My Ex-Convict Wife is Coming Back

chapter 5

Ella

“So, When will you tell me about this job I am applying for? ” I asked, breaking the thick silence that had settled between us. The atmosphere was too tense, the electrifying attraction we had felt last night still clearly evident.

Artemis took a deep breath and took his seat, his gaze landing on my fidgety hands that were resting on my lap.

“To take down my dear brother successfully, we must learn to communicate well with each other” He said while his eyes pierced into mine.

“Meaning that we must spend reasonable hours getting to know one another, getting to know our likes and dislikes, our opinions, hubbies, etcetera”

My face scrunched in confusion wondering what exactly he was driving at.

Artemis, noticing my look of bewilderment, continued speaking.

“That’s why I would like to employ you as my personal assistant. It’s quite an easy job, no special skill is needed. All that is required of you is the basics, such as bringing me coffee every morning, managing my schedule and providing daily reminders of tasks to be done and meetings I need to attend.”

He paused for a while, giving me room to process all that he had just said.

It was a good offer. Especially with the years I had spent in prison, I had no opportunity and resources to acquire skills that would normally be required at job interviews, unless weeding the prison yard counts.

How foolish I was to have done something so reckless for love, I protected a criminal. God knows what other crimes he could have committed while I was gone, and now I am back in the real world, with little to no achievements in life, just a bitter woman who will forever live with regrets.

My eyes began to brim with tears

“Ella” Artemis’ voice resurfaced, snapping me out of my pondering thoughts.

He was staring at me intensely, his eyes roaming my face while his mouth opened and closed as if he had wanted to say something but quickly decided against it.

“ You will be working here in my office, a desk will be provided for you right there” He nodded towards a corner of his large office.

I angled my neck to where he had nodded his head.

To say the scene before me was just beautiful would be an understatement.

The large ceiling-high windows were the first to catch my eye.

The view of the outside was magnificent even from where I had been sitting at Artemis’ desk, I could only imagine how it would look up close from my own.

My body now jittering with hope, I wondered if maybe this was my chance to finally start over, to get my life back together and build towards the future.

I imagined myself sitting in the corner, staring outside the window from time to time, typing away on a monitor and stealing quick glances at my soon-to-be boss.

The point is, I could finally be useful. Tom had left me with nothing but a broken heart and in the cell, I had so much time on my hands to do nothing, it was sickening.

With new found happiness, I turned back towards Artemis, surprised to see him watching me, the smile on his lips mirroring mine.

He had a nice smile, it made him look exceptionally handsome, a sight that I wouldn't mind seeing every day.

Chuckling he said “ So what do you think? It's a twelve hour job, and might lead to a few late nights being spent in the office. All resources you might need would be provided for and I can assure you the pay is good”

“And judging from your expression I'm guessing you think that too” he added smugly.

“I love it” I replied, beaming at him.

Humming in approval, he got up from his seat and began taking confident steps towards me. I gulped and flushed, moving uncomfortably in the seat as my heart began beating as if it would pop out of my rib cage any second.

Artemis smirked, noticing the effect he had on me, and soon came to a stop just in front of me.

“This calls for celebration, We're finally one step closer to bringing Tom down” He said.

Without waiting for a response, he turned towards the mini fridge close to his desk and pulled out a bottle of red wine.

Grabbing two wine glasses from the top of the fridge, he set them down on his desk and poured wine into them.

He held a glass to me, willing me to take it.

As I stared at the glass, the voice in my head reminded me that the last time I had drank I ended up sleeping with this man.

I sighed and took it, drinking with him could show him that I appreciate him.

With a small smile tugged at his lips, he moved to rest on the desk In front of me, his long legs brushing mine in the process.

Quickly I snatched my legs back, not wanting to make any sort of physical contact with him.

Raising the glass to my lips, I could feel his scrutinizing gaze on me and watched as his tongue darted out to run over his bottom lip as I took the first sip.

“ I have a confession to make” he said.

My eyebrows shut up.

What could he possibly want to say?

”Last night, we didn't meet at the club by coincidence, I wasn't drunk, I knew you were there, I've actually been watching you for quite a while now. Since you got out of prison to be exact”

“Why would you do that?”

“ I was worried for you. I knew you would need me after you found out what that excuse of a man I call my brother had done to you. I just wanted to be there for you”.

“Oh”

I wasn't so upset. I guess he was right, I liked the feeling of knowing I wasn't alone.

We continued to drink in silence

“So , you still sore from last night?” He asked, his left eyebrow raised.

What? Why was he bringing this up now

With narrowed eyes I said, “ I thought we agreed to not speak of last night”

“We did” he said, his face etched with amusement, “ Just asking about your well-being”.

“ Well I do not appreciate your question Artemis”

“Why?” He asked while he dropped his glass on the desk.

Straightening up, he took a few more steps closer to me, too close for my liking.

Now crouched to my eye level, he continued, “ Does talking about it make you just as wet as you were yesterday”

I gasped and sprung to my feet, dropping the glass on the desk.

“I can still hear your screams in my head, did you ever moan like that for Tom?”

Fuming, I jabbed my finger into his chest.

“What is wrong with you? We both agreed to not speak of last night, what if someone heard you?” I said hostilely.

I couldn't believe him, he was going back on his word and being the cocky jerk I always thought he was.

Angrily I turned around and walked out his office, slamming the door behind me.