Chapter 2 Arrogant Ex is so bold to get on my nerves!

Celine POV I parked my car in the parking lot and dashed out. I saw two tall men coming out of a black Rolls-Royce Phantom! They were clad in bespoke tailored suits, walking elegantly toward the company as though a red carpet had been spread before them. I swallowed and panicked. Their aura was so intense that I could feel the tension from this distance. I could only see the side profile of the one in the dark blue suit. My heart was racing faster than my legs. With these short legs and high heels, there was no way I could cross the street so fast and join the line. Dang it! The men were broad-shouldered, had strong, narrow waists, and perfect body proportions that could make jaws drop to the ground. Other than them looking like they had come straight out of a comic book, I felt something tickle under my navel. I didn't know what it was. Their appearance wasn't the main point. My point was that the new CEO was incredibly young. Could it be Mr. Holmes' son or grandson? Why he didn't inform us! My mouth was dry. It was already hot, and being late made it worse. They marched inside, and I waited for the green light, nervously tapping my feet on the ground and chewing my nail. I ran as soon as it turned green and the cars stopped. When I got close to the lobby, they had already reached the elevator. I could feel the innate aura of their nobility from behind. But it wasn't just me; all the overwhelmed employees were running like they were being attacked by zombies. The elevator doors were about to close when I ran faster. There was no way I'd fall on my knees and beg him not to fire me. "Wait a minute!" I shouted and jumped in. If I were two ounces fatter, I'd have been trapped. "Ah!" I screamed as I tripped and fell straight into my boss. Shit! I closed my eyes to swallow the pill of my destiny and feel the pain. I was an utter embarrassing mess until nothing happened. My boss firmly and tightly caught me, his arm wrapped around my waist, his fingers dug to me. I dared to open my eyes, and time froze. That was him! My ex-husband was holding me so tightly that I could feel the heat from his body. My heart pounded violently. Out of shock, I stared up at those lips, only one thought flashed in my mind, it was a very long time that I hadn't kiss them. My eyes slowly traveled up to meet a pair of unfathomable blue eyes. I wanted it to be a mistake that my mind made, but damn it was real. Involuntarily, my back arched, my breasts squeezed hard against his chest as if moving on it own accord to start over with him. He was even more charming than before, yet I remembered every detail of his face. That handsome, aloof expression had distinct features and a high, straight nose. His full lips could enchant every woman to taste them. My body was on fire. I pushed myself close and felt more heat coursing through my body, I leaned my head close, too close that it sounded I was going to kiss him. His eyes were on my lips too. It was that familiar face etched into my very bones, the body that kissed ever corner and felt skin to skin. Suddenly, his blue pupils dilated, and I stopped breathing. The definition of drop-dead on the spot was my situation. Even seeing him just aroused me. Dean Harper! My new CEO was my unfaithful ex-husband. I blushed but forced myself to come back to my senses when he reminded me how brutal he still was. "Let me arrive first, then throw yourself at me again." His voice was cold and emotionless. Asshole! All the fantasy clouds around my head vanished in an instant but my entire body kept scream of yearning. If he'd kissed me right now, I would have give in to him. . But wait! How did he end up becoming a tycoon and taking over such a fancy, successful group? "How much longer are you going to hold me? Let go!" He mocked me, his eyes filled with ridicule. I snapped out of my fantasy and yanked back my grip as if I had just touched an electric wire. I managed to stand upright, shoving down my anger. I grabbed the stray lock of my hair and tucked it behind my ear. Tugging at my business suit, I fixed it. I took a deep breath, but the hot air immediately plummeted into a freezing chill that made my knees wobble. I could feel the nerves in my knees throbbing. The lump in my throat grew as I forced myself not to face him. Now, I realized what that sweet nightmare was about last night. *** There was a lush old ginkgo tree. Its branches spread wide, and its golden beauty glinted like gold at night. Beneath it was a large floor cushion. The sky glittered with twinkling stars. Dean lay on top of me, half-naked, his fingers fiddling with the strands of my hair. His body was sweating and brushing against mine. It was the day we divorced. The saddest day of my life that I could never let go of. Our farewell wasn't calm and peaceful. He had one condition that day to sign the papers. Then, we made a consensual deal. "You'll have sex with me under the tree. We started there, and I want to finish it in that very place." The storm inside me was going to strangle me. Our sensual attraction always defeated my urge to resist him. "Dean, are you going to stop this? I can't take anymore. We need to stop." I shouted at him. My body was suddenly about to fall apart. He could never get enough. He leaned down, his hot, gasping breath and lips brushing against my earlobe. "You are very energetic when you scream and tear my eardrums apart, so don't sound exhausted at all." Tears beaded in my eyes. His tone was so indifferent and nonchalant that it made me sick to my stomach. I shouldn't have accepted his challenge to have sex here. He didn't feel sorry for me, for us. Not even a trace of regret was etched on his face to make me forgive him. I loathed that getting a divorce had brought me to this state and thrown me into a vicious, intense competition I had already lost. I was the one who initiated the divorce process, and the only thing he fought for wasn't me, wasn't even the slightest attempt to change my mind and make me stay with him. It was the damn benefit! Calling it a fair trade! Was our marriage just a fucking trade all