It All Started with a Divorce

"ONCE YOU sign that paper, it's all over for us, Ellie."

My soon-to-be ex-husband, Valerian Blackwood, sat across from me, legs crossed, a scotch in his hand. He didn't seem to care about our separation at all.

Two years of marriage, and all I was fed up with were the endless scandals about him and his mega-ton amount of women chasing his round and soft ass. Who was I to question it when my husband was Valerian Blackwood? A drop-dead gorgeous billionaire. He was smart, sophisticated, and just perfect in every way. What else could I even ask for?

But the life I was looking for was far away from what he'd given me. After all, we were nothing but a couple for a cause.

"Isn't that the purpose of divorce, Val?" I retorted, unsure whether I should let the ink stain the paper or take my time.

On his side sat Attorney Eglin, tapping his thumb on his knee, his fat ass plopped on the chair. His eyes were bored, and he didn't seem to be in a hurry to witness a couple breaking up.

Behind Valerian stood his cousin, another witness, who obviously didn't care about what was going on. I think I was the only one who was making a big deal out of this.

"You still haven't given me any answer about the properties I want," I added, earning a scoff from him.

"Ellie, let me remind you that all the properties I let you manage were all mine. Everything I own is conjugal, but that ends when you sign that paper. Stop this nonsense and I will transfer any properties you want under your name. Deal?" He negotiated.

No, I couldn't stay with him. I was done with this life.

"I still don't understand why you wanted to end this marriage when you're already living like a queen. What else do you want?" He added, sucking his inner cheek and watching my eyes fall down on my hand that held the pen.

Letting out a soft sigh, I chose not to answer. We never had a fight, even after I told him I was going to ask for a divorce. He was calm and composed, and I was always the one who overreacted. Maybe it was because he never really cared.

Most women who would kneel before him envied me. By the time the news came out that Valerian Blackwood was back to being a bachelor, many would celebrate.

"Time is ticking, Mrs. Blackwood," Attorney Eglin reminded me.

"I know," I accidentally spat at him. My hand flew to my head and massaged it.

What was I doing? I'd been decided since I brought it up, why was I wasting time?

I heard a clank. Valerian's glass hit the glass table. He stood up with a soft exhale, stealing my attention.

"Attorney, if you don't mind. I'm just going to talk to my wife," he excused himself, snatching the pen from my hand and letting it fall on the table.

As polite as he spoke, he dragged me to the back of his villa where all his art was displayed. The click of our shoes hitting the marbled floor echoed throughout the wide area.

His grip wasn't tight, but I felt like I was wearing chains as a bracelet.

"What do you think you're doing?" I whined, halting my steps, causing him to stop. "I don't have time for anymore of your bullshit, Val. I'm out of this relationship," I told him, putting a period on my decision.

I tried to pull my hand from him, but he didn't let go. Facing me wholly, those piercing green eyes held me captive.

I was fully aware of the kind of aura he owned. His charm would never fail to blow me away. His eyes, which reminded me of spring, were now boring holes in my face. The gaze he was throwing me was too heavy for me to carry, making my knees fold and making me unable to run away from him.

"What's your reason, Ellie? I gave you everything you want and everything you need. What's not enough?" He asked, there was no longing in his voice. It was too flat, and it was hurting my ego. "Tell me where I made a mistake. Tell me."

"You know what I want," I replied, my face stoic.

"How many times do I have to clarify it to you? I never had any women aside from you. The moment I got married was also the moment I stopped living the life I had. We had an agreement about that, remember?"

I shook my head. "You're a liar."

"Does someone else's gossip matter to you more than hearing my side? You didn't even let me explain."

"I saw it with my own eyes!"

"Then prove it to me," he challenged, taking steps closer and closer to me. But as he closed the gap between us, I was creating distance from him. "I have been faithful to you. I tried my best to learn how to love you."

"That's the point, Val. You treated me like a lecture you could learn but never paid attention to. It's a fail," I said, gasping for air as my back hit the cold wall. "It's more than fine to me, because I never really loved you as well."

The lively spring that reflected in his eyes became dark and wild.

My throat felt deserted. I tried to swallow hard, but I knew to myself that there was only one thing that could quench that thirst.

His kiss.

