Pursuing my ex Wife

Who is she?

                          Audrey's pov

The hum of the kitchen was like a distant echo. My hands moved mechanically, chopping, stirring, plating—yet my mind was far from the chaotic elegance of the gala dinner. The guests in the restaurant were in high spirits, their laughter filtering faintly through the closed kitchen doors. I should’ve been paying attention, but all I could think about was that woman.

Who was she? The way she had walked with Keith, laughing at something only they seemed to understand. The way they stepped into the elevator together, her hand brushing against his arm like it belonged there. I couldn’t follow them—what would I have even said? So, I stood there, waiting in the hallway for twenty long minutes, until I saw them leave. Then I’d taken the elevator down to the basement parking and tried to shake it off. But here I was, hours later, still simmering with confusion and an emotion I didn’t dare name.

At least Andre and Payal were getting closer. I hadn't seen her since the premiere—on screen, of course. Isha was tied up with work, and Keith… well, Keith had been a ghost ever since that kiss. The kiss that was interrupted by that same woman.

“Can I take over, Miss Saunders?” My assistant chef’s voice cut through my thoughts, his concern barely masked behind professionalism.

I smiled weakly, shaking my head. “I’m fine, just need a quick breather.”

A breather. Right. As if I could actually breathe when my head was pounding with so many thoughts. I stepped out of the kitchen, pushing through the swinging door into the cool hallway, but the weight in my chest followed me. This was why I wanted to give up on love. Why bother when it never seemed to work? Sure, I hadn’t loved Andre, not truly, but Adam… I loved him. Even through his lies, I loved him. What if I had chosen him instead of going through with that stupid marriage arrangement? Would things have turned out differently? Would—

“I thought you’d at least come say hello to your guests.”

I froze. That voice—it was so familiar, too familiar. I turned around slowly, already knowing who it was.

“If only I had known you’d be part of my guests,” I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm, “I would’ve declined to shut down the entire restaurant for you.”

There he was, standing in front of me. The man who haunted my past, the man who cheated on me, who left me on our honeymoon to be with another woman. Nicky.

Andre’s smile was the same as always—charming, yet somehow infuriating. “We both know you wouldn’t turn down such a large sum for a few hours in your lovely little family restaurant.”

I crossed my arms, trying to ignore how close he was. One more step, and we’d be touching. “Of course not. I wouldn’t dare.”

The air between us felt suffocating, and I turned to walk away, needing to escape the pull he always seemed to have on me. But his hand shot out, gently catching my wrist. His touch was electric, just like it always had been. I hated that part of me still responded to him, still craved something I couldn’t explain. My heart urged me to stay, to let him in, but my mind screamed that he wasn’t worth it. That he never had been.

“I miss you, Audrey.” His voice was soft, vulnerable even.

I laughed, the sound hollow. “What exactly do you miss, Andre? We never had anything real. There’s nothing to miss.”

He lowered his gaze, almost ashamed. “We had a friendship. At some point… I think I fell for you, Audrey.”

I swallowed hard, my chest tightening. “You didn’t fall for me. It was infatuation. Nothing more.”

“Maybe it was,” he admitted, his eyes meeting mine again, full of something I couldn’t place. “But these past two years, you’ve been on my mind constantly. I can’t stop thinking about you. I just want to figure out why.”

His hands gripped mine now, and the intensity in his gaze made my heart race. But I couldn’t let him pull me back into his orbit. Not again.

“No, Andre. I don’t live in the past.”

“Then live for the present. For the future.” His voice was almost pleading.

I pulled my hands away, stepping back. “I have appetizers to prepare.”

I left before he could say anything else, retreating to the safety of the kitchen. The appetizers were already done, the main course nearly finished. I busied myself with dessert, my hands moving quickly as I tried to drown out the emotions swirling inside me.

Out in the dining area, the soft notes of a piano played as guests mingled. I glanced out through the service window. Payal and Andre were standing together in a small group, champagne in hand. They looked perfect—like the Hollywood couple they were meant to be.

I told my assistant chef to lock up when the night was over. I couldn’t stay any longer. The conversation with Andre had shaken me, bringing up feelings I thought I’d buried long ago.

By the time I pulled into my apartment building, my nerves were still frayed. And then, as if the universe wasn’t done with me yet, I spotted Keith. He smiled when he saw me, but I quickly looked away, pretending I hadn’t noticed him. How embarrassing. He probably thought I was ridiculous.

Before I could compose myself, there was a knock on my car window. It was him.

I stepped out of the car, locking it behind me as we walked to the elevator together in silence. I could feel his eyes on me, though he didn’t say anything until we were inside.

“She’s my ex-wife,” he finally said, his voice quiet. “Miranda’s mom. She came earlier than I expected.”

My breath hitched. “Your ex-wife?”

He nodded. “Yeah, I told you about her, remember?”

I nodded, feeling foolish for how I’d acted.

The elevator doors opened, and we stepped out into the hallway. Keith hesitated, then scratched the back of his head. “You know, I’d really like to finish what we started before we got interrupted.”

Without thinking, I turned to him and kissed him. The tension, the confusion, everything melted away as our lips moved together. We stumbled to his apartment door, barely making it inside before losing ourselves completely.

Later, lying against him, my body still humming from the intensity of it all, I couldn’t help but smile. What a day. But as content as I was in Keith’s arms, a part of me—a small, insistent part—couldn’t stop thinking about Andre.

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                                                 [EDITED]

hello kids!

It is I...idek what to say next but just imagine I said something cringey😃

Hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it. Hehe

Please don't forget to vote, comment and breathe...yess breathe, I love you guys so much.

Jesus as well🤍🫠