along? Yeah, right! Better! Then, after that, I didn't owe him shit. As he continued, I felt nausea rising within me. Something was off. My head grew numb instantly, and I forced him back, slapping his shoulders. "We are done here! Get off me!" He stopped and just stared at me. His blue eyes held something I couldn't read, or something I didn't want to. Whatever it was, I couldn't make out any emotion or any natural force strong enough to make me stay. "Why should it depend on you to end this? I decide how it ends. Remember, you started it, and I am ending it here." He continued to shred my heart into pieces. I didn't back down. "I'm pregnant! That's enough. Tell me what to do with it." "I will give you a few hundred more bucks. That is more than what you'll get from the divorce agreement. Get emergency contraception to get rid of what remains of me." My eyes burned with rage and hatred. Scratching his arms with my nails, I screamed at the top of my lungs, "You are a fucking bastard." He pressed me down against the pillow beneath me, leaning down, his nose touching mine. "Then does that make you a bastard's woman?" That sounded awful. I had no answer for it. ... And after that night, I never saw him again. He vanished from my life. That tree was where we fell in love when we were so young and still college students. It witnessed the memories of our youth. He also made that place where we separated and made sure to make it as sad and horrible as possible, turning our last memory dull and gray, the night I sobbed after he was gone and the heat of his body had left mine. --- The elevator stopped at the top floor, where the executive office was. The doors slid open, and I gazed at Lena and Helen, who were already waiting in front of the door. I gave them an aching smile. The company had many secretaries in each department, and this one had three. One of them was me, sadly. "Good morning, Mr. Harper!" They bowed their heads harmoniously, like he was the king of the world who would bestow countless treasures upon them. What a theater! Tsk! My heart ached. They were respecting the man who didn't deserve a drop of it. This man was a heartless asshole. But my question was, how the hell, in just four years, had he become wealthy enough to acquire JIJO Group? It was worth billions. I didn't know whether I was insane or the world had grown insane, and I was the one left behind. Anyway, I had no time to think this through, so without hesitation, I ran after Lena and stood straight like a statue. Dean trudged over with those long legs and shot me a cold, arrogant glare. If he wasn't my boss, and I didn't need so much money to take care of Miky, I would have punched his pretty face. However, hopefully, both of my colleagues in the president's office were gorgeous. I could feel better knowing he wouldn't look at me the same way as he did in the old days. I heard a whisper from behind. "Celine looks more stunning today, don't you think?" Hell no! Stop! Everybody gathered, and he gave the shortest, weirdest speech possible. "I am Dean Harper. I have taken over JIJO Group and will be settling into the president's office." He paused, and a wicked light flashed in his eyes that made my spine stiffen. What was he about to say? Why was he looking at me? "I drink coffee without sugar. I don't fancy the scent of perfumes, especially the expensive ones you shower yourselves with. And..." He arched his brow, his gaze piercing through me. "I don't like my subordinates being late." He averted his head and looked at the others icily. Even winter was warmer than him. "I hope everyone will keep this in mind." The three of us answered in unison, "Yes, Mr. Harper!" It was unintentional but sounded like we had rehearsed it. He gave me another unfriendly glare. This man! As bitter as the taste of the coffee he preferred. "Are you Mrs. Celine Simons?" I was speechless. He knew who I was. Did he get a head injury before coming to his office? Jerk! "Yes, Mr. Harper. Do you need anything?" I feigned a polite, professional look, barely managing a faint smile to be nice. He brought his wrist up and looked at his expensive watch that could buy three families three houses. I knew why he was looking at it. "One minute late, right?" He uttered those words, and the corner of my lips twitched. "According to your contract, it means you'll lose my perfect attendance bonus and performance bonus for the whole month." I didn't know what to say. I just screamed in my head, and the muscles around my jaw hurt so badly. Cruel man! He was cracking down on me to scare the rest of the staff into obeying. I was the poor lamb he had just sacrificed to warn the other poor lambs and assert his authority over his property. I saw the others grow pale. "Yes!" My mouth ached to say that. I had no other option but to bite my tongue, keep my mouth shut, and keep this damn job. Taking care of my mom and Miky cost a lot, including my nerves to put up with this man. He tilted his head and wasn't done yet. "The records show you've been divorced, right?" That scoundrel did it on purpose to berate me? Then fuck him! I lingered for a few seconds before answering and then calmly replied, "Yes!" "I see. Then what was the reason for the divorce?" He narrowed his eyes, obviously studying my dismay as he continued the conversation. "Note that I don't have a penchant for prying into the privacy of my subordinates. However, I believe those who stay by my side must be completely innocent and must not disturb me with personal matters." What? Wait! Was he making a list of us based on personal scores? Disguising this immoral act under official business? If so, then, I had to give him his shit back. How dare you! "Our sex life wasn't harmonious." Take this for now, scumbag. He wanted me to be blunt, so there it was. Everyone who was standing there was stunned, blood left their faces. That was just a lie. He was a beast in sex. Back then, I was desperate for him so badly that I didn't refrain from asking and making him tease me in every unholy way possible. I swallowed as I recalled how shameless I was. Could he remember? Heat rushed to my cheeks.