I want her back
Wale's POV
I stormed into my car outside Maya's house, seething with anger, and immediately dialed Lucas’s number.
“Where are you?” I asked without delay, my frustration spilling into my voice.
Asher, who was driving, glanced at me curiously. His gaze carried unspoken questions-why was I asking Lucas where he was when I had been the one to assign him the task just minutes earlier? He was right to wonder.
“I’m on my way to meet Mr. Grayson for the negotiation,” Lucas replied evenly.
“There’s no need. Come back,” I said firmly, cutting him off.
“Mr. Wale, why? I’m already halfway there. If I don’t find him at his office, I’ll head straight to his house.”
“I’ve changed my mind.”
“What if I call him instead? I could negotiate over the phone and still make it work in your favor.”
“No,” I said coldly. “I have a more brutal way to solve this issue.”
Lucas hesitated. “Even so, let me try negotiating first. It might still yield results.”
“Fine. But make it quick. Meet me at my hotel as soon as you’re done.”
My mood was already ruined by Maya’s stinging words. I leaned back in the car seat, hoping to calm myself, but the moment I closed my eyes, her image overwhelmed me-her fiery gaze, the way she had pulled the necklace off her neck, and… her body.
It only made my anger worse.
By the time I reached my hotel, frustration and desire were warring within me. I ordered a bottle of wine, hoping it would dull the edge of my emotions. But even as I sipped the first glass, my mind refused to quiet. Lucas arrived soon after, his face clouded with bad news.
“Have a drink,” I said, gesturing toward the wine.
“Mr. Wale, this isn’t about wine,” Lucas replied bluntly. “The negotiation didn’t go as planned.”
“I expected as much,” I said, setting my glass down. “Grayson rejecting the offer doesn’t surprise me. But can you believe what Maya told me? She said she’d sleep with her fiancé right in front of me if I didn’t leave her house. The nerve of her!”
Lucas hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “Mr. Grayson also had a message for you. He said and I quote, ‘No amount of money will stop me from being with Maya. Not even Wale.’”
“Not even me?” I muttered, my hand instinctively clutching my chest. The insult felt like a direct blow, one I couldn’t ignore.
“Do you think Maya and Grayson are truly in love?” Lucas asked cautiously.
“Lucas,” I said, my voice icy, “I get whatever I want. No one can stop me.”
“But if they are in love, wouldn’t the best thing you could do for her, if you truly care, be to let her go?” Lucas suggested, his tone low as if treading on thin ice. “You could focus on someone else. What about the woman from the hotel?”
“Lucas!” I snapped. “You know that second meeting with her was a disaster.”
“Or was it even the same woman? You said everything about her seemed different, her height, her hair, even her perfume.”
“Maybe. But even if she hadn’t changed, I wouldn’t be interested. Maya is the only one I want.”
“She’s called you several times, but since you weren’t interested, I ignored her. Do you want to see her again?”
“After seeing Maya? No. That would feel like cheating.”
“Wale,” Lucas began cautiously, “Maya is your ex-wife. You can’t expect her to follow your rules anymore.”
“I’ve never been myself since she left,” I admitted, my voice cracking slightly. “I need her back. I’ll do anything. I mean anything, to make it happen.”
Lucas looked uneasy. “What are you planning?”
“I’m buying Omega Insurance,” I declared, my resolve hardening. “The process starts now.”
Lucas’s eyebrows shot up. “This is real love, Wale.”
“I’ve already gathered the necessary information. Maya is Mr. Grayson’s assistant. I’ll buy more shares under a different name, and once I control the company…”
“What happens then?” Lucas asked, clearly intrigued despite his reservations.
“I’ll make Maya the CEO of Omega Corporation. That’s where it starts,” I said confidently.
“And how long will this take?”
“Seven days,” I replied without hesitation. “This is the beginning.”
Lucas studied me for a long moment, as if trying to gauge how far I was willing to go. I knew what he was thinking—that this plan was reckless, obsessive even. But I didn’t care.
