Dumped by my ex, Claimed by his boss

CHAPTER 5

ISLA'S POV

When I got home, I kicked off my shoes, and jumped on my bed. I screamed into my pillow, the

happy kind of scream. Then I laughed, then I cried a little. All mixed up emotions.

Because Grant works there…

I know it sounds dumb although but he's my ex-husband now. The man who walked out on me

when things got hard. The man who told me I was “just dreaming too big” when I talked about

my work as an architect. And now he’s in the same building with me. Fourth floor and the same

air I breathe every day starting tomorrow.

I stared at the ceiling. “Why him? Why now?” I whispered to nobody. My stomach twisted. Part

of me wanted to run back and tell Kaelen,

“Sorry sir, I've changed my mind. I quit.” But the bigger part and stubborn part of me said, “No

way. You earned this. Grant doesn’t own you anymore.”

I made myself tea. I drank it too fast and burned my tongue. Typical me…I tried to sleep early. Set my alarm at 5:00am, picked my best blouse, the blue one that makes me

feel strong. But my brain wouldn’t shut up.

What if Grant tells everyone he dumped me? Well he did, I answered my rhetorical question.

“Duhhh! I'm sure they already knew.”

“What if he laughs at me in front of Kaelen?”

“What if Kaelen finds out about how I and Grant divorced? I was sure he knew, because Nora

did. What if Grant told him I was trouble to his company?”

I pulled the blanket over my head. “Stop it, Isla. You’re not that scared girl anymore.”

The Morning came too quickly.

I got to the office at exactly 7:45am. Quite early like he said. The security man from yesterday

smiled at me this time.

“Morning, new architect lady.”

I smiled back, even though my hands were sweaty.

Kaelen’s office door was already open. He was at his desk, typing fast. No good morning, no

smiles, just,

“You’re here. Good. Sit.”

We worked straight for four hours. No break and no small talk. He showed me new plans for a

bigger project, a whole city block. I pointed out three things that could fall apart if we didn’t fix

them. He listened, nodded. He even said, “Smart.” One word. But it felt like a trophy. “A win is

a win though.” I said in my head.

By 12:30 my brain was fried but happy. Kaelen looked at his watch.

“Lunch. Thirty minutes. Don’t be late coming back.”

I nodded like a soldier and escaped to the cafeteria downstairs.

The place had fancy glass walls, plants everywhere. People in nice clothes laughing and eating

salads. I grabbed a sandwich and a juice and found a quiet table in the corner. First real breath all

day.

Then I felt him before I saw him.Grant again.. Ughh could my day get any worse.

He slid into the seat across from me like we were still married. Like this was even normal. My

sandwich became so strong in my hand.

“Isla,” he said, in a low tune. “We need to talk. Alone.”

I looked around. Nobody was close enough to hear. I wanted to stand up and leave. But my legs

felt glued.

He leaned forward. “You think you belong here? You? A decorator who got lucky because the

boss felt sorry for you?”

I swallowed hard. “I’m not a decorator. I’m a consultant architect for the CEO Grant. Kaelen

hired me himself.”

Grant laughed. The quiet laugh he used to do when he wanted to hurt me.

“Consultant. Cute title. But we both know the truth. You’re playing dress-up. You’ll mess up

one day, trust me, and when you do, everyone will see you’re still the same girl who couldn’t

keep her own house together.”

My chest burned. I wanted to throw my juice at him, but I didn’t. I just stared.

He kept going, his voice dropping even lower. “You think Kaelen will keep you when I tell the

board who you really are? The daughter of that man, your father. The one who took bribes to

approve bad buildings. The one who almost went to jail. I still have the papers, Isla. I just kept

copies. One email and poof, your little dream job disappears.”

My heart pounded so loud I thought he could hear it.

He smiled like he won already. “Walk away now baby. Quit. Save yourself the embarrassment.”

I looked straight into his eyes. The same eyes I used to love. Now they just looked small and

mean.

I stood up slowly, pushed my chair back and picked up my tray.

“You done?” I asked. My voice didn’t shake. Not even a little.His smile slipped. “What?” Disbelief was written all over.

“I said, are you done?” I stepped around the table.

“Because I have work to do. Real work. For the CEO and not for you.”

I walked past him. Didn’t even dare look back. My legs felt like jelly inside, but outside? I

looked calm. I even nodded at a lady who smiled at me.

I dumped my half-eaten sandwich in the waste bin and went straight to the elevator, the doors

closed. I let out a shaky breath. My hands were trembling now.

“Did he really have those papers?”

“Would he really send them?”

“What if Kaelen finds out about Dad?”

I pressed my back against the elevator wall.

“You’re okay,” I whispered to myself. “You’re okay. You didn’t let him win. Not today, not

anymore.”

The doors opened on our floor. I fixed my blouse, took one big deep breath and walked back to

Kaelen’s office like nothing happened.

He was still at his desk. He looked up when I entered.

“You’re two minutes late,” he said. He wasn't angry, just stated a fact.

“Sorry sir, I said. “Got held up.”

He studied me for a second. Like he could see inside my head. “Everything alright?”

I forced a smile. “Yeah. Everything’s fine.”

He didn’t push. Just slid a new set of drawings toward me.

“Fix these, same as before and show me what’s wrong.”

I sat down and opened the red pen. Started circling.

But inside? My brain was screaming.

Grant wasn’t done and I knew it. He never lets things go away easily.And now I had a secret hanging over me. Dad’s old mistake. Something I never told anyone at

work. Something that could ruin everything.

I glanced at Kaelen. He was watching the plans, not me. Strong jaw and good harp eyes. The

man everyone called a monster. Maybe he wasn't.

But right now, he was the only person standing between me and falling apart.

I bent over the drawings again. Circled another mistake.

“One day at a time, Isla.” I said in my head.

One scary, crazy, heart-pounding day at a time.

Because tomorrow? Grant might actually push that button.

And when he does…..

I don’t know what Kaelen will do.

But I know one thing.

I’m not running away.

Not this time.