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 sure she'd be happy to hear you're 'running into' another

show up here, especially with his engagement to

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 asked, using his eyes

hit a sensitive

I had been working tirelessly to keep things running and

my reaction, crossing my arms over my chest in an attempt to appear nonchalant. I didn't want to give him

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

a faint smile, and he leaned forward in the chair, the annoyingly comfortable demeanor still palpable. He seemed to be

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

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

the vile things I wanted to say to him.

before I could lash out, he raised his hand to stop

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

your business

next level."

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

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

sent a shivering reaction through my body. "Not quite," he admitted. "I like to

I scoffed in

Whether you like it or not, my son's mother

we've been divorced for a

before he nodded, then, like he couldn't

rolled my eyes.

words got me thinking

but I supposed it was true. As his son's mother, my reputation indeed did reflect on him, which means that will