Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband by Anney GW

456 Oil and Water

(Cass)

It's fine. Really.

I mean, they're paying me double the normal chef rate to do this, and honestly, after everything I've been through, I am lucky to be here.

But as I dump another stack into the industrial washer and catch my reflection in the steel, I can't help but feel I'm clutching at straws.

A letter doesn't mean instant success, I have a long road to get there.

By the time the shift ends, my arms ache, and my stomach growls so loudly it's probably scaring the mice away.

The head chef mutters something about "grit" and "paying dues" when he finally waves me off for the night. They are all butt-hurt over me getting paid more than half of them.

Whatever. I've always been good at keeping my head down and proving people wrong.

The night air hits me like a slap as I step out of the estate's main building. The path to the cottage is dark, and my legs feel like lead with every step. All I want is to collapse on the couch, shove some food in my face, and sleep for a year. But then I hear them.

The deliberate footsteps.

"What, are you waiting to see if I trip on a rock or something?" I snap.

Viktor doesn't reply, just keeps walking at a steady pace.

"Seriously," I say, stopping in my tracks and turning to face him. "Do you have to follow me everywhere? It's not like I'm running off to start a drug cartel in the woods."

always hovering, always watching,

after corporate fat cats, black and white outlook on life,

follow me like some creepy-ass stalker? What's the matter,

face is stoic, his eyes

of following me a broke, washed-up ex-junkie-through the woods. Bet your parents would be so proud." At this point I just want to piss him off as much as I am. It's stupid, but

bite. Of course, he doesn't. He's probably incapable of

he asks, his voice calm,

close," I spit, stepping closer. "You think you're better than me, don't you? With your suits and your rules and your perfect little world. But let me guess-your big 'job' consists of kissing Jayden's ass and glaring at people who step out

a goddamn statue. "Your life choices are none of my concern," he says finally, his voice clipped. "Until they

"Because God forbid I 'risk' your precious boss's life with my very existence. You don't

he says, his tone maddeningly

you don't. You know what you think

thin line, but his eyes remain steady on

let it show. Instead, I let the anger

have a

talking about.

hungry,

if you'd have a

de

your head or food in your stomach. You've probably had everything handed to you, living in your perfect little world of rules and discipline. Newsflash, Viktor-some of us

but there's a flicker in his eyes. Is it

you're so tough, huh?" I go on, stepping closer, practically in his face now. "You

steady, calm, like he's reasoning with

not fucking finished," I snap, my fists clenched. "You don't get to judge me. You don't know what I've been through. I'm a