, Tom knew that the choice would not be easy. He had to decide which meant more to him: duty and commitment, or passion and love. And not only his life depended on this choice, but also the lives of those who were dear to him.

While Tom struggled with his demons, while he tried to sort out his feelings, the office went on with its life. Colleagues worked, argued, laughed, and made plans. None of them knew that beneath the surface of everyday life, passions were boiling, that one of them was on the verge of a fateful decision that could change everything.

Only time will tell whether Tom will be able to overcome his fears and doubts, whether he will be able to take a step towards his happiness, or whether he will remain a prisoner of his own duty and obligations. In the meantime, he continued to work, continued to watch Mary, continued to dream of the day when he would be able to tell her openly how he felt.

David Harris was one of those people who was used to getting what he wanted. Young, ambitious, with a bright appearance and a confident look, he easily won the sympathy of others. In the office, he was considered a promising employee, and his superiors often assigned him responsible tasks. But right now, his mind wasn't on his career, it was on Mary Wilson.

From his first day at the company, David noticed Mary. Her reticence, her elegance, and the faintest hint of sadness in her eyes caught his attention. He knew that Mary was not just another colleague, and he decided that he should get to know her better.

The first attempts at communication were cautious. David tried to choose the moments when Mary was free, and started casual conversations about work, the office, and London. Gradually, he began to notice that Mary was reacting to his words, albeit cautiously. This encouraged him to continue his courtship.

Once, when they bumped into each other in the hallway, David took the opportunity to speak.

"Mary, I'd like to discuss something with you about the project. Maybe you can find time for a quick conversation over a cup of coffee.

Mary hesitated, then nodded.

"Okay, let's discuss it. But only if it's really important for the job.

David smiled to himself: the first step was taken. He knew that Mary was cautious and not ready for close contact, but he was sure that he could break the ice.

The coffee meeting was held in a low-key but friendly atmosphere. Mary didn't say much, she listened more, but David felt that she was interested. He tried to be gallant, joking, telling funny stories from life. Although Mary didn't laugh out loud, there was a hint of interest in her eyes at times.

After the meeting, David thought for a long time about how he had managed to win Mary over at least a little. He knew that the path to her heart would not be easy, but it only fueled his desire to get his way.

Meanwhile, Mary tried to sort out her feelings. David's attention flattered her, but at the same time, she couldn't help but compare him to Tom. Yes, David was young, energetic, and confident, but there wasn't the depth in his eyes that she remembered in Tom's. Mary understood that David could be a chance for her to start over, forget the past, and build a new relationship. But deep down, she knew that Tom's shadow still affected her thoughts and feelings too much.

As the days passed, David never missed an opportunity to talk to Mary. He invited her to dinner parties, offered to help her with her work, and tried to be there for her in any situation. Mary didn't push him away, but she didn't let herself get too close, either. She could feel the fire of desire burning in David's soul, but she didn't yet have the confidence to return it.

One night, when they stayed late at the office, David decided to have a more direct conversation.

"Mary, I can't hide my feelings. I like you very much. I'd like to get to know you better, see you outside the office. Why don't we go on a date?

Mary froze, looking at him. Thoughts whirled through her mind: "What should I say? Should I give it a chance? What if it's just a temporary hobby?"

After a long pause, she spoke softly.

"David, you're a nice person, and I appreciate your attention. But I'm not ready for a serious relationship yet. I need time to sort myself out.

David nodded, trying to hide his disappointment.

- I understand. But I'll wait until you're ready.

Mary looked at him with mild gratitude.

- Thank you for your understanding.

But deep down, she knew that David's words had hurt her, made her think about what she wanted out of life. On the one hand, David's offer seemed like a chance for new happiness, an opportunity to forget the past and start over. On the other hand, the shadow of Tom still clouded her thoughts, haunted her.

Mary often found herself comparing David and Tom. She analyzed their mannerisms, looks, and words, trying to figure out which of them was closer to her heart. But every time she closed her eyes, an image of Tom would appear in her mind's eye - his piercing gaze, his confident movements, the faint scent of perfume.

David continued to show interest, and Mary found it increasingly difficult to keep her distance. But she was determined to take her time, to sort out her feelings, to understand what she wanted out of life before making any decisions.

Meanwhile, the office began to whisper about a possible romance between Mary and David. Colleagues cast curious glances at them, speculated, and discussed their relationships. Mary tried to ignore it, but in her heart of hearts she knew that the rumors might reach Tom. And the thought of it made her heart beat faster.

So days, weeks, and months passed. Mary continued to work, interact with David, watch Tom, and try to sort out her feelings. It was as if she was teetering on a fine line between the past and the future, between two men, each of whom was dear to her in their own way. Only time could tell which path she would choose, with whom she would choose to cast in her lot, and whether she would finally be able to find happiness.

And still David waited, patiently waiting for the day when Mary would be ready to return his love. He knew that the path to her heart wasn't easy, but he was willing to go all the way. After all, in his eyes, Mary was not just a woman - she was his dream, his hope for a happy future.

And while Mary was torn between the past and the present, between love and caution, David continued to make plans, to find new ways to win her heart. He knew that the victory would be his, it would only take a little time and patience. But even he couldn't predict the challenges that fate had in store for them, the twists and turns that lay ahead, or whether he would eventually win Mary's heart.