The Wife He Replaced

Chapter19

Chapter 19. Leave My Space

Rita's pov

I heard the door open.I didn’t turn around. Because I already knew who it was. I didn’t rush to react.

I just let the silence go on.. enough to make his presence feel… pointless.

“You’ve become hard to reach.”

His voice. Calm. Measured. Like he hadn’t broken anything.

I slowly closed the file in front of me before looking not at him but at my reflection in the glass wall.

“You shouldn’t be here.”

You shouldn't be barging into my office without knocking.

“I knocked.”

“And I didn’t answer.” That’s when I turned around.

Victor stood a step inside my office completely at ease like he owned the place. Like this was another room he could walk into and take control of.

That version of me is gone. “What do you want?" I asked, my tone flat.

“Clarity.” I almost smiled.

“Try a lawyer " I said, picking up my pen again like he was already dismissed. "That’s what they’re for.”

“I’m not here for stuff.”

“No?" I looked up at him now, meeting his eyes fully. "Then you’re definitely in the wrong place.”

Something flickered in his gaze..irritation, maybe.. Something sharper.

“Don’t do that, " he said.

“Do what?”

“Act like this doesn’t involve you.”

I leaned back in my chair studying him like he was the one out of place.

“This doesn’t involve me?" I echoed softly. "That’s interesting… considering you walked into my office.”

“You know what I mean.”

“No, " I said calmly. "I really don’t.”

Silence.Heavy. Charged. He took a step closer. Big mistake.

My expression didn’t change. Something in my posture did..sharper, colder unwelcoming.

“Rita..”

“Don’t." My voice cut through his, clean and firm. "Don’t say my name like we’re friends.”

That stopped him. Not completely. Enough.

“You’re making this harder than it needs to be.”

I let out a breath. ". You’re still under the impression that I owe you ease.”

“Why are you here?" he asked, more direct now. "What are you trying to do?”

I stood up. Slowly. Deliberately. He watched every move.

Good. Let him feel it.

“I’m not trying to do anything " I said as I stepped around the desk. "I’m simply… fixing things.” “Fixing what?”

I stopped in front of him. Not too close.

Just enough to make him feel the shift.

“Ownership.”The word dropped between us like a weight.

His eyes narrowed immediately. "Over what?” “You’ll find out.”

“That’s not how this works.”

I tilted my head slightly. "That’s how it works now.” For a moment we just stood there.

Then he laughed..low, disbelieving.

“You walk in after disappearing and suddenly start making claims over things tied to my company?”

“There you go again " I interrupted softly. "Saying ‘my’ like it’s a fact.”

“It is.”

“Not anymore.”

That did it.

The tension snapped tighter.

“You’d be careful with what you’re implying " he said, his voice dropping.

“And you’d get used to not being the only one in control " I replied just as quietly.

Our eyes locked. This wasn’t about the past. Not anymore. This was power.

He could feel it slipping.Before he could push further ..

The door opened again.

Kate.

Of course.

“Well " she said, stepping in with that annoying confidence. "I leave you alone for a few minutes and this is what I found?”

I didn’t even look at her.

“ wrong door " I said flatly. "This isn’t your space.”

Her smile tightened instantly.

“Everything connected to Victor concerns me.”

That made me turn. Slowly.

“. And That " I said, my voice soft but sharp "is exactly where your problem begins.”

Her expression flickered.

Victor glanced between us, tension rising fast.

“What is she talking about?" Kate asked, her tone sharpening.

I ignored her completely.Instead I looked at Victor.

“Is this how your business runs now?" I asked. "Uninvited interruptions?”

His jaw flexed. "Kate..”

“No " I cut in. "Don’t fix it. Own it.”

The silence that followed was suffocating.

Then I stepped aside. Gestured toward the door. “Meeting's over” Victor didn’t move.

Of course he didn’t. He never walked away first.Not before. Not ever.

So I closed the distance.Enough.

“Let me make this clear " I said quietly so only he could hear. "You don’t walk into my space raise your voice demand answers… and stay.”

His eyes searched mine. Trying to find something.Anything. He won’t.

“There’s more to this, " he said under his breath. “There always is.”

“Then stop playing games.” I smiled.

Cold. Controlled.

“I’m not playing, " I said. "You’re behind.”

That landed. Hard.

I stepped back. Raised my hand toward the door again.

“This way.”

Kate let out a disbelieving laugh. "You can’t be serious..” “I wasn’t talking to you.”

Her voice died instantly. Victor still hadn’t moved. So I took one step closer.

Lowered my voice. “You don’t belong here anymore.” That did it.

Slowly he turned. Walked toward the door.

Not because he wanted to. Because I made it clear he had no place left to stand.

Kate hesitated..then followed clearly unsettled. I walked behind them. Not rushing.

Not hesitating. Just… escorting.

When we reached the door Victor paused.

Of course he did.He turned slightly, his eyes locking onto mine again.

“This isn’t over.”

“It already is " I said calmly.

Then I stepped forward. Ope

ned the door wider. Waited. He didn’t speak again.

He walked out. Kate followed while giving me that dangerous look.

I closed the door behind them. Softly.

Final enough to echo.