He Left Me During My Miscarriage to Support His Ex—1 Year Later, He Returned to My DIVORCE Papers Chapter 04
I stepped out of the small-town diner and slid into the passenger seat of Silas Mercer’s car anyway.
He saw straight through my little scheme at once.
His gaze locked onto mine, and he curved his lips into a faint smirk.
“Willa Bennett, the firm handling your partnership talks today belongs to my company.”
“If I remember right, you weren’t assigned any off-site errands this morning.”
It was him all along.
He’d watched me put on that whole charade while I lied to his face.
My throat tightened up, and I plastered on an uncomfortable fake grin.
We pulled up to the office building right as the morning rush hit.
Coworkers crowded every corner around the entrance.
I climbed out of his black Tesla Model S, ducking my head to scan the crowd for anyone I knew.
A voice called out Mr. Mercer from somewhere nearby.
My spine stiffened instantly.
A large group rounded the building corner, a mix of staff from Veridian Tech and my own firm walking side by side.
Silas Mercer circled the front of the car and came to stand beside me.
Five or six pairs of eyes fixed themselves on the two of us.
Silas lifted one arm casually and rested it around my waist.
Shock flickered across every face in the group.
I shoved his arm away hard and rushed to smooth things over with a nervous grin.
“My heels are far too high. I nearly tripped just now.”
“Thank goodness you caught me, Mr. Mercer.”
“I really appreciate it.”
My obvious attempt to create distance wiped the smile off Silas’s lips, leaving him staring at me in stunned silence.
We stepped into the elevator together, Silas surrounded by his subordinates.
The partnership deal was with Veridian Tech.
Silas Mercer was their lead investor.
My department had drafted the full project proposal.
And I was set to deliver the presentation.
Up at the front of the conference room, I barely spared Silas a glance.
Only once or twice did our eyes meet, and I looked away each time without hesitation.
The formal meeting wrapped up, followed by another half hour of back-and-forth discussion.
The entire morning slipped away.
Silas left the building with his team trailing behind him.
The second he was gone, several coworkers swarmed over to gossip.
“Willa, how did you end up climbing out of Mr. Mercer’s passenger seat?”
I blinked slowly.
“We crossed paths on the road, we’ve worked together on projects before. He was heading to our office too, so he offered me a ride.”
My coworker nodded in understanding.
“He doesn’t carry himself like a stuck-up executive at all.”
I wanted to avoid any future work run-ins with Silas, so I fully removed my name from the presentation project.
My supervisor looked thoroughly confused.
“This is such a valuable opportunity, why would you turn it down?”
I gave him an explanation.
“I’m already overseeing another long-term project that demands most of my time. I wouldn’t be able to give both my full attention.”
My supervisor accepted my reasoning without pushing further.
A text popped up on my phone from Silas.
[I’ll pick you up tonight.]
[What time do you finish work?]
I typed out my reply without a second thought.
“Thanks, but I’ve got to pull overtime this evening.”
“No need to come get me.”
I really did have piles of work to finish; it wasn’t just an excuse.
I didn’t step out of the office tower until past nine o’clock.
A black Tesla Model S sat parked right by the main doors.
Silas rolled down his car window.
I frowned almost imperceptibly before sinking back into the passenger seat.
“Silas Mercer.”
“You don’t have to drive me anywhere, or come pick me up either.”
It’s just too much trouble for you.”
He held my gaze, his eyes dark and unreadable.
He spoke quietly.
“It’s never trouble for me.”
I let out a long sigh.
This whole situation weighed heavy on my shoulders.
