Seducing my Ex-husband back (Claire) novel Chapter 7

THE PROPOSAL

~CLAIRE’S POV~

{ONE YEAR LATER}

“Your boyfriend is on the line,” Marcus whispered, holding out the phone.

I caught my reflection in the dressing room mirror—sleek bob, red lipstick, a woman I barely recognized. The makeup artist stepped back, declaring me camera-ready.

One year ago, I was sobbing in Alexander’s arms. Now I was about to go live on television.

“Please tell me you have good news,” I said into the phone, “or a very good reason for interrupting my beauty ritual.”

Alexander’s laugh was warm. “Hello, love.”

‘Love.’ The word still felt strange between us, even after everything.

It had been exactly one year since that night at Eleanor’s party. One year since I had been ready to give up my dignity for revenge.

Alexander had surprised me then—instead of taking advantage of my desperation, he had listened. And agreed to help me destroy Richard.

I had never asked why he wanted to ruin his own half-brother. Some questions were better left unasked.

“So, dinner?” he asked now.

“If I survive this interview.” I watched the crew fussing around me. “Thirty minutes, tops.”

“I could storm in there and carry you out.”

“You would not dare.” But I was smiling. The crew exchanged knowing looks….the happy couple act was working perfectly.

It was not entirely an act. Alexander had saved me, in his way. After that final, humiliating encounter with Richard…

*******************

FLASH BACK { LAST DAY IN NEW YORK}

‘I had been such a fool, waiting in his office for an hour while Janet shot me pitying looks.

When Richard finally appeared from the elevator, casual clothes replacing his usual suit, those blue eyes looked at me with something almost like warmth.’

‘Hope fluttered in my chest as he led me to his office.

When he pressed me against his desk, brushing hair from my face, I thought—God, I actually thought he had come back to me.’

‘His cruel laughter shattered everything.’

“So easy,” he had said, eyes assessing me like I was nothing. “Does any man get between your legs this easily? Are you always this cheap?”

‘I had begged him to leave Monica, to choose me. The pity in his eyes was worse than hatred.’

‘Then his phone rang. Monica’s name on the screen. He let go of my wrist to answer, asking which restaurant they were meeting at.’

‘I slipped out while he was distracted, tears streaming down my face.’

{PRESENT DAY}

That was the last day I had let anyone see me weak.

I had called Alexander from the lobby, crying my eyes out as he held me. Two days later, we were on a plane to Switzerland.

Two months of healing, then eight months of rebuilding myself from the ground up.

Business classes. Fitness training. Charity galas where Alexander introduced me as his mysterious companion.

I had learned to speak confidently, to command attention, to be the woman Richard claimed I could never be.

The broken, pathetic Claire was gone.

In her place stood someone stronger—someone who graced magazine covers and wrote bestselling books about transformation.

“Earth to Claire,” Alexander’s voice pulled me back to the present.

“Sorry, just thinking about the interview.”

“You’ll be brilliant. You always are.”