Divorce To Restart: Vengeful Ex-Wife Strikes Back!

Chapter 19 His Childhood Friend

X&J EMPIRE, NEW YORK. Xander chuckled at something Nina said on the other end. “You sound like you have it all planned out.” She made a gurgle sound on the other end. “I am just nervous.” He reached for the pen in front of him and started twirling it. “Come on. You are not new to this. Don’t let yourself get worked up for nothing. It will all work out, trust me. So, what are your plans for the weekend?” “Why? You need me to do something?” “Err, I am not sure yet….” He drawled as the door opened, letting in an excited Dawn. “You know what? Let me call you back.” He said. “Sure,” Nina replied, ending the call. “Hey boo boo!” Dawn screamed as she rushed towards Xander. “Oh My Dawn!” Xander dropped the phone, stood up from where he sat, and pulled her into a hug. Dawn is his childhood friend and COO of X&J Empire. She had gone on a two-month leave and was returning from her vacation. He didn’t think he would miss seeing her around. “When did you return?” He asked, letting her go. Dawn giggled. “I am coming straight from the airport.” “Come on now. You could have called me or given me a heads-up. I would have sent a car to get you. My goodness! Hawaii did quite a number on you. You look good.” He complimented. She did him the honors and turned for him to have a good look at him. “I sure look good. Trust me to enjoy my time to the fullest. I thought surprising you would be more intriguing than giving you a heads-up. So, are you surprised?” She motioned to sit directly opposite him while he did the same, too. Xander nodded, grinning. “Of course I am. Welcome back. We all missed you! Would you like something to drink?” “No, I have my lemon water here with me. You know, keeping it fit.” She winked, showing him the half-drunk water bottle big enough for five people to share. He winced, pointing at it. “Only you took all of that?” “Well, I am a fitness freak. Sue me. You don’t think I maintain this good skin and body despite work stress with just the gym?” Xander snickered. He couldn’t deny the fact that Dawn was a beautiful lady. Her body and face are perfect to woo just about any man. And she knows exactly how good-looking she is. Her confidence is top-notch. Not to forget how brilliant she is. He snatched her off the business market to work for him as soon as she finished her master’s at Oxford. Even though it’s all his mother’s plan, she did well this time. “So, did I miss anything?” Dawn asked, yawning. “I doubt it if you do. Rumor has it you monitored everything your assistant was doing despite being on vacation. Do you not know what that means? A holiday off work.” She rolled her eyes at him. “Coming from someone who hardly takes a break. How do you expect me to have all the fun when you are doing so much? I wish you would be more expressive and stop being so stuck up.” “I am not stuck up.” He argued. Dawn stood up and walked towards him. “What is it?” Xander asked, giving her a suspicious glance. She leaned forward, resting both hands on the arm of the chair he sat on. Her sweet-scented perfume filled his nostrils. “Are you scared of what I might do to you if we are alone?” She inquired in a seductive tone while wetting her lips with her tongue. Xander sucked his teeth, using a finger to push her backward. “You wish, mama.” He mumbled, laughing to himself. It amuses him how Dawn flirts with him so casually. Anyone will think they have something intimate going on between them. She pouted. “You are such a party pooper.” “I try my best.” He winked. “Let’s get you home, and you need to rest from the long trip. Moreover, I need you to be active come Monday. X&J Foods will be launching this coming week.” Dawn gasped in surprise. “Is that true? How come I am just getting to know about it? What about the staff? Did you get competent ones?” “Trust me to not miss on that one. I assure you we have the best in the game on our side. You will get to know more by Monday.” “I can’t wait then.” She said, yawning again. “Hungry or tired?” “Both. But I would like to eat first. Come and take me out to lunch.” “The way you order me. One would think I am your man.” “Well, technically, you are my man.” She mused, wiggling her brow. Xander smirked. “You are too full of yourself. I will round up here and take you wherever you want. What are you in the mood for?” “Maybe Chinese? Might like something spicy, too.” “You are so indecisive,” Xander mumbled, not paying attention as he typed hurriedly on his computer. He failed to notice Dawn sneaking up behind him again. Suddenly, her arms wrapped around him from behind, placing wet kisses all over his face. “Get off me, Dawn. What are you doing?” Xander tried to wiggle out of her hold, but she held tight. “Stop fighting it.” She laughed. “You should stop this. We are in the office. What do you want people to say when they see us like this? Do you want them spreading rumors?” She shrugged nonchalantly, caressing his jaw. “It’s not like they have not been talking. Everyone knows just how close we are. It won’t be news if we start dating.” Xander removed her hand from his face. “Don’t get ahead of yourself and focus on your work. I need to save these documents quickly, and we are out.” “Fine, suit yourself.” She snorted. Jace walked in whistling. He paused at the sight of Dawn and then began to snap his fingers. “Damn, girl! You look so good I think I might eat you.” He said with a smack of his lips. Dawn gave him a distasteful look before grabbing her bag. “I will be in my office, Xander. Call me when you are ready to leave.” She said, leaving. “What?” Jace queried at his brother’s reproachful expression. “You know she doesn’t like you coming at her like that.” Said Xander. “I don’t care. Dawn is only nice to me a bit because of you. And trust me, brother, If you were the one who said the same thing. I bet she would turn red and melt away if it was you.” “What are you insinuating?” “You know what it is. Dawn is crazy about you. That is the only reason she left England to be here.” Xander slapped the table and grabbed his jacket. “I don’t have time for your nonsense. Dawn is hungry, and I am taking her out to lunch.” He said, heading to the door. “While you feed her belly, feed the other hungry places, too,” Jace called after him, laughing at his joke. “Go to blow up somewhere!” His brother retorted, slamming the door shut behind him. *************

