Chapter 5 The Future Ex-wife

Brandon's POV:

I woke up to my alarm blaring, my head pounding so hard it felt like someone had taken a hammer to my skull. I groaned, barely able to open my eyes as pain pulsed through my temples. I could not even remember how much I had drunk last night, let alone how I made it back home.

Dinner with Emma flickered through my memory, but everything after that was just a hazy blur. Emma? I really hoped she had made it home safe. I sat up in bed slowly, not wanting to push my luck or make my head feel any worse.

As I glanced around the room, I spotted a figure stretched out on the couch. My heart sank. Who the hell was that? Please tell me I didn't bring someone home and dump her on the sofa. That wasn't something I would do. I wasn't that reckless.

I eased out of bed and crept over to the couch, barely breathing as I tried to make out who was there. For a moment, everything felt uncertain. Then, as my eyes adjusted, I realized it was Emma. Please, someone tell me I didn't just spend the night with her. She was the only person who managed to keep me together, the one constant who never faded into the background. Damn it! What had I done?

I started pacing the room, forcing myself to remember anything from last night. My thoughts just tangled together, leaving me with nothing but confusion.

"Brandon? Are you alright? Why are you pacing like that?" she asked, her voice still groggy with sleep.

"Did we sleep together last night?" I blurted out, my words tumbling out in a rush. I sounded desperate and panicked. She just looked at me and started laughing, her tired smile widening as I stared at her in confusion.

"No, we didn't have sex last night. Relax, sir. You just asked me to stay, so I did," she replied, still chuckling.

I let out a long breath, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders.

"Well, that's a relief. One less thing to stress about. Why did you sleep on the sofa?" I asked.

"Because you told me to. You invited me to sleep in your bed, but I turned you down." She laughed, shaking her head.

"Really? I'm sorry. Did I do anything else I shouldn't have?" I asked, worried I might have crossed some line.

"Nothing at all. You're actually pretty funny when you're drunk. I have to admit it," she said, giving me a warm smile.

Relief washed over me. I was glad I hadn't done anything embarrassing.

"Thank God for that. I'm going to grab a quick shower. There's another bathroom down the hall if you want to freshen up," I muttered.

"Thank you. I need to stop by my place before we go to work, just to grab some clothes," Emma responded, stretching a little.

"Alright, that works. Do you need a box for your stuff? I know you girls actually change into clean clothes, unlike most guys," I joked, grinning at her.

"I don't do that. That's gross, but I know plenty of guys who do," Emma said, laughing and shaking her head. I pulled a couple of towels from my drawer and handed them to her. Since the bathroom was down the hall, she pulled off the covers and stood up to grab the towels. She wore one of my old t-shirts, and I had to admit she looked good in it.

I kept telling myself to stop thinking about her that way. It was wrong, and I knew it.

"Thank you," she said, her smile quick and genuine.

I gave her directions to the other bathroom before heading into my own shower. We had to move fast, since we still needed to swing by Emma's place so she could change for work.

......

We reached the office five minutes before our shift started. On the way, we stopped for breakfast-there was no way I could function without coffee.

Emma and I walked into the building side by side, and I felt the stares and heard the whispers almost right away. Everyone seemed to notice us. Some of the people watching us were friends with Darcy, and I had no doubt she would hear about this before the day was over. In a way, it might work out for the best. If I showed up at the Gala with Emma, it would look even more believable that something was going on between us.

"Can I get you anything, Mr. Simmons?" Emma asked, her voice switching back to that steady, professional tone. I appreciated it, especially after last night.

"Painkillers and a bottle of water, if you don't mind," I replied, managing a weak smile.

She nodded and left to grab what I needed.

As soon as I got to my office, I spotted Darcy sitting in my chair. The sight of her there set my teeth on edge. I was certain I had told everyone she was no longer allowed in my office.

"What are you doing here?" I snapped, my voice coming out harsher than I intended.

"Don't pretend you haven't missed me, Brandon." She flashed a smile that used to undo me.

