Divorce Me Before Death Takes Me, CEO

Chapter 4: When Will You Sign Them?

Audrey’s POV

I stood before the ornate double doors of the hotel, feeling Astrid’s approving gaze on my red dress. The silk fabric whispered against my skin with each breath, its deep crimson a far cry from the conservative designer pieces I used to wear as Mrs. Parker.

“See?” Astrid’s voice held a note of triumph. “I always said you were made for these bold, sexy looks. You used to be so concerned about the ‘proper Parker wife’ image, always wearing those conservative designer pieces…” She adjusted the strap of my dress with a satisfied smile. “They never suited you!”

I met her eyes. “I won’t make that mistake again.”

The words came out stronger than I expected, carrying the weight of my decision. Three years of trying to fit into the Parker family mold, of dulling my own light to avoid outshining others – it felt like shedding an ill-fitting skin.

“Ready?” Astrid squeezed my hand.

I took a deep breath, feeling the fabric shift across my exposed back. “As I’ll ever be.”

The doors opened, and we stepped into the sea of designer evening wear and polite society laughter. The annual LA Jewelry Guild gala was in full swing, with the who’s who of the industry mingling under the warm lighting. I felt the subtle shift in attention as we entered – the pause in conversations, the sideways glances, the whispered speculations about the woman in red who dared to stand out.

Let them look, I thought. Let them wonder.

I’d just finished a waltz with a visiting Swiss watchmaker when a familiar voice caught me off guard.

“Audrey?”

I turned to find James Collins watching me with a mix of surprise and appreciation. He looked exactly as I remembered from our Parsons days – tall, elegant, with that gentle intelligence in his eyes that had once made my heart skip a beat.

“James!” The smile that spread across my face was genuine. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

He gestured at the dance floor with an easy grace. “Since we’ve met here, shall we? We can catch up while we dance.”

his, feeling the familiar comfort of an old friend. “I’d love

he asked as we moved

replied, surprised by the warmth in my own voice. “Though jewelry design has

talent

for a moment, I let myself remember simpler times. Design classes at Parsons, coffee breaks between lectures, James’s patient guidance when I struggled with technical drawings. Before I became Mrs. Parker. Before I learned what it meant to love someone who would never love

over the ballroom as the lights dimmed after the MC’s announcement. A spotlight began its

lighting director must have it out for me

its target across the room, “looks like

– Blake and Laurel, caught in the same spotlight as us. He looked impeccable as always in his

James’s voice seemed to come from far away. “Are you

into a smile, even as my chest tightened. “Of

MC’s cheerful voice boomed through the speakers: “Couples in the spotlight,

be ex-husband, I reminded myself. On his face, I

Not anymore.

when it closed around mine. His other hand settled on my waist, pulling me closer

politely, maintaining the precise

formal? You seemed much

kept my voice light, even as his fingers dug into my waist. “I

a muscle twitching in his jaw. “Playing coy doesn’t suit you,

concerned husband doesn’t suit

floor in perfect sync. From the outside, we probably looked like any other elegant

did you learn to dance like this?” he asked suddenly. “I don’t recall country girls taking ballroom

are still many things about me that you don’t know, Mr.