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.”

keep our distance. For both

being subtle before, not wanting to hurt him when his feelings seemed genuine But his earlier comments had crossed a

his face, but after a long

expression – not quite hurt, but a sort of resigned

leather portfolio. “Actually, meeting you today

an eyebrow,

designs you submitted through Astrid?” He tapped the portfolio. “They landed on my boss’s desk this morning. The firm’s interested, but they need some market–oriented

it open. These were definitely 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

assuming James had some ulterior motive in picking me up,

said, reading my expression. “The review

as I remembered my earlier assumptions. “James,

made your position clear, and I respect

made me feel small. I bit

after a moment. “Pure creative work,

studio meant connections, expertise – everything I needed to get my work to market quickly. With my

“Good, here’s to a successful partnership. And here’s your compensation package