"Come again?"

"You heard me, Val. I'm done. I'm signing the papers." I tried to escape his cunning demeanor, but he had pinned me against the wall, offering me no exit in between his possessive grip. "Let me go."

"You never loved me?" He wasn't asking, it sounded more of a threat. It was like he wanted me to say what he wanted to hear.

"There's nothing to argue about that. Let me go," I pushed his chest, but he was too strong compared to me. "Val, what are you doing? Attorney Eglin is waiting for us in--"

I was cut off when he smashed his lips on mine. The kiss he insisted on was rough, claiming me without telling me that I was his.

Automatically, my eyes fluttered closed, and a moan escaped my lips.

He held the back of my head, deepening the kiss. While his other hand found the hem of my dress and lifted it.

My thighs felt the sultry air coming from the open windows, and a flame under my skin was made when his warm palm caressed my thigh, making its way up to my hip and playing with the garter of my underwear.

I knew I said I was over with this, but I just couldn't help myself from surrendering to his touch this easily.

There was something about his kiss that made me want to fall on my knees. There was something about his touch that made an uncontrollable wildfire inside me that could only be smothered by him, just Valerian Blackwood.

His kisses traveled down my jaw and settled on the crook of my neck where he nibbled my skin, finding my sweet spot only he knew.

I gasped when his hand slipped inside my underwear and found my wetness.

"You're so ready for me, Ellie. Let's see if you're still going to push me away if I do this," he whispered in my ear like the devil telling me to commit a sin.

And I just did.

I let him devour me.

"Valerian!" I exclaimed when he spun me, facing the wall, stripping the little thing that hid my femininity.

Shushing me, he placed a wet kiss behind my ear. "Quiet now, baby. We don't want anyone to hear what we're doing here, right?" He sipped the lobe of my ear.

My eyes rolled when I felt the head of his bare hardness on my entrance.

Suddenly, all the inhibition left in me was gone, and all I wanted was to welcome him inside me. To feel his force, his strength, and his pace. I wanted him to dominate me like how he usually did, I wanted his length to fill me, make me feel so full of his thickness.

My hands couldn't find anything to hold on to but the cold wall as he slammed his length inside me.

"Oh!" I moaned, arching my back and bucking my hips closer to him, welcoming every thrust he gave. "Vale... Ah!"

"Tell me you won't search for this, tell me, Ellie." Every word came with a pound from behind me. "Tell me you won't crave for me."

"I won't look-- oh! For this kind of heaven... ahh!" I tried to speak, but the friction inside me made my toes curl, what he was doing to me made me want to yield and let him tie me up.

No, I had to fight this. But how? He was a sinful seduction. I was running away from him, I was leaving him.

"Oh, Valerian..."

He banged me fast and rough, just like how I always wanted. I liked it the way he wanted.

My walls began to clench, my breath was hitching. I'm coming!

"Ellie, I'm so close, baby," he groaned in my ear, a call for me to release and let go of the knot that was forming in my stomach.

"Ah!" I sighed, a sigh of relief, the sound of satisfaction. My body wanted more, but my head told me to stop. This one mistake was enough.

"Elodie!" Shots of hot fluid inside me followed.

His heavy breath hitting my skin gave me goosebumps.

Catching our breaths in that position, I was the one to break us apart. I hissed when I felt him slip out of me and his semen started to drip on my thighs.

"This will never happen again," I uttered with finality, earning a senseless chuckle from him.

"Oh, really?" He wasn't convinced at all, and I just proved myself wrong when he claimed my lips and I answered his kiss.

How I hated myself!

With that lingering kiss, he sipped my lower lip, and I moaned from the sensation, a reason why he wore a smirk on his face. "Now tell me, my Elodie, are you still signing those papers?"

Back to my wits, I opened my eyes and was blessed by the sight of his beauty. "Y--yes," I stammered. Cursing silently, I pulled my chin up. "I'm still signing those papers, and you can't do anything about it."

A dangerous smile spread on his lips, pulling himself closer to me. "Make sure of that, Ellie. Because even if you divorce me right now, I know you will end up with me."

THREE YEARS LATER...

"I thought you said you were managing the resort well? Then what the hell is this?" Bree, my older sister, asked as soon as I stepped into the villa lobby.

