Reclaimed By My Ex-husband

The sound of the door knocking came just as Nathaniel leaned in again, ready to kiss her.

Startled, they both pulled apart. Zara quickly turned away, smoothing her clothes, trying to compose herself while her heart raced uncontrollably.

"Come in," Nathaniel called out, already settling back into the sofa, resuming his composure.

His secretary stepped inside. "Sir, the file you requested," she said, extending a folder. "It has all the meeting details."

Nathaniel accepted the file with a brief thanks, then glanced at Zara. Noticing the color that had risen in her cheeks, he allowed a small smile to tug at his lips. "Bring some juice for her," he added casually.

The secretary nodded and exited.

Zara stayed rooted in place, her nerves in a mess, the feel of his lips still lingering against hers. Her heart thudded like a drum against her chest.

Nathaniel's voice broke the silence. "Are you planning to keep standing there all day? Come and sit down."

Zara moved to the seat beside him. Her cheeks still burned, and she avoided looking at him entirely.

Nathaniel checked the file, but he couldn't stop stealing glances at her. This time, he noticed the shift in her demeanor.

Her flushed cheeks, her fidgeting fingers, and the way she refused to look at him — it was obvious she was nervous, possibly even embarrassed by the secretary's sudden entrance.

The sight brought a flicker of amusement to him. 'Understanding what is going on in her head isn't that hard after all,' he thought.

A smirk played on his lips as he leaned in and whispered teasingly near her ear, "You are blushing."

Zara's hands stilled, her spine going rigid. She turned her head and froze, his face barely an inch from hers. She shifted sideways to create some space, but Nathaniel simply followed. She moved aside again, and he inched toward her. Each time she moved, he closed the gap until she was cornered against the armrest, with nowhere else to go.

She shot him a sharp glare. "What are you doing?"

Nathaniel didn't move back. His gaze remained locked on hers.

The longer he looked, the more unsettled Zara became. Her face heated under the pressure of his unwavering gaze. She turned her head, trying to rise to her feet. But he was faster. His hand caught hers, keeping her in place. In the next breath, his fingers gripped her chin and forced her to face him.

"Look at me," he said in a commanding tone. "Tell me what you see in my eyes."

Before she could answer, the soft click of the door interrupted them. The secretary stepped in, holding a glass of orange juice. Zara quickly pushed Nathaniel's hand away and straightened, her whole body burning in embarrassment.

Nathaniel muttered a curse under his breath, his frustration evident.

The secretary sensed the awkward air hanging in the room and smiled faintly, placing the juice on the table. "Your drink, madam." Then, turning to Nathaniel, she added, "The table is reserved, sir. Shall I prepare the car?"

"In a few minutes," he said curtly.

With a polite nod, she slipped out and gently closed the door behind her.

Zara looked at him. "You are going somewhere?"

Nathaniel shook his head. "We are going out for lunch."

"Oh." She picked up the glass and sipped, avoiding his eyes.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Riya drove home, her thoughts swirling with everything that had unfolded at Nathaniel's office. She still couldn't wrap her head around the fact that he had actually asked her to leave. The humiliation stung, but what stung more was the realization that Nathaniel had changed.

"Nathaniel is not the same," she muttered. Her knuckles whitened as her fingers tightened their hold on the wheel. "He picked Zara over me… How did this even happen? Wasn't he planning to divorce her? Did he change his mind?"

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. The idea that Nathaniel might be falling for Zara made her blood boil.

"That manipulative slut," she spat bitterly. "She knows exactly how to seduce him."

Ever since the kidnapping, everything had shifted. It was like that one incident had brought them back together. Riya couldn't forget how Nathaniel had gone to rescue Zara on his own, not caring about his safety. And then again at the hotel—he had gone out of his way for her, again.

"Twice," Riya growled under her breath. "He has saved her two times. It's like she has suddenly become the center of his world."

The thought made her stomach churn. If it continued, Nathaniel would never leave Zara.

"No. I won't let this happen," she hissed, jealousy clawing its way through her chest. Even if she couldn't marry Nathaniel, she couldn't bear to watch him fall for someone else, especially not Zara.

"If I can't have him, she doesn't deserve him either. I will find a way to push her out of his life."

The phone buzzed from somewhere inside her bag, grating on Riya's already frayed nerves.

"Who is calling me?"

With an irritated sigh, she pulled the car over to the side of the road and reached into her bag. The moment her eyes landed on the caller ID, the frustration on her face drained, replaced by fear.

Her fingers tightened around the phone. "Zachary…"

Chills prickled her skin. She hadn't finished the task he had given her. Her mind spiraled with questions.

What was she supposed to do now? What could she possibly say to him? Would he let it go if she apologized? Or would he decide to punish her?

The mere thought of facing his wrath made her shiver, unsettling memories flashing through her head.

Just last night, he had spanked her several times as a consequence of her reckless behavior. Fortunately, it hadn't been brutal, just a warning. It was her first offense. But he had made it clear that next time, he wouldn't be so lenient. It would be worse.

A chill slithered down her spine. Riya didn't even want to imagine what kind of punishment awaited her now. Her hand trembled as she nervously swiped the screen and picked up the call.

"H-Hello?"

"Where are you?" Zachary's voice was flat and emotionless, but it made her shudder.

"I…" Her eyes flicked to the scenery outside her window. "I'm driving home."

"Have lunch with me. Come to the Mirage."

The line went dead.

Riya stared at the phone, her lips parting in disbelief.

"He only knows how to give orders," she muttered. Her face twisted in irritation. "He won't ask if I want to come or not."

But she knew better than anyone that she didn't have a choice. Gritting her teeth, she dropped the phone back into her bag and started the engine again. She let out an exasperated sigh and headed toward the Mirage.