The Hot Tycoon's Ex Wife
Ten

Astra marched down the hallway, her red heels making click clack sounds in her wake. The light from an adjacent window shone on her hair and reflected on her defiant face as she walked with purpose.

She was going to tell her boss she could no longer work on the Michaelson's case and her stand was final.

She didn't know what kind of elaborate joke this was, being forced to work hand in hand with her ex husband but she was not replaceing it funny and Trevor had better be prepared to hear an earful because she was not going to be a pawn in this game, least of all to Nicholas Michaelson any longer and if it meant her sliding of her chair, packing her things and leaving, she would do it. Hell, she would even move states.

As she approached the foot of the stairs, she berated herself. Why had she stayed in the same state she'd been broken, expecting to somehow be healed? And why was this thought just occuring now?

Taking the stairs one at a time, she recited all the reasons why she would never work with Nicholas.

One, he was a narcissistic asshole who only card about himself. Huffing as she remembered this trait of his so well, she continued up the stairs.

Two, he was a self centered prick. She took a deep breath and continued.

Three, she couldn't stand his presence because some how every word he uttered found a way to annoy her, to spite her bwithout even trying. Four, it was a big mistake in the first place.

As she got to the top of the stairs, Trevor's door was just in sight. An enclosed, fairly adorned door with his name in clean stenciled letters just above it.

Making her way towards it, she practised her breathing techniques. One breath in for patience and the other for self control. That was all she needed. Raising her hand to knock, a deep baritone voice called out from within.

"Come in!"

She cursed, running her hand through her hair. She still hadn't figured out the trick Trevor used to know she was at the door without even knocking but for the moment, she put it aside, opening the door wide enough for her slim frame to pass through and closing it softly to avoid provoking him.

She needed his support and provoking him so early would not work out in her favour.

"Sit down," he gruffly said. Astra didn't need to be told twice.

Trevor was a man who commanded obedience without trying too hard. He didn't have to, his height did it for him and those not intimidated by his towering presence would be scared shitless by his gruff voice. It didn't help that he was rarely in good moods.

Astra knew better than to start talking without him asking her first so she waited out the silence, picking at her cuticles while pregnant seconds ticked by slowly.

When he'd sorted out what ever he'd been doing before she came into his office, he finally spared her a glance. That was the go sign for her to speak.

"Sir, I have a problem," Astra bluntly said, impassively staring at the man who's glasses kept sliding down his nose. A long hand stopped the downward movement of his glasses and pushed it back to the bridge of his nose. He was frowning. "Which is?"

Astra hesitated for a moment, deciding whether it would be considered impolite to say nothing was the problem. Already, she was feeling silly.

"Well," she stalled, glancing round his office in order to avoid eye contact with her boss.

"I have a problem with the michealson case," came her weak reply. Trevor's frown deepened and he slumped back in his chair, assessing her. Normally, Astra had never had a problem with any case. She was fantastic, didn't matter what case she was handling. Never had she voiced her opinion to him on a case because she always had it handled. She understood why Trevor was quizzically staring at her. He wanted to know, without mincing words, what her problem was. If it was something he could help out with, he would but if he, at any moment or time, found her story silly or her explanation unacceptable, Astra knew how curt he was with his words when dismissing people.

She took her deep breaths, feeling her patience already dwindling.

"Well, sir, you see, I would prefer if I didn't work this case." I said matter of factly.

A stunned look overtook his features, his eyebrows shooting up into his hairline for a solid half minute before he returned to his shrewd expression.

"Why? You are aware that Mr Michealson asked for you, right?" He asked, leaning forward.

I nodded my head like a fish out of water, stupidly hoping he wouldn't ask the reason for my request.

"I'm quite aware I was the one specifically asked for by Mr Michealson but I just can't do it, sir," I defiantly said. I would not do it because I wouldn't let myself go back to that closed #####CHAPTER of my life.

"Why?" Trevor asked, sliding his glasses back up his nose. He would do this thrice before cleaning his glasses. It was a habit he hadn't been able to break from. The same way I knew that I would go back to the cycle I had with Nicholas unless I broke free, which I was about to do.

"Well, my reason is that..." I didn't get to finish.

The door which I'd softly shut as I entered the office was rudely opened and the man himself, Nicholas Michealson stood there. When I saw him, I resisted the urge to either roll my eyes or bang my head on the table. A concussed lawyer could not work a case, right?