Exhausted, both physically and emotionally, I let my heels hit the carpeted floor and sighed heavily. I'd just come back from a board meeting my dad had set up in D.C., and I was greeted by Bree's less-than-welcoming words.

"Lose more guests, and you'll find your business sailing out to sea and away from you," she added.

Bree's my sister, but she's also my advisor. I take her ideas, opinions, the spits coming out of her mouth, and even her snarky comments seriously. But sometimes, I just want to shove a mouthful of sand down her throat.

I stood by the grand piano, placed my baguette on top of it, and took the glass of orange juice offered by the staff.

"Bree, summer season is just approaching, okay? We've already received a lot of reservations. Give it time, we'll have the resort full. Just relax," I told her, but my nerves were screaming otherwise.

"Relax?" She repeated, showing me the tablet where everything about the resort was listed and recorded. "Last year and the year before, all the villas, suites, and even the huts were already booked three weeks before summer started."

I sat down, massaged my calf, and braced myself for her lecture.

"You know what? I saw this coming. This catastrophe. You know why? Because of your bastard of an ex-husband!" She exclaimed, making a few of the staff take notice.

"Hey, Bree, why don't we talk in my office, hmm?" I didn't wait for her to respond and led the way.

Three years ago, I divorced the only man I thought would give me the life I always dreamed of. But a signed piece of paper ended in another signed piece of paper.

Valerian gave me one of the three properties I wanted, this resort. I remember Attorney Eglin telling me I should be grateful. The resort did great in business for the first few summers, but it looks like it was planned to be taken down without even a wrecking ball.

Just a golf cart ride away from my resort, a new one had opened and started stealing my guests. And who owned it? Valerian Blackwood.

"Can you not shout about private conversations when we're not alone?" I told her as soon as we entered my office. "You're making a scene."

"What about it? Three years ago, that bastard even held a press conference just to tell the whole world that his cock was back to being free to fuck whatever hole he wanted!"

"Jesus, Bree! Can you filter that mouth?" I chided, sinking into my chair. "And I don't care about what happened in the past, okay? It's done, and that's a fact."

"A fact that you were bashed by a lot of women?" She scoffed. "Remember knocking on my door in the middle of the night, reeking of alcohol, crying like a heartbroken ex-wife looking for Valerian's cock to suck?"

"Have some decency, will you? Dad will surely shave your eyebrows if he heard you talking like that."

Valerian was a fine man, but I had my reasons. I needed a private life, and that was impossible with him. He's a magazine star, the headline of every internet buzz. And I got nothing but headaches whenever I saw him in the news, linked to prettier and sexier women.

I never had a moment of peace.

Even when I asked him to sign the divorce papers, he tried everything to change my mind. The last time we were together... amazing, I won't deny it, but it'll never happen again.

And we went our separate ways.

"And please, don't mention that man's name ever again." I massaged my head, feeling completely overwhelmed.

Today was not my day.

Dad kept bugging me about everything, especially my personal life, and now, this beach resort.

"Does it ever give you goosebumps?" She snorted, sitting on my desk with her arms crossed. "Got any idea how to get your payback?"

I raised an eyebrow, urging her to explain.

"He's still into you, right?"

"That was three years ago. Have you ever seen him come to me or call me? No, because he's over us. And it's fine, because I wouldn't want him bothering me either," I said, dismissing her thoughts. "What if he decided to pull some strings and take this property away from me? There's no way I'm not going to lose this."

"You're already losing the resort, E."

And that was the truth I couldn't accept.

"It started when he released banners and used his power to make his new resort louder, that's when your ratings..." She made a whooshing sound of a crashing airplane. "Your career in business? Kaput!"

"I don't give up easily."

She chuckled mirthlessly. "Since when did you become a clown? You're making me laugh."

Rolling my eyes, I knew my sister. She'd crush all my hopes and the lies I told myself before I could believe them.

"Use him," she said, her face beaming with pride.

"I'm sorry, what?"

"As your advisor, I advise you to play a little game."

I scratched my chin and opened my laptop, wanting to start working even though I was tired and wanted to ignore her. "And as my advisor, you're supposed to keep our business in good shape, not use someone or play little games."