DAWN’S HOME, NEW YORK. Xander turned off the ignition while parked in front of Dawn’s house. “We are here.” He announced. Lunch had rolled into dinner quickly as Dawn had so many things to tell him about her vacation. “I can see that,” Dawn mumbled absentmindedly. Her eyes appear to be taking in every detail of Xander’s face. His look puts her in a daze every time. And she wishes he wasn’t so slow to respond. He turned to look at her when the silence seemed too prolonged. “What is going on with you?” Her lips parted. “Why aren’t we dating?” The question had him dazed for a few seconds. “Are you being serious right now? Are you drunk or something? Get out of my car right now.” He ordered, laughing. “Whatever.” She snickered as she opened the car door. “Would you like to come in for a minute?” “No. I should head home. Have a good night’s rest.” “Alright. Good night.” Dawn grinned, waving at him as the car drove off. “I thought you planned on spending the rest of the night out there.” Dawn’s sister, Minny, teased the moment she stepped into the house. “Is that the welcome I get after being away for so long?” Dawn retorted. Minny snorted, stretching her legs out on the couch Dawn sat in. “Maybe if you had thought of how eager I would have been to see you after your bags arrived before you and not run off to meet your long lost crush. I would have acted differently.” “You are so petty.” She chuckled, rolling up her hair. “How was your journey?” Minny asked with a pause. Suddenly, she got excited and shifted closer to her sister. “So, did you guys share a kiss? You took a while in the car before getting off.” Dawn scoffed. “Are you spying on me now?” “Don’t be so dramatic. I guess it didn’t happen since you aren’t blushing.” She threw a dismissive hand. “Yeah, whatever. It will happen at the right time. Xander is just being shy.” Minny didn’t look convinced that her sister knew what she was saying. “Can I ask you a sincere question?” “Which is?” “Why are you fooling yourself?” “What do you mean by that?” “I want to believe you know what I mean by that. You have been after this man for over five years, and he still doesn’t care about you. Aren’t you too beautiful to be throwing yourself around?” Dawn flared her nose. “Watch your mouth!” She warned, heading to her room angrily. “You know I am correct,” Minny said behind her. Dawn ignored her words, dumping her weight onto the couch in her room. She tries hard not to be pessimistic about her affection for Xander. Dawn has desired him since they were kids. Because of her education and her mother’s insistence on getting a degree at her alma mater, she had to move to England. Her heart seems more hopeful after a terrible breakup when she comes across a picture of a mature-looking Xander who would have any woman drooling over him. Luckily, he needed a chief operating officer. She sees herself as the best candidate. Dawn flew back to New York and applied for the job. Since the day she stepped foot in the company. She has done all she can to get Xander to make out with her. But he hardly shows any response. “Is that hard for you to admit that he is not as interested in you as you are in him?” Her nemesis Minny asked from the door with an apple in hand. “He has not dated anyone since I returned. I am the only female who freely moves around his house and has a spare key. Even though that maid of his, Carla, acts bitchy every time I go by. He is more friendly with me than any other female in that company, and you do know he comes calling whenever I need him, right?” “So? To think you both have shared the same bed and you have never fucked by mistake? Damn girl! You are too good-looking. I would have fucked you if I was a guy and not related to you.” She sounded frustrated. “Are you sure he is not impotent?” Dawn gasped. “Hell no! He is not.” She yelled, relaxing her face again. “There is just so much happening around him. And I think he went through a kind of trauma that he is not sharing with anyone.” “Yeah, right. You always come up with excuses for Xander. Just stay put until he falls madly in love, and you know he is not a saint after all.” “I didn’t paint him to be a saint. Why are you so against him?” “That’s because you place him so high that I doubt he even pays you that much attention. Why do you keep letting this happen? Men are dying to spend their life savings on you. Some don’t even mind worshipping the ground you live in. Yet, you keep going after one that wants nothing to do with you. I feel sorry for you, sis.” Dawn tightened her jaw and exhaled. “Get out!” “No, I won’t. Why does it have to be Xander Jackson? Why?” “Because you don’t know what it feels like to be with a man who doesn’t care about your looks and nothing else!” She raised her voice, losing all patience. “Do you know why Xander tops them all? Despite his riches, Xander never makes me feel inferior. He listens to me, compliments my hard work, admits my beauty, and takes all of my bullshit! Mike couldn’t even do that much. He made a fool of me at every chance he got and accused me of sleeping around to earn marks because he didn’t think I was capable of achieving such an academic feat with my kind of face. How the hell do you explain that?” She queried with tears in her eyes. “What wrong did I do to want a better man? Why can’t I fight to be with Xander, knowing he will give me the peace I deserve? Or do I not deserve that because I look good? Did I make myself? I am only rooting for a better future. What offense did I commit?” Minny gulped hard, realizing she had pushed too hard. “I…I am sorry, Dawn.” She stuttered while attempting to get close to her. “Don’t, Minny. Just go. I need some time to myself, please.” She sniffed, curling into the couch. Her sister hummed in response, closing the door as she walked out.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.