Ex-Husband’s Regret by Evelyn M.M

"Harper, will you get out of the car? You're wasting my time", Gabriel snapped at me.

I lift my head and look at him. His brows were furrowed, and he seemed to be impatient and irritated. I sigh before getting out. This was the Gabriel I was used to. Cold, arrogant and rude.

I straighten my skirt before taking my handbag. He starts moving, and I follow behind him like a lamb being led to the slaughterhouse. I was so nervous, I felt like my heart was about to jump out of my fucking chest.

I was stepping into Gabriel's world. Into his domain. It was a bit uncomfortable and scary being in a place where he had full control of every single aspect.

Gabriel presses the button for the lift and it opens. Stepping in, I stand beside him and try to cool down my wildly beating heart. "The only ones who have access to this elevator is my family, and it takes us directly to the upper floor where our offices are" he begins, then continues. "I'll add you to the system, so you don't have to use the ordinary elevator." I'm astonished at this level of prestige. Yes, my family was rich, but we never had a private elevator in our building. Everyone, including the CEO and founding family, used the two elevators provided.

"Okay" I answered.

"I'll also provide you with your own car and driver" he added, while taking out his phone. "You know that I work late, and I'm sure you'd want to go hearly because of Lilly, so you can be leaving at five like the rest unless I want you work past hours. He can also drive you anywhere else you want to go." I nod my head, I didn't need my own driver and I could drive myself, but I wasn't in the mood to start an argument with him. Being hin the evening was one of the things I was worried about. He made it honly a few minutes before Lilly went to sleep. I'd like to be there with her after work hours. Help her with her homework and have dinner together. I'm glad he was considerate enough when it cto my evenings.

"We'll be arriving to work together except on those days I have to be in the office earlier than usual, and on the few days when I leave work early" he said.

"Why?" I don't get it and to be honest, it's not a good idea to be around each other this much. I don't want any distractions. My main goal is to finish these two years and walk away with my family's legacy.

"We are married. People expect us to be in love. Everyone knows that I'm not exactly a one-woman man and no woman has been able to tiedown-" I cut him off before he could finish his sentence, "In other words, they know that you're a manwhore." He glares at me, but it doesn't really faze me. He can glare all he wants. I said nothing wrong. I was only stating the facts.

"Like I was saying, they know me, so they'll think there has to be something special about you for you to be able to bag me, hence we have to give them what they want, the lovey-dovey kind of shit... That includes coming to work together, opening doors for you, eating lunch together and attending events together. We can also go for dinner dates and such crap." "You're not serious" I stared at him in shock.

It wasn't enough that I had to work alongside him, but also to eat lunch together and attend functions? That's just spending too much ttogether.

"Oh, I'm serious" he beamed at me, obviously being sarcastic. "The board wantedto settle down and get married. We have to sell it to them that I have finally found my match." The door opens into an exquisite space, with white walls, expressive art and an expensive-looking carpet. He places a hand on my lower back and guides me.

"Good morning Mr. Wood," two women say in unison, stopping us.

They stare atcuriously, their eyes zeroed in on Gabriel's hand on my back.

"What are you doing here?" he asked them, his voice as cold as Antarctica.

A pretty blond answers, her voice stammering in the process. "We were just delivering the documents you asked for from the MD and head of finance." "You know fucking well you're not allowed up here. Let this be the last tyou chere. Either have Christopher cget the documents or let Tristan and Ben chand over the documents themselves... Am I clear?" You can clearly see the fear in their eyes. Their legs were shaking and honest to God, I was afraid they would pee on themselves. "Y-yes sir" they stammered before rushing off as if the pants were on fire.

"Why are they not allowed on this floor?" I asked him after they left.

He nudgesto continue walking. "About two years ago one of our employees tried to steal an important document, so he could sell it to our biggest competitor That file would have cost us billions had it landed in the wrong hands. Since then, Rowan and I agreed that only the higher ups and our secretaries would be allowed on this floor." "Damn, that's terrible... where is the person now?" "Dead" he replied in that sdetached, cold voice.

I can't stop the gasp that escapes my lips. "You killed him?" "No, but by the twe were done with him, he wished he was dead" he spat. "He ended up killing himself in prison a few months later." "You don't seem to be bothered by that." Gabriel stops and faces me. His eyes sent chills down my back and remindedjust how dangerous this man was.

"You have to understand one thing here, Harper, no one steals fromor hurts my family and gets away with it, so yes, I'm not bothered that the asshole killed himself. In fact, I slept like a damn baby when heard the news." He continues walking, guidingas if he hadn't just revealed the lengths he would go to punish those that offend him.

Moral of the story, don't get on Gabriel's bad side, or you'll end up dead by your own hands and not his. Doesn't matter if he didn't kill you, the point is, you'll be dead either way.

I don't know which one is worse.

Him killing you or him driving you to kill yourself. Either way, I'm going to try and keep as much distance. between us. It can't be that hard to engage with him only when it's about work or Lilly, right?