Replacing my ex

Chapter 12

When I entered the boardroom, I spotted Will, who waved me over to the chair next to him.

I slipped into the seat just as Cole took his place at the head of the table. To his left and right sat a handful of key executives I hadn't met yet.

On the wall directly opposite Cole, a large digital screen displayed roughly five more people in a similar setup—top staff joining us virtually from the project site in Costa Rica. Will and I sat behind the row of chairs to Cole’s right, though the chair immediately beside the CEO remained empty.

“Good morning, team,” Cole greeted authoritatively from the head of the table.

“Good morning,” everyone answered in a deferential tone.

At precisely 10:00 AM, a stylish, professionally dressed gentleman who bore a striking resemblance to Cole walked in leisurely, wearing an easy, boyish smile.

“Hey, guys,” he greeted as he sauntered in.

“Hey,” the room chorused back.

When he reached Will, he held out a fist. Will bumped it, handing over a folder and a tablet. The newcomer took them and claimed the empty chair immediately to Cole’s right.

“Yo,” he said, facing Cole and lifting his palm out. “Dap me up, bro.”

“You’re late, Bash,” Cole responded gruffly.

“I’m right on time,” he replied smoothly, abandoning the dap with a grin and giving Cole’s shoulder a casual tap instead.

The meeting started in earnest, stretching for nearly three hours as a deep dive into the project's progress. I took copious notes, giving the discussion my absolute attention.

It was like a masterclass, not just for learning about the Costa Rican luxury villas, but for understanding how Legacy Incorporated operated.

As the meeting progressed, I mentally cataloged the executive staff in the room: Mr. Henry Powers the CFO, the head of legal, the head of sales and marketing, the head of construction engineering and architecture, and the quality assurance director.

The only person who could possibly have been more attentive than me was Cole.

He remained mostly quiet, speaking only to drop sharp, insightful questions that cut straight to the core of any issue. Bash, on the other hand, injected plenty of witty quips and banter, though toward the end, he and Cole locked into a seamless rhythm, mapping out a definitive action plan based on everything discussed.

“Alright, then. See you all in three weeks,” Bash wrapped up.

Cole stood, and the faces on the virtual screen blinked out. He strode out of the room, and I scrambled to follow, once again struggling to match his long, fast strides.

After I settled at my desk, the intercom buzzed. I picked it up immediately.

“CEO’s office, Lila Storm speaking,” I said professionally.

“Lila,” a male voice purred on the other end.

“An exquisite name for an even more exquisite lady.”

“Um… thank you? May I know who’s speaking please?”

“Where are my manners? It’s Bash. I’m coming over right now to introduce myself properly.”

A few minutes later, he strolled through my doorway.

“Ms. Storm. What a vision,” he said, with an infectious smile, extending a hand.

I smiled, standing up to return the handshake.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Sterling.”

“Bash, please,” he said, now holding my hand with both of his, maintaining steady, warm eye contact. “And it’s an absolute pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lila. May I call you Lila?”

Before I could reply, the intercom buzzed sharply.

I grabbed the receiver,

“CEO’s offi-,”

“Send him in,” Cole commanded before cutting the connection with a harsh click.

“I can already tell by the look on your face who that was,” Bash chuckled.

“Mr. Sterling would like to see you,” I said, regaining my professional composure.

I escorted him into Cole’s office.

“Leave us,” Cole ordered.

“Yes sir,” I said before turning to exit and pulling the heavy door shut behind me.

“Rude,” I heard Bash mutter just before I closed the door.

A short while later, Bash emerged, leaning over my desk.

“Lila, the big bad wolf turned down my lunch invitation. He skips too many meals. I worry about him sometimes. Anyway, he wants to see you now. Good luck,” he said with a wink.

When I stepped into Cole’s office, he didn't even look up from his papers.

“You have an hour for lunch, and then I expect you back here. We have documents to go through,” he said, glancing at his sleek wristwatch.

“It’s 1:30 PM now. At exactly 2:30 PM, you will be sitting right there,” he added, jabbing a finger toward the empty chair across his desk.

“Yes sir,” I said, turning on my heel as he waved a dismissive hand.

Remembering a bistro I’d spotted nearby that morning, I headed down to grab a quick bite.

As soon as I walked in, I spotted Will and Bash sharing a corner table. Will waved me over, and I gladly joined them.

“Look who’s still alive!” Bash exclaimed in mock relief.

I laughed, sliding into a seat. We ordered and fell into easy, laughing conversation.

Midway through our meal, I casually dropped a question: “What kind of food does Mr. Sterling usually like for lunch?”

Will choked on his water, staring at me incredulously. “Why?”

“So I can pick some up for him,” I replied innocently.

Both men burst out laughing.

“What’s so funny?” I asked, feigning ignorance

“Lila, you know exactly why we’re laughing,” Will replied.

“Just answer the question,” I insisted, a stubborn edge to my voice. “Humor me.”

“Fine,” Bash relented, shaking his head. “But don’t say we didn’t warn you. Besides, he’s dangerously unpredictable, so I would never order for him.”

After some lighthearted debate, the three of us finally settled on a safe bet: a tender cut of steak, mashed potatoes, some gravy and steamed vegetables.

“Thanks, guys,” I said once my takeout order was boxed up.

“Don’t thank us yet,” Bash smiled, waving farewell. “Let us know if you survive the delivery.”

When I returned to the top floor, I still had twenty minutes to spare. I grabbed a fresh bottle of water from the kitchenette, squared my shoulders, and approached Cole’s door with a quiet knock.

I stepped inside without a word, marching over to the small coffee table set-up in the corner of his office that was closest to the door.

Moving with deliberate calm behind an armor of false confidence, I began unpacking the takeout containers. The entire time, I could feel the searing weight of Cole’s gaze pinned to the back of my head. I stepped out briefly to grab a plate, knife, and fork, then returned to finish laying out his lunch.

“What are you doing?” he asked, his voice dripping with low skepticism.

“Setting up your lunch, sir,” I replied evenly, continuing to arrange the cutlery.

“I didn’t ask you to bring me lunch. We have work to do,” he said dismissively.

“Yes, sir. At exactly 2:30 PM,” I countered smoothly. “But I don’t mind waiting just in case you’re late.”

Cole froze, his pen hovering over a document.

“In case I’m what?” he asked, incredulous.

“In case you’re late, sir,” I repeated calmly, busying myself with smoothing out the napkin so I wouldn't have to look him in the face.

“I’ll be back at 2:30, sir,” I added, turning toward the door.

“In case I’m late,” I heard him mutter quietly to himself, a low sound of absolute disbelief following me as I walked out.

I shut the door and slumped against the wall outside, exhaling a long, shaky breath. I knew he wouldn't touch the food, but the fact that he hadn't fired me on the spot felt like a monumental victory.

At exactly 2:30pm, I knocked twice and pushed open the office door. When I entered, I stopped dead in my tracks.

Sitting casually at the low coffee table was Cole Sterling himself, lifting a fork piled high with mashed potatoes straight to his mouth.