She closed my laptop and leaned in close. "Ask him for a collaboration."

"You hate him more than I do, and now you're suggesting I have him around?" I scoffed, pushing her face away. "And to tell you, Bree, whatever you're thinking about, it's not going to work. He's not into me anymore, and he won't accept what I propose because he won't have anything on me."

"What are you saying?" She looked at me like I was the stupidest person she'd ever met. "It's pure business, E. It's a great strategy. Offer him a nice percentage, use your brain and your credibility in business. Show him professionalism and maybe, just maybe, he would bite the cheese."

Trying to catch a fish in the middle of the ocean using a fishnet with a lot of huge holes, that's how trying to capture Valerian.

"You will offer him an alliance. Talk about the event considerations, tell him that combining your skills would make a great outcome," she added as if she already planned everything. She even had the guts to check her perfectly manicured nails while talking.

"I'm sorry, but I know how to write and talk about business proposals."

"Great! Then you will meet him uh..." She checked her wristwatch. "In about twenty minutes from now at Callan's Plates. That would be in the Franklin & Franklin building, twenty-seventh floor. Table reserved for two."

I was lost. Completely lost again. "What?"

"Three days ago, I noticed that your business is not just going down, it's basically going to have a snorkel under the sea and planning to meet Krusty Crab. So, as your advisor, as an investor, and especially as your sister, I made the best decision for you. Plus, three months ago, you told me to do what I think what's best for the resort."

If there was a huge crowd having a rally inside my head, they were all shut up while waiting for Bree to drop the bomb on their feet.

"So, I sent him a proposal regarding collaborative events and package deals, bright, right?" She giggled. "It's a good thing you arrived today, I was hoping it would be earlier so you wouldn't face him looking like someone just gave you a suicide mission. But uh-- I think you'll dig it."

"You sent him a business proposal? Bree, what were you thinking?!" I didn't mean to raise my voice, but this situation was making my blood boil. I was freaking out in a pretty way.

"What am I thinking? E, you poured all your time and sweat just to keep this resort running. And if you don't want this to be left behind and go down in history, you have to take some action!" She pointed out. "Oh, and he accepted it. But he said he wanted to discuss it with you... 'personally'." And that was air quoted by her.

I think I'm going to faint.

"So, stop losing yourself in the trance and go meet your guy!"

I CAN'T believe this!

Three years that I tried avoiding this man, three years that I tried not to look at any magazines he was in or at any news he was interviewed, and now I'll end up meeting him face to face?

Would I make myself look desperate? I didn't even have a glimpse of that proposal Bree sent him.

Shit! I'm sweating like hell.

Pressing the twenty-seventh button, I let out a long exhale.

I was still clad in my black bodycon dress under a white blazer. My hair was done in a neat ponytail and my face wore light makeup, just to enhance the color on my face.

Checking my reflection on the wall, I quickly took my lipstick and reapplied it.

"Why am I doing this?" I questioned myself and cursed under my breath.

What's to be insecure about? It's not like I care about the women he dated after we divorced. Models and actresses, bitches who needed his dick to scratch their itch.

"God!" I groaned, getting a little too irritated by my own thoughts. Why was I thrusting myself back into his life? Whatever ongoing issue he had, I shouldn't care.

The elevator dinged, and the doors opened.

"You're here just for business, Elodie. It's for your resort, not for him," I coached myself before stepping out of the elevator and began taking steps closer to the handsome devil.

The whole floor was the restaurant.

There were a lot of socialites filling up the whole place. Everything around here was luxurious, it's something that could attract a lot of people who are allergic to below five-star services.

Everyone was exposing their own wealth by the way they dressed and, frankly, singing their classy laughter, but out of all the people sitting on the tables, there was this one man that my eyes caught the soonest.

His brown hair was neatly brushed back, his charm was impossible to ignore, the aura he gives off. He looked majestic in his all-black three-piece suit.

He was sitting near the glass wall where the view of the setting sun and the beach could be seen. He was checking the time on his wrist. And just as I was unaware of it, his eyes shifted in my direction... then our eyes met.

"Holy shit..."

MY HEART was pounding so loud it drowned out the chatter around me. I was hyperventilating, needing a breather.