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As if he sensed the direction of my thoughts, he flashed a wicked smile my way, exposing his pearly whites. I internally groaned. This wasn't going to end well for me.

***

The most beautiful part of a day was sunrise. He didn't care if scientists said sunset was prettier. He always knew those science nerds were missing a screw in their heads because who would choose sunset over sunrise?

The golden rays washed over his body, peaking shyly through fat pinkish purple clouds like an elaborate artwork painted by some greater being out there.

As he stared out the glass windows, he thought of what this sunrise reminded him of. It reminded him if something simple but beautiful, tangible and passionate. The sunrise reminded him of Astra.

Speaking of which, he needed to think if something elaborate to poison her mind with.

Not that he needed to do a lot of mind work though because Astra made it so damn easy for him. It was as clear as day and as subtle as an elephant that she still possessed feelings for her ex husband even though she denied it. Pig headed as she was, her emotions were the best way to sweep her off her feet.

So if he was attacking, it was going to be on an emotional basis. It had to be something that would deeply affect her as well as Nicholas.

He couldn't have Astra simping up to Nicholas not after all his hardwork. He needed to do something and he needed to do it fast. I

Looking out the window, Thompson sighed in pure satisfaction. Indeed, what was more satisfying than watching sunrise while releasing his seed into a woman's mouth? To him, nothing measured close.

****

Nicholas stared at the phone on his lap. All he needed to do was pick it up and call Astra to come over to his house. She would know the direction and her way around without him even giving an address. Perks of her having lived in the house before.

Apparently, it was easier said than done because the phone still remained on his lap, phone on standby mode. He hadn't made a move to even pick it up, not because he didn't want to but because he didn't know how she would react to him calling her.

What could go wrong? He thought. The least she could say was she wasn't coming and to that, he could always say that he would call her boss. Then she would come. Easy peasy.

As he dialed her number with uncertain fingers and an anxious mind, he had to remind himself of the promise he'd made to himself. He wasn't going to be soft to her and it was clear she expected no less from him being that she treated him even more than he treated her.

"What?" Her voice cut through the air like a well sharpened blade. It sent some waves of sadness through him that he was being spoken to in that manner but he stifled it down. No softheartedness here.

"I want to discuss the case with you. Come over to my place. You know that way," he curtly said, not waiting to hear her protest at the other end of the line before he ended the call. Closing his eyes and exhaling, he reminded himself. No softheartedness here.

****

Arrogant bastard! Stupid jerk face! Astra cursed at the other end of the phone, tossing it on her bed in pure annoyance. Who did he think he was, ordering her around? And what the hell did he mean by she knew the way? Was that another degrading insult he'd picked up now?

Growling in annoyance she stared at the device she'd thrown on her bed helplessly. If he wanted her to come over to talk business, then she would.

She tried not to think too much about it when she found herself taking a shower before leaving. Self denial would have to do for now.

****

Getting to the gate, she realized she'd not even put in an address in the GPS. She still knew the house by heart. She paused in her car, remembering what it was like to live in the mansion without a care in the world. Had she known he would have thrown her out into the cold that day, maybe she would not have come home. She would have stayed at work.

Shaking herself from her thoughts, Astra got out of her car, bag in hand as the guards only gave her sidelong glances before minding their business. They knew who she was.

On getting to the main door after parking in the parking lot Nicholas's mansion provided, she pressed the doorbell thrice. One for her lack of patience, the second for her still present anyway and third time was just to provoke him. However, when the door opened, it was not Nicholas who opened it but a young man dressed in a uniform she recognized so well. He was the new butler.

"Good evening ma'am. May I take your bag for you?" He politely asked, ushering her in. She shook her head a no and he nodded his in understanding.

"Mr Michealson is waiting for you. He's in the music room. He said you would know where that was," the butler softly said. Although annoyance bubbled in my chest again, she forced a smile and he returned one back. "Thank you," she politely said, making my way up the stairs I knew led to the music room.

Just because she didn't live here anymore, she angrily thought, didn't mean Nicholas had to rub it in her face. The only reason she couldn't forget the house address was not because she wanted to but because it was a part of her whether she liked it or not. He knew she would not forget the music room as well and she found herself wondering what lay under all these little facades and what Nicholas was really up to.