Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband by Anney GW

My CEO 343

343 What Do I Want? 13 What D

(Cass) I

I sit in my small, cluttered apartment, staring at the text Gabriel sent an hour ago. He's pushing me again, wanting me to go with him while he builds his venture. My excuse is always work. I love my job.

I'm still learning, still growing in the kitchen, even if the chef is a bit of a hard-ass.

Gabriel doesn't get it. He keeps talking about this hospitality business he's setting up-food, accommodation, a destination for corporate team-building weeks, conferences, whatever.

It sounds impressive, sure. But the idea of working under him, tied to him like that...it doesn't sit right. I don't want to be part of his empire, whatever that is.

He has a conditional green card now and blind Freddy can see our lives are moving away from each other.

I glance around my apartment, a mess of half-folded laundry, mismatched furniture, and the faint smell of weed that lingers no matter how much I air the place out.

Maybe the pot's been a bit too frequent lately, but it helps. Work's been stressful. The chef at the restaurant has been on my case constantly, and I've already had one warning for being late too many times. But I'll figure it out. Winona and the kids are leaving soon. So what? I'll be fine.

There's a knock at the door and already I know it's Gabriel. He's been trying to talk since last night. I open the door, and he's standing there, that serious look on his face. He's always so damn intense.

"You ready to talk now?" he asks, stepping inside without waiting for an answer.

I shrug. "Sure. If you're ready to hear the same thing again."

He sighs, running a hand through his hair. "Cass, this is a big opportunity. The money's secured. My conditional green card came through, and the business is ready to go. Why can't you see how good this could be for us? We could build something together."

"I don't want to work for you, Gabriel. I've got my own thing going on." I turn away from him, busying myself with folding some laundry I'd left on the couch. "I love my job. I'm not going to just drop everything."

We'd be partners," he insists, his voice getting that edge it always gets when he's frustrated. "And I'm going to be away a lot,

"I'm not interested in going into business with you. It's way too much commitment. It is what it is, Gabriel. You do what you want to do, and I'll do what

at the door. I frown, wondering who it

"Mia?"

hair falling in loose waves

What Do

+25 BONUS

hug, genuinely glad to see her. Mia

she says, pulling back with a smirk. "Against

"Does Maria know

but she doesn't approve." Mia steps inside, glancing around the apartment before landing her eyes on Gabriel. "Judy's sponsoring me to come work in the U.S. She wants me at Brennan Industries. I'll be learning the business," Mia air quotes dramatically.

"Please, Gabriel. I'll do whatever I want. Judy's offering me a chance, and I'm

spinning a little. I didn't expect this. "You're staying

then?"

almost calculated. "Only for a few nights. Then I'm moving

"Wait, you're moving in

me a place to stay while I settle

tighten. "Judy's pulled a lot of crap on Winona. You really want to get close to her? This isn't just business, Mia. She manipulates everyone around

handle myself, Cass. I'm not

his head. "And your shares? What about those? We

Mia's grin turns smug. "You agreed. I didn't. I

see Gabriel's jaw tighten. He doesn't say anything for a moment, just watches Mia like he's trying to figure her out. But Mia's always been

impulsive, confident, headstrong, and more than a little

welcome to stay here," I say, not wanting their family argument to spiral. "For as long as your

couch. "Only a few

eyes. This situation with Mia, I feel like I'm getting dragged into something I don't want to be part

have enough arguments with