I was about to turn back to the elevator, but I thought, wouldn't that make me look like a coward?

Lifting my chin, I met his gaze and even offered a small smile as I approached the table.

I saw the way he studied me from head to toe. Then, a spiral of emotions began to take over my body.

Suddenly, all the memories of his touch came flooding back.

"Ellie," he called my name, and I thought my knees were going to give out.

He stood up from his chair, and boy, oh boy, the jerk hadn't changed a bit. He was still yummy as fuck.

"Pleasure to have you here," he said as he pulled out a chair for me and held out his hand.

I think I had been holding my breath for too long. "It is a pleasure to have 'you' here, Mr. Blackwood. I didn't know you were willing to discuss this proposal with me." His hand was still outstretched, and I was awkwardly standing by the chair.

"Shake my hand?" A side of his lips lifted, gesturing his hand that was waiting for me to reach.

Licking my lips, I gathered all my courage and reached for his hand. The moment our hands touched, I thought I was going to pass out.

Why was I acting like this?

What was I, some kind of lovesick teenager meeting her ultimate crush? He was my ex-husband for goodness' sake!

He gave my hand a light squeeze.

As if I had been burned, I pulled my hand away quickly, leaving him hanging in the air.

There was a hint of amusement in his eyes, and I hated it.

"Shall we?" He offered, taking his seat and signaling to a waiter.

My eyes fell on the menu, and I found nothing mouthwatering on it because the whole meal was sitting right in front of me.

"What about you, Ellie? What's your order?"

I hadn't noticed I was spacing out, staring blankly at the menu until he asked. "I'm sorry?" I blinked a few times. "Uh-- I'll just uhm... order what he gets."

The waiter left, carrying the menus.

Unconsciously, my hand reached for a stray strand of hair and tucked it behind my ear.

Our area was quieter than the rest of the restaurant, since the tables around us were suspiciously empty, and we were far away from the crowds.

"So," he broke the silence. "I see you're interested in making it bigger. It's quite... amusing," he took his time describing whatever Bree had made me look like, but I managed a smile. A shaky smile.

"You see, Mr. Blackwood, I've been thinking about how we can both benefit from this new situation. I know we're competitors, but I also see the potential for collaboration," I began professionally, clasping my hands on the table and keeping my back straight.

He raised his eyebrows and slightly tilted his head to the side, humming softly. "Call me Val," he said, making me pause for a moment.

"Mr. Blackwood--"

"It's Val," he cut me off.

No one dared to give him nicknames, not even his family, let alone his acquaintances. He once told me how special I was to him, giving me the huge ass privilege of calling him by his first name, and even a nickname.

"I am certainly not my father, and we both know each other. So, why the formalities?" He slid his hand across the table and reached for his wine.

I hadn't eaten anything before I came here, just my spit and the courage pill that wasn't effective, but I felt like there was something stuck in my throat.

Clearing my throat, I kept a straight face.

"This is a business--"

"It's Val, baby," he repeated, and this time, with a pet name that had me choking on my own spit.

I mentally smacked my head and told myself to stay focused on his lips-- I mean, on whatever he said and stay composed no matter what happened.

His presence was already making me edgy. What about those eyes that made me spell 'lust'? What about his voice that made me want to beg him to dominate me? This was plain torture for me.

Years had passed, and I could recall cursing in the air that I had moved on and that I was more than sure to leave my past behind, along with the complicated feelings I had for him. But what was this? Why was I so affected by him?

"Everyone calls you Mr. Blackwood." I didn't have to check the facts listed under his name, I perfectly knew how he wanted himself addressed by his surname and never with his name. "And regarding the proposal I was--"

"Your lips still look edible." He cut me off again before sipping his wine, obviously showing me how the lump in his throat bobbed up and down.

I had to cross my legs when a familiar tingling sensation between my thighs started bugging me.

His eyes were staring at my lips, which I unknowingly licked. He was intending to make me want to pee myself.

"The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the proposal I--" I wanted to repeat, but he just wouldn't let me talk.

"I'm willing to sign the contract," he said, placing the wine glass down on the table. "I liked the idea."

That was... fast.

I was expecting him to give me a hard time making him agree with this. Throw me a rough criticism and slap it in my face that I would never be connected to his name again.

