THE DIVORCE GAMBIT From Dumped Wife to CEO's Forever novel Chapter 74

"I'll have the same as you," Caitlin chimed in, "but with extra cilantro, please."

Celeste's eyes lit up, as if she'd just discovered a kindred spirit. "Catie! I love cilantro too! But none of my friends will touch the stuff—they can't stand it! I can't believe you're just like me. We must share the same taste buds!"

**

Chandler Enterprises.

Julian sat behind his desk, gaze fixed on Dalton. "Has Caitlin updated you on Apex's latest situation these past few days?"

He was growing impatient for the Apex acquisition to go through.

After all, Caitlin only joined Apex for his sake—she should be keeping Dalton informed at all times.

Dalton shook his head. "Not yet."

He found it odd as well. By all rights, Caitlin should've been knocking down his door by now, eager to report in.

But she'd done nothing but keep her distance.

It was completely out of character.

Dalton glanced at Julian. "Julian, do you think we might have misjudged her? Maybe Caitlin joining Apex Game Studios was just a coincidence… maybe she wasn't…"

Maybe she wasn't doing it for Julian at all?

Maybe she wasn't a mole.

Only when you've truly let someone go do you see things so clearly.

"Impossible." Julian cut him off without hesitation. "I'm the love of her life."

Caitlin was obsessed with him. She'd join Apex and do anything just to please him, even if it meant sacrificing her own dignity. How could she possibly let him go so easily?

Dalton looked at Julian, a sense of foreboding settling over him. "She… she hung up."

She hung up?

Julian's eyes narrowed, his expression twisting with contempt. Caitlin thought she could play this game just because she had Apex's intel? She actually wanted to force him to reach out first?

Where did she get the nerve?

"Try again. Use another number."

Dalton nodded and picked up a different phone, dialing once more.

This time, Caitlin's voice was edged with irritation. "Dalton, if you're sick, go see a doctor, okay? There's nothing between Julian and me anymore. Stop calling—"

Julian snatched the phone out of Dalton's hand, cutting her off coldly. "Enough, Caitlin! Isn't all this just a ploy to win my sympathy? You've gone way too far. But I'm willing to give you one last chance. If you pull yourself together, maybe—just maybe—I'll consider getting back together. Tomorrow, three o'clock. I'll be waiting at The Emerald Café."