PART 27 - "Working With the Ex"
Scene: Promotion or Punishment?
The email came in at 8:07 a.m., bold and centered like a slap in the face.
"Congratulations, Leprinthinya Wilkins. You've been selected to co-lead our Mid-Atlantic Expansion Project.
Your partner: Devon Matthews."
I stared at the screen.
Devon.
My ex.
The man who ghosted me after three months of passion and pillow talk, then reappeared with a fiancé six months later.
The man who still called me "Miss Too Much" under his breath.
Now him? On my project?
This wasn't a promotion - it was a setup.
Scene: The First Meeting
We met in the glass conference room - him in navy slacks and that smug, knowing smile. His beard was lined. His cologne? Loud. Not refined like Elias's subtle storm… this was ego in a bottle.
"Well, well," he said, leaning back in his chair.
"Back in my orbit. Didn't think you'd still be this fine."
"I didn't think you'd still be this recycled," I shot back, flipping through the agenda.
He chuckled, eyes dancing.
"This is gonna be fun."
Scene: Tension on the 14th Floor
For the next two weeks, Devon tested every boundary.
He'd hover too close during presentations.
Call me "Le-Le" in front of staff.
Send 10 p.m. "Just checking on the numbers" texts with shirtless selfies "accidentally" in view.
Elias noticed.
Oh, he definitely noticed.
Scene: Elias Reacts
That Friday night, Elias showed up to my place, lips tight, eyes darker than usual.
"You told me working with him wouldn't be a problem," he said.
I put my wine down.
"It's not. He's the problem. I'm not entertaining him."
Elias stepped closer, jaw tense.
"I trust you. But I don't trust that dude. The way he looks at you…"
I placed a hand on his chest.
"Let him look. I'm not his anymore. I'm yours. All of me. Don't let an insecure man stir up insecurity in you."
He exhaled slowly, then lifted my chin.
"You're right… but I'm still going to remind you who you belong to."
And baby - he did.
Scene: The Elevator Incident
The following week, Devon made a move.
It was late. Just us. We rode the elevator down together, silence thick.
"You ever think about what we could've been?" he asked, his voice low.
I looked him dead in the eyes.
"Yeah. And I thank God daily it wasn't."
He leaned in too close - hand grazing mine, breath inching toward my ear.
Before he could get another word out, the elevator doors opened.
And standing there - tall, broad, furious - was Elias.
"Am I interrupting?" he asked, stepping inside.
Devon backed up. "We were just talking - "
"She's done talking."
I didn't say a word.
I didn't have to.
Elias's presence spoke for both of us.