"What?"

"After signing each other's contract, let's arrange an open event. I like the idea of 'Tropical Night' and 'Sunset Celebration', considering that guests would love some beach parties," he continued, leaning closer to the table. "My resort doesn't offer island hopping, yours does. It's a good thing you opened up a piece of alliance where we could... benefit with each other's business."

It was either a relief or a burden to me.

Just as easy as that, the resort was saved. But that only meant... I had to bear with Valerian while the contract was still on.

"That's... uh-- I'm grateful that you liked my proposal," I stuttered, lost for words. I anticipated something harder than just sitting in front of him, but instead... he accepted it without a sweat.

"Honestly, I wasn't intrigued by making an alliance or in any form of collaboration since I wanted to make an independent business here on the beach, but when I read the proposal, I wouldn't deny that you piqued my interest."

I should thank my sister later.

"Besides, it's a greater way to attract a wider audience, create a sense of community. It wasn't that bad of an idea," he shrugged and looked at me viciously. "We could make this work, yes, Ellie?"

Nodding my head, I could breathe on one hole of my nose, finally. "That's great! Yeah, I mean..." Shit! I was having trouble looking back at him. "I'm confident that we can come up with something truly special while we put this plan under construction."

While I was speaking, he was only looking at me like there was something on my face, causing me to feel self-conscious about how I looked. Did I do my eyebrows too thick? What about my blush? Did I look like a stoplight?

Shit, I had to keep myself relaxed.

"I never heard any news of you dating anyone since our divorce," he suddenly brought up, leaving the business talks behind.

Indeed he was right. But did that mean he was keeping his eyes and ears on me? What a stalker!

Our order came, and the waiter wished us a great dinner.

"These delicacies are indeed mouthwatering." 'But not as salivating as you do', I wanted to add. "I've heard about this place before but never really had a chance to eat here," I shared, just to neglect what he wanted to talk about.

"Yes, steaks here are the best."

"Been here often?" I asked, taking the napkin and placing it on my lap.

"But I tasted something tastier than any of these," he added, ignoring my question and hinting something as he started slicing his food.

"Yeah, let me guess, pasta?" I rode along, but I sought it as a mistake.

"You," he confidently uttered.

Did I just swallow the air? "Excuse me?"

He stabbed the meat and slowly took a bite while those emerald eyes were glued on me, like how he's supposed to look at what he's eating.

Squinting at him, my whole body was frozen. What did he think he was doing?

Whenever he gnawed, his jaw became firm, boasting the masculinity on his face. His thick brows were relaxed, but there was a part of him that told me the tension. Where was that?

"Mr. Blackwood, my purpose of meeting you doesn't intend other than business. So, please, let's show some etiquette and have virtue while we share dinner," I said, making him chuckle.

I frowned, I couldn't find anything funny from what I said.

"What's so funny?"

"You never really changed, my Elodie," he replied, shifting his eyes to my chest, which exposed my cleavage. Causing me to feel a bit... harassed, but at some point, I wanted him to look at me that way. "I wonder..." He added yet chose to keep it trailed off.

As much as I wanted to know what was in his mind, I reminded myself to be a figure that had to be respected. "I'm not yours, Mr. Blackwood."

"Hm-mm?" He hummed, challenging me.

"May I ask what's to talk about personally for dinner when you've already decided to sign the contract? You think that maybe you could've just called my secretary or my sister?"

"I want to show you my resort tonight, since the opening will happen in a week. I might as well show you what's inside my... place," he replied.

I was sensing something fishy. "Maybe we should just schedule that, Mr. Blackwood. I still have a lot of things to attend to."

"From what I could recall, your sister clearly told me that you will be free tonight, that was why I invited you to join me for dinner."

Okay, scratch thanking Bree, I'll knock her out the moment I see her.

"You were in DC, right?"

"Are you spying on me, Mr. Blackwood?" I frankly asked him.

"Us being divorced doesn't mean I'm not in touch with your father. Uncle Harrison mentioned to me yesterday about your flight," he explained.

I felt so betrayed. Even my own family didn't even put just a few distances away from him!

"So... you can't reason with me, baby. You're 'coming' with me tonight."