Bound to My Ex-husband's Deadly Rival

I tried to suppress the memory from last night as I sat with Axel in the back of his car. The butler had asked me to get dressed, I was to accompany Axel somewhere and now we were in his car, on our way to God knows where. With the nervous tension from our encounter last night still clinging to me, I couldn't find the courage to say even a single word to him. "I didn't see anything," he spoke, breaking the awkward silence. "What?" "Last night, I didn't see anything when your robe fell," he said, turning to look at me. I quickly tore my gaze from his and fixed my eyes on the road as I gulped, letting out a sigh of relief. Thank God! The car pulled up to a towering skyscraper that seemed to touch the sky, its glass exterior glowing under the sunlight like a jewel. The moment we stepped inside, I couldn't help but gawk at what I was looking at, the interior was even more stunning. Delicate, intricate floral designs wove seamlessly into an ultra-modern aesthetic, a perfect balance of elegance and innovation. At the far end, a glass elevator glistened like crystal, rising gracefully toward the heights above "It's beautiful," I whispered. "It sure is," he replied. "It's yours," he smiled, hands in both pockets. The first time his smile has looked genuine. Wait! Did he just say the building was mine? "You're joking," my jaw was on the floor, disbelief written all over me. He gestured for a man standing in the corner to come close, and he grabbed some documents from his hands and gave it to me. My hands were visibly shaking. Is he joking? "I bought the building in your name last night, you can check the documents to confirm," I examined the document carefully. In bold, unmistakable print, the deed stated: Registered Owner, Elara Steele. A forty-eight-storey skyscraper, legally mine. He wasn't bluffing. "I...I don't...I don't know what to say," I stuttered, trying to decide if I should scream in excitement or jump. "I made a promise to you that I would help you take down Dorian and his mistress, this is the first step," "This...this is a lot and I....I'm very shocked and impressed, but.... I don't see how buying me a million dollar skyscraper could help to enforce our plan." He walked closer to me and spoke. "This building is for your jewelry company. With your creativity, I'm going to make you the biggest jeweller in the United States and make sure you drive Dorian's mistress to bankruptcy and have her company at your mercy." He had a serious expression on his face now and I knew he meant business. Axel took me to another building he purchased for his automobile company he was starting up. Dorian's field. His company's goal was the same as mine, dominate the field until Dorian's company shrinks, till it eventually dies. He had taken me to his after leaving the.....my...my new company. I smiled as I thought about it. Axel was making my dream come true. For so long, it looked out of my reach. Having my own jewelry company looked like a myth, a fantasy, but Axel took it out of my dreams and brought it to life. Oh my God, Elara get your sh*t together. He wasn't being nice to me because he cares or anything, I'm just a means to an end for him, a way to get to Dorian. He dropped me off at a beauty clinic , to meet up with Cyrus. Apparently, Cyrus told him we had a spa date. I sat at the private lounge, waiting for Cyrus to show up and he finally called after more than 15 minutes of me sipping red wine and staring at the wall waiting for him. I walked to the parking lot where he was supposed to be and the first thing that hit my eyes was the black Range Rover parked a few feet from where I was standing. Dorian's car. What are the fucking odds! I turned to leave before he could see me but he called my name from behind. "Elara." I rolled my eyes and slowly turned to his direction. "What do you want?" I fired at him. "I know what you're doing," he said, voice laced with bitterness. "I have no idea what you're talking about," I folded both arms staring intently at him. He scoffed,"You need to drop the strong girl act, it looks stupid on you," "F**k you, Dorian," I spat and stormed back to the Spa. "Come back here you stupid bitch," he followed closely behind me. "I got information you were inspecting a new company today with some guy," I just shook my head and kept on walking, completely ignoring him, but he didn't stop. "That's what you're doing now? Trying to sleep with whoever is willing so you can get back at me, I knew you were stupid and worthless but I never knew you could go so low as to selling yourself for a few favours from rich men. Thankfully your parents are not alive to see how shameful and pathetic their daughter has become." The next second, the thunderous sound of a slap echoed in the air as my palm landed on Dorian's cheek. "Don't you dare speak to me like that," I warned, eyes burning with rage as he stood staring at me, hand against his face where I had hit him. "And just so you know, I'm married now," I said, waving my ring in front of his eyes. His eyes followed the ring closely, his face contorted in shock and disbelief. "I'm married to someone a hundred times richer and more powerful than you will ever be, thank you for initiating the divorce and freeing me from that shameful marriage," my lips curved in a wicked smile, seeing how deep my words were cutting him. The look on his face was mixed with shock and resentment, eyes widened in disbelief, his jaws clenched tightly. I let out an exhilarating laugh, it felt so good to finally stand up to him. After years of him controlling me and making me feel less of myself. Seeing the look on his face was nothing short of satisfactory. "I'll find out who he is," he warned. "I'll make him see you as the liability you are and I'll make sure he leaves you." "Good luck with that," I chuckled and walked off. "I know you're up to something," he continued . "You better watch your back, Elara. I'll find out what you're doing and I'll make sure it blows in your face." He yelled from behind me. What a joke.