I shut my eyes for a moment and forced myself to take a few deep breaths. Even after six months apart and several weeks with no contact, I hated to admit she was right. I did miss her.

She stood up and came toward me, stopping right in front of me. She wore a little black dress that clung to her in all the ways I remembered. Her curves, her long legs, those heels-all of it caught my attention, and I felt myself tense up as I tried not to stare. I forced myself to look her in the eye.

"What do you want?" My voice was unsteady, not nearly as confident as I wanted it to be.

"I was hoping we could have a little fun, for old times' sake," she muttered, letting her finger drift slowly across my chest.

I swallowed, heat rising through me. I knew I should stop her, but she always managed to break through my defenses, and she knew it. This wasn't the first time since the breakup that she tried to pull me back in. If she were really happy with the guy she left me for, she wouldn't keep coming back to me.

"Darcy," I warned, already feeling my self-control slipping.

"Come on, baby, you know you still want me," she murmured, her hand sliding lower, leaving no doubt about what she wanted.

I let out a groan.

Darcy pressed her lips against mine, and for a second, I kissed her back, lost in old memories and old feelings. But reality snapped me out of it, hard and fast.

I refused to let myself fall back into her arms, not this time.

I pulled away from her lips and stepped back, my voice sharp.

"No, Darcy. This isn't going to happen again. I'm not here for you to use whenever you feel like it. You're the one who left, remember?"

"You love when I tease you. Admit it. The sex got even better after we split, and what he doesn't know can't hurt him." She reached for me again, but I stepped out of her reach.

"No. It's over. Besides, I'm seeing someone else now. Get out, Darcy. Don't come back. I mean it. Unless you're here to sign the divorce papers, I want nothing more to do with you," I retorted, my voice flat. For the first time, I made it clear I was done.

"What? Who? Who the hell is she? Is it that little assistant of yours? Were you screwing her even before I left you? I bet you were," she spat, her words bitter and shar

Was she actually jealous? Maybe she had finally lost her mind. She had no right to act this way, not after being the one who walked away. Still, I found myself almost amused at how angry she was getting. Part of me wanted to admit that yes, I was with Emma, but I decided she could figure it out on her own at the Gala.

"It's none of your business, Darcy. That's the answer to all your questions. Now get out of my office. Go. Now," I scoffed, my tone leaving no room for argument.

"Whatever. You'll come back to me because you still want me, Brandon," she snapped, then stormed out of my office.

As she headed for the door, Emma stepped inside. My gut twisted- I could already tell this would turn ugly fast.

"I knew it. I knew you were sleeping with my husband, you bitch," Darcy hissed at Emma.

"Excuse me? Who do you think you're talking to? Don't you dare insult me, Darcy. Whatever is happening, or not happening, between Brandon and me is none of your business. You left him, remember?" Emma retorted, her voice steady and cold.

I could not help feeling a bit surprised by her. For the first time, Emma stood her ground against Darcy, and I had to admit, it made me smile.

Back when Darcy and I were still together, Emma never stood up for herself whenever Darcy lashed out at her. Now that I was no longer with Darcy, she finally defended herself. Darcy flipped her hair, let out a loud groan, and stomped out of the office.

Emma turned to me with a questioning look.

"What was that?"

"She came here wanting to sleep with me, but I told her no. Said it wasn't happening this time. I mentioned I was seeing someone, though I never gave her any names. She just assumed it was you," I explained.

"Oh... okay. God, I can't stand that woman. I know she's still technically your wife, but she's something else, sir," Emma blurted, her tone full of irritation.

I laughed and nodded, which made her crack a smile too. She set the painkillers and water down on my desk.

"We need to get to work. There's a lot on our plates. I've got several trips coming up, so we'll need to sort everything out," I responded, shifting gears.

"Of course, sir. I'm all yours," she replied with a playful grin.

I could not help but smile when she said that, even if she did not mean it the way it sounded. She caught herself, shook her head, and laughed, then went to her desk to get started.