Maya was mine, and I wasn’t about to let anyone, not even Grayson, stand in my way
****************
Maya’s pov
When Humphrey heard my voice on the phone after such a long time, he screamed in disbelief.
“Hello, Ma’am. Where are you? Did you fake your death?”
“Yes, I did,” I replied, my voice calm but heavy with emotion. “I had no choice. I was in so much pain. I lost my precious baby... all because of Mr. Wale. By the way, has he gotten married?” I asked, not because I cared, but curiosity got the better of me.
“No. From what I hear, he’s left Kate, his girlfriend.”
“Hmmm. That’s none of my business.” I paused, unsure how to steer the conversation. Should I tell Humphrey the truth and ask for his help directly, or should I trick him into helping me? My thoughts raced as I tried to decide before the call lost momentum and he ended it. Finally, an idea came to me.
“Humphrey, you owe me a lot.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“You don’t understand now, but I’ll explain. You told me so many polished lies about my ex-husband and even covered up for him. I need to tell you something, but it’s not something I can say over the phone. Can you come to my place? Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t even ask if you’re at work.”
“I don’t work for Mr. Wale anymore.”
“I know.”
“How did you know?” he asked, surprised.
“We’ll talk about that later.”
“Sure. I’ll come to your place, but I’m not in town. I’m in Jordan City, visiting someone.”
“Jordan? That’s my city!”
“Really? Then we can meet today.”
“Of course. Who are you visiting? A female friend?”
“How did you know that?” he asked, his voice puzzled.
“Hazel?” My voice dropped slightly.
“Yes! But how do you know her?” His surprise grew.
“There’s a lot to talk about, Humphrey. Not over the phone, though.”
“Send me your address. I’ll come over this evening.”
“It’s already 4 p.m.”
“Send me your address,” he cut in.
After the call, I quickly sent him my address. It was hard to believe Humphrey was here to see Hazel.
An hour later, I heard a knock at the door. I knew exactly who it was. With Alexandra in my arms, I rushed to open it.
“Mr. Humphrey?” I greeted him. He looked fresh, full of life, but his eyes fell on Alexandra immediately.
“Did you have another baby? Did she survive?”
“No, no,” I said quickly. “This isn’t my baby. I’m just babysitting her. Please, come in.” But his gaze lingered on Alexandra.
“She has Wale’s eyes…”
“Please, don’t mention that name here,” I interrupted, my voice tight. “It reminds me of my late baby and everything Wale did to me. I took this baby into my life to help me heal from my loss.” I placed Alexandra gently in her cot and returned to the living room.
“Would you like a glass of wine?” I offered.
“Thank you, ma’am. But let’s get to the reason you called me.”
“You need a glass of wine,” I insisted, standing to fetch it. But before I could move, he stood up.
“Let me get it myself. I still feel like you’re my boss’s wife. Oh… sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you,” he said awkwardly.
He went to the bar, poured himself a glass, and sat down again. Then, I told him everything—the truth, plain and simple. His jaw dropped in shock.
“You mean after all you did for Hazel, she betrayed you like this?”
“Yes.”
“And all you need is Hazel’s phone for thirty minutes?”
“Yes, just long enough to find the number I’m looking for.”
“Ma’am, I can’t stand in the way of your happiness. I’ll do as you ask. Expect my call. I’ll let you know how everything will go and where we can meet.”
Before I could respond, a knock at the door interrupted us. My heart sank.
“Who’s there?” I called, but there was no reply. I walked to the door and opened it cautiously.
“Mr. Wale?” I gasped, my shock evident.
“Who’s in your house?” he demanded, his voice sharp.
“My fiancé, Mr. Grayson,” I lied, my voice trembling.
“I know Grayson’s car, and it’s not here. From the information I got, he is at home now. Who is inside your house?” Wale’s voice rose with anger, and before I could stop him, he pushed past me into the living room.
My heart pounded. What was I going to do now?