Bonds

Chapter 119

-Maya’s POV-

Three weeks.

That’s all it had been, and I was already this close to throwing myself off the nearest tall building. Seriously,I didn’t know what game Alex thought he was playing, and honestly, Ivan’s behavior was just as confusing.

Let’s start with Ivan. He’d been beyond upset, practically demanding to end the whole marriage when I refused to distance myself from Alex’s whole… vortex. Now, all of a sudden, Alex kept showing up at the office, and instead of putting a stop to it, Ivan was acting like he didn’t care?

And it wasn’t just the whole Alex situation messing with my head. Ivan was acting strange in general. He’d play endlessly with the twins, keeping them entertained for hours, but with me, it was a different story. He just seemed… distant. When I tried to ask him what was wrong, the answer was always the same nothing.

–

I tried my best to focus on work and avoid Alex at all costs, which was proving to be a herculean task. To make matters worse, my wolf wasn’t exactly on my side. Every time we were in the same room, she’d practically vibrate with the urge to jump him. Honestly, I was going crazy.

“You don’t look so good, Maya.”

I lifted my head, my irritation flaring like a match at the sound of that voice. There he was, the bane of the frustration of my existence, standing casually in the doorway, his blue eyes glinting with something that made my annoyance boil even harder. It was like a switch flipped inside me, completely ignoring the low purr emanating from my rebellious wolf at the sight of him.

Taking a deep breath, I opted for the silent treatment, burying myself further into the paperwork in front of me. These were reports for Ivan, who had conveniently vanished from the office mere minutes before Alex’s grand entrance.

“You know,” he started, but I cut him off before he could finish.

“What exactly is your deal, Alex? Seriously. Three weeks of this? Whatever game you’ve decided to play, I think you’ve had your fun.” My voice came out sharper than I intended, but the frustration was a tightly coiled spring inside me, ready to snap.

The irritatingly charming smile on his face only widened. “I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

“Oh, really? Care to explain what you’re even doing here? Don’t you have a billion–dollar company to run, or maybe a war with escalate?”

my

father to

fresh wave of annoyance washed over me. Why did he have to be so good–looking? It made the whole situation even

was wrong with

was I even engaging with him in this

forced myself to focus on the mind–numbing task at hand. Ignoring Alex was the plan, and I was sticking to

unfazed by my

with amusement, “what are you working on

gritted my teeth, the urge to tell him exactly where he could shove his fake curiosity battling with the very real need to keep my sanity intact. “It’s none

like that. Can’t a

scoffed, throwing him a withering look. “The last time I checked, you weren’t exactly an employee

a dismissive hand. “Look, I know things have

over, you know? Like

workplace small talk. There were so many unanswered questions, so many hurt feelings that needed

I said flatly, pushing the papers around on my desk in a

“Oh,

on,” he persisted, his voice taking on a playful edge, “I’m just trying to

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Chapter 119

my annoyance momentarily forgotten. “What are you even doing here?”

of something unreadable crossing his features before the familiar smirk returned. “That, Maya, is the million dollar question wouldn’t you say? Or should I say billion? Besides

business venture. You’re

that sent a shiver down my spine despite myself. “Now, Maya, that’s just not fair. Maybe

I muttered, rolling my eyes. If he thought he could sweet–talk his way back

space around me. My wolf whined a low

maybe we can at least try to be civil,

him, his blue eyes holding a mix of amusement and something else trust him

hard to tell. One

word tasting like ash in my mouth. “Civil. But

for a moment longer, then a slow smile spread across his

office.

was gone, I slumped back in my chair, letting out a shaky

What just happened?