Mr billionaire's regret chasing his irresistible wife by Gabby Emmanuel

The Devil's bargain.

(ARIELLE'S

POV)

After a complicated, chaotic day, I finally managed to get some barely decent sleep and was ready to start the new day with a solid dose of confidence. No more chaos. No more emotional turmoil!

At least, that was the plan...

Until...

"Explain. This." That was the first sentence out of my mouth this morning, my teeth practically grinding as I stared at the scene in front of me. There, on my desk, was a bunch of lavender.

And sitting in my chair, my ex-husband.

After our encounter yesterday, I had assumed that that would be the last I'd see of him until Maverick's Open house party in two weeks! "What the hell are you doing in my office?"

No wonder Rebecca had given me that smug smile on my way in earlier, and now I understood why!

Jared glanced up from the business reports he was casually flipping through, looking annoyingly cool and too handsome for his own good.

"You're late," he said simply, like he belonged there, behind my desk.

I took a deep breath, trying, and failing, to rein in my temper. "Hello?"

"Oh, wow, don't be so harsh, Arielle..."

I felt heat rise to my cheeks as I struggled to keep my temper in check.

you already have a fiancée and will soon be married? You sure she'd be happy to hear you're 'running into'

to show up here, especially with his engagement

report down like it was no big deal. Then, he leaned back in my chair, his gaze locking onto mine, and I swear I felt a shiver run down my spine. "The restaurant hasn't been performing too well lately, has it?" He

hit a sensitive

the restaurant's recent struggle? I had been working tirelessly to keep things running and afloat, but it

arms over my chest in an attempt

of your business," I spat, trying to keep my emotions

and he leaned forward in the chair, the annoyingly comfortable demeanor

eyes holding mine firmly. "Look Ari, I'm not here to meddle in your life of course, especially after what happened yesterday. Please, I just don't want to show up to the Open house in two weeks and have your reputation embarrass our son in front of other

a slap to the face, or even more, making me

raced with all the vile things I wanted to say to him. Who does he think he is, coming into my office to criticize

I could lash out, he raised

crisply, standing up as he fixed me with an infuriating and irritating confident look. "Here's the deal; I'll provide

bring your business

next level."

motives. Why was he suddenly making such an offer and what

that? Out of the kindness of your heart, or...?" I asked, ensuring that my tone

husky sounds that sent a shivering reaction through my body. "Not quite," he admitted. "I like to see my investments

scoffed in

or not, my son's mother is a reflection

we've been divorced for

he nodded, then, like he couldn't help himself, he

rolled my eyes.

words got me thinking

I had never thought about it in that way, but I supposed it was true. As his son's mother, my reputation indeed did reflect on