Divorce Me Before Death Takes Me, CEO

Chapter 32

James cleared his throat. Well then, we should celebrate once the divorce is final. Let ma..

I turned to study his profile, my expression sharpening. What exactly did Astrid tell your when she asked for this favor?

He hesitated, caught off guard by my directness. “Just that she was swamped at work, needed someone to help…”

‘It’s the middle of a workday, James. Don’t you have your own responsibilities?‘

Taking a deep breath, I pushed forward. “Look, I appreciate your concern, but we were just senior and junior at Parsons. That doesn’t warrant dropping everything to rescue me. My marriage, my divorce those ate my battles to fight.

‘I don’t need commentary from the sidelines.”

4

Silence filled the car. James sat frozen, looking like I’d slapped him.

“When the divorce is final,‘ I added, softer now, “I’m taking at least six months. No dating, no relationships, no complications.”

to keep our distance. For

subtle before, not wanting to hurt him when his feelings seemed genuine But his

long moment, he just nodded.

in James’s expression – not quite hurt, but a sort of resigned

briefcase and retrieved a sleek leather portfolio. “Actually, meeting you today isn’t just

raised an eyebrow,

designs you submitted through Astrid?” He tapped the portfolio. “They landed on my boss’s desk this morning. The firm’s

my sketches the ones I’d asked Astrid to help distribute through her industry connections. After my marriage to Blake, I’d lost touch with the jewelry world, too focused on being the decent Parker wife. Astrid, with her extensive modeling network, understood the current market far better than

laughed at the irony. All this time, I’d been assuming James had some ulterior

review board was impressed, and that’s why I’m

I remembered my earlier assumptions. “James,

offering to pick you up? Sure. But you’ve made your position clear, and I respect that.” His tone turned purely professional. “Let’s not let personal history get in the way

feel small. I bit my lip, studying the portfolio’s contents

a design studio,” James continued after a moment. “Pure creative

expertise – everything I needed to get my work to

here’s to a successful partnership. And here’s your compensation package Take a look, let