He Brought Her A Bag And Me A Keychain Chapter 05

He Brought Her A Bag And Me A Keychain Chapter 05

Someone recognized me.

“Isn’t that Mrs. Ashford? What’s she doing here as the Lotus rep?”

“I heard Mr. Ashford’s young secretary took over her job. Maybe she jumped ship for revenge.”

My eyes met Declan’s.

He shook off Piper, who’d been trying to cling to his arm since I walked in, and strode over.

He stopped in front of me, clearly displeased, and lowered his voice.

“What are you doing here? I told you not to come.”

“I just told everyone you had other plans. How am I supposed to explain this now?”

I almost laughed. “I wasn’t the one who lied.”

“I haven’t done anything wrong. Why shouldn’t I be here?”

Declan didn’t look surprised by my answer.

He kept his voice low, all patient and coaxing.

“Colette, I know you’re angry.”

“But no matter how angry you are, you can’t just show up here using the Lotus partnership to

get a position just to spite me. Give me their CEO’s number.”

“I’ll apologize to her myself. If she finds out what happened, she might hold your little stunt

against the company.”

He genuinely thought I’d come here to get back at him. It never crossed his mind that I owned

Lotus Corporation.

I looked into his eyes and smiled.

“Don’t worry. Lotus Corporation won’t be doing business with Ashford Group anymore.”

Piper arrived a moment later, her brow furrowed with concern.

“Colette, how could you do this?”

“Declan’s your husband. Just because you don’t like me, you went to our business partner and

bad-mouthed me? You could ruin the whole partnership.”

The people around us shot me disapproving looks. Like I was some cold, vindictive woman.

Even Declan’s face went cold. The patient act vanished, replaced by pure scrutiny.

I let my gaze drift over Piper.

My voice carried clearly across the room.

“No need to worry about that, Ms. Keene. Driving a wedge between people is your specialty.”

A few people in the crowd snickered.

“As for the partnership—just like my job at Ashford Group, which Declan took away with one

word.”

“The owner of Lotus Corporation can decide who we do business with just as easily. Don’t you

think?”

“You own Lotus?” Declan stared at me in shock.

“Why didn’t you tell me? I’m your husband. How could you hide this from me?”

I gave him a cold look.

“When you pushed for a prenup, Grandpa said, ‘separate finances, separate hearts.’ He told me

never to disclose all my assets to you.”

“Looks like he had the right idea. At least I’m not at home hiding after my own husband fired me, too ashamed to show my face.”

“And one more thing, Mr. Ashford. Stop calling yourself my husband.”

“We’re divorced.”

Declan went pale. He stared at me.

“I don’t agree to the divorce.”

I walked past him into the crowd.

“You don’t agree? Then why did you sign last night?”

“Don’t tell me you signed without reading any of it.”

His face went ashen as he remembered the documents I’d made him sign the night before,

when he’d demanded my grandmother’s jewelries for Piper.

Declan swayed slightly.

I pretended not to notice.

Then I circulated, talking business. Deals. Procurement. Expansion.

I was no longer an extension of Declan.

I didn’t have to hold back to let him speak first.

I didn’t have to stay on guard, ready to cover for him whenever he put his foot in his mouth.

When the event wrapped, Declan came looking for me, people in tow.