Seducing my Ex-husband back (Claire) novel Chapter 33

Chapter 33

TERRITORY

CIAIRE’S POV-

The night had been a masterpiece.

+25 BONUS

I sank into the couch with a glass of champagne, the bubbles fizzing like victory on my tongue. The charity auction was supposed to be stressful, chaotic even…..but instead, it had unfolded like clockwork.

Every bidder dazzled, every paddle raised at the right time, every whisper of admiration landing on me. For once, life wasn’t slapping me across the face.

Tonight, it bowed.

I let out a laugh, tilting my head back. The best part? I hadn’t even needed to try that hard. Richard’s family had done half the work for me.

Monica with her brittle smile and eyes sharp as knives, Eleanor hovering coldly on the sidelines, trying to act like she wasn’t rattled.

Their tension only highlighted how untouchable I looked in comparison.

They couldn’t hide their obsession.

They circled me like moths to a flame….not because they loved me, but because they feared what I represented. Independence. Respect. A life that wasn’t tied to Richard.

And God, the way Monica’s face crumpled every time Richard so much as glanced in my direction? Priceless.

I was still laughing to myself when the front door creaked open.

“Hey, you,” I called, spotting Alexander stepping inside.

“Claire,” he greeted, his voice smooth, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “How’d it go?”

“Fantastic,” I said, sitting up straighter. “You should’ve seen it……Richard’s family was practically tripping over themselves trying to keep me in their orbit. Like I was some kind of prize they couldn’t afford to lose.”

His brow arched. “And what did those vultures want?”

“The usual,” I replied with a smirk. “Charm, pity, power games. They don’t realize I’m already three steps ahead.”

Alexander shrugged out of his jacket and tossed it over a chair. “They’d be fools not to try. You pulled off an event most seasoned hosts would’ve botched. And you did it without me holding your hand.”

“Don’t be modest. You dealt with that emergency —I couldn’t have stayed afloat without knowing you had my back.”

He poured himself a drink, then clinked his glass against mine. “To the auction’s success. And to you.”

1/3

Chapter 33

+25 BONUS

“To us,” I corrected, smiling.

His eyes stayed on me a second too long before he looked away, a hint of something unspoken flashing in them.

Later, after the laughter and the toasts, Alexander’s tone shifted. “By the way… I checked out the penthouse you mentioned.”

My heart skipped. “And?”

“It’s available. Nice place. And conveniently…” He paused, smirking, “…right across from Richard’s office.”

I squealed, clapping my hands together. “That’s perfect! He’ll see me every time he looks out his window. God, this is going to drive him insane.”

“That was the idea.” His smirk widened as he pulled a folder from his bag. “In fact, I brought the paperwork.‘

The sight of it made my pulse race. This was the next step. Revenge wasn’t just words or glares across a ballroom. Revenge was physical. Territorial.

“You ready to sign?” he asked, waving the folder at me.

“Yes! Hand it over.”

I skimmed through, my eyes catching on the details, but the rush of adrenaline blurred the finer print. What mattered was the address, the power, the statement. When I reached the dotted line, I didn’t hesitate. Pen in hand, I scrawled my name.

“There.” I pushed the paper back, grinning. “Done.”

“Congratulations.” He raised his glass again. “You’re officially moving in.”

Warmth bloomed in my chest, not just from the champagne, but from the way his eyes softened as he said it. For a moment, it felt less like strategy and more like support.

Less about Richard, more about… us.

I let myself believe it, just for the night.

Morning came too soon. My head was foggy but buzzing with excitement as I brewed coffee and pulled the folder toward me again. I wanted to bask in the details, to picture myself standing across from Richard’s office, glass walls gleaming like victory.

But as my eyes scanned the document more carefully this time, the words stopped me cold.

“Purchase agreement?” I whispered, blinking rapidly.

My stomach lurched. This wasn’t just a lease. It wasn’t just the penthouse. This was for the entire building. My hands shook as I flipped through page after page, the reality crashing down on me.

“No. No, no, no…” My voice cracked, echoing through the quiet kitchen. “This isn’t what I signed up for.”

2/3

Chapter 33

Panic clawed up my throat, I grabbed my phone and dialed Alexander, pacing the floor.

He answered groggily. “Claire?”

+25 BONUS

“Did you know I just bought the entire building?” I exploded, words tumbling out in a rush. “What the hell did you hand me last night?”

Silence. Then, softly: “You read it wrong?”

“Don’t play dumb! You should’ve stopped me. Do you realize what this means?!”

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify