My Ex-Husband Begged Me to Take Him Back - Chapter 158

Chapter 158: Where is Dylan?

Jodie stormed to her desk and slammed her palm against the table, her frustration boiling over. “This is too much,” she muttered. “I can’t tolerate her anymore.” She grabbed her phone and dialed a familiar number. The call connected almost immediately.

“She is unbearable,” Jodie hissed into the receiver. “I can’t stand her arrogance anymore. Can you do something to make her disappear from here?”

A chilling silence followed before a voice responded from the other end with an unmistakable menace, “Are you giving me orders now?”

Jodie froze at her cold tone, her bravado crumbling. She quickly shook her head. “N-no, no! I wouldn’t dare. My apologies. I was frustrated and spoke out of turn. Please forgive me.”

“Watch your tone next time. I don’t take orders. I give them. Is that clear?”

“Yes, yes, of course,” Jodie stammered. “I accept my mistake.”

“Now tell me, why are you whining?”

Jodie’s voice dropped to a murmur. “I did as you instructed. I asked her to sign the contract with the Carter Group, but she refused. She even said she had never heard anything good about them. I mean, there is a limit to stubbornness. If she keeps annoying me like this, I don’t know how long I can take this. And you… forget about getting back in control if she stays in power.”

“Shut up.”

Jodie flinched, nearly dropping the phone.

“If you say another word, you’ll be the one who disappears from there.”

Jodie’s face turned pale, and she apologized instantly, “Sorry, I’m really sorry.”

“Stay calm,” the voice on the other end commanded. “If you want her gone, you need to use your brain. She is in Dylan’s favor right now, which is why she is flying so high. So, instead of confronting her, why don’t we make her fall from grace in his eyes?”

The suggestion sent a jolt of inspiration through Jodie. Her lips curled into a sly smile, and her earlier fear was replaced by a cunning resolve. “That’s brilliant. I even have a plan in mind.”

She leaned closer to the phone, whispering her idea. When she finished, she asked eagerly, “What do you think?”

“Hmm, not bad.”

I’ll tell you when I execute the plan,” Jodie said excitedly as she ended the call. Her smirk widened into a malicious grin. She set the phone down and leaned back in her chair. “Enjoy your time while it lasts, Ava,” she muttered under her breath. “Soon enough, you’ll be out of here for good.”

Later that day…

Ava finally picked up her phone and dialed Dylan’s number. It rang for what felt like forever before he answered, his voice rough and groggy.

Ava’s brows knitted together. “Are you still sleeping?” she asked, surprised. Her immediate thought was that he had been drinking again and was now sleeping the day away.

“We had a late-night meeting until dawn,” Dylan replied.

“Really?” Ava’s voice sharpened, disbelief evident. “What kind of trouble is brewing at the overseas branch that requires a meeting in the middle of the night?”

Dylan paused for a beat. Her concern, though veiled in irritation, didn’t escape him. A small, amused smile tugged at his lips.

“Are you worried about me?” he asked, his tone turning warm and teasing.

“Worried? No, absolutely not…You are such a hardworking person. I’m sure you wouldn’t waste your time on anything unnecessary.”

“Exactly,” Dylan replied smoothly. “I don’t want to waste even a second. I want to resolve everything here quickly and get back to you. Every moment away from you feels like an eternity.”

His hand instinctively reached for the pillow beside him, hugging it as if it could replace the warmth he longed for. “Do you miss me?”

Ava froze, her heart skipping a beat. ‘Miss him?’ The thought sent a rush of conflicted emotions through her. She had been thinking about him more than she’d like to admit. But saying she missed him felt like surrendering ground she wasn’t ready to give up.

“No, why would I miss you? I know you are there for work, not for fun.”

Dylan chuckled softly, hearing the frustration in her tone. He could tell she wasn’t being entirely honest, and it only made him want to return to her even more.

“Some unexpected issues came up, so I had to rush here urgently. But don’t worry. Things are almost wrapped up, and I’ll be back by tomorrow. So, don’t miss me.”

“I am not missing you.”

‘Still denying it,’ Dylan mused, his grin widening. “Then why are you calling me?”

Ava gaped, speechless momentarily. “I…There is something I need to ask you.”

“You can ask me anything.”

Ava didn’t hesitate this time. “Are you planning to sign a deal with the Carter Group?”

“Yes,” Dylan admitted easily. “If we secure the port development project, we’ll need a reliable partner. The Carter Group’s construction business has a solid reputation for quality work.”

“I don’t agree,” Ava interjected. “They might have been good in the past, but they are not doing well lately.”

Dylan was silent for a moment, her unexpected objection piquing his interest. “Did you uncover something?”

“I’ve heard bad reviews,” she admitted. “But I need time to verify them. Until then, I don’t think you should consider signing anything with them.”

A short pause followed before Dylan’s voice came through. “Alright. Time is yours.”

“Thanks. I’ll hang up now.”

“Wait,” Dylan interjected quickly. “Talk to me for a while.”

Ava sighed, glancing at the clock on her desk. “I’m still at work, unlike you, sleeping whenever you want.”

“It might be late there. Why are you still working? Go home and rest.”

“If you want me to leave, you’ll have to hang up first,” she retorted.

“Alright, alright. Bye… I’ll call you tomorrow,” Dylan replied with a soft laugh.

As the call disconnected, Ava let out a sigh, placing her phone on the desk. Gathering her belongings into her bag, she muttered under her breath, “This sudden change in your behavior won’t sway me from my determination.”

She slung her bag over her shoulder and went out of her office, heading toward the elevator. Waiting there were two directors, engrossed in a cheerful conversation. They paused briefly to acknowledge her with polite smiles, which she returned with a nod.

“Yes, the overseas branch is doing exceptionally well this year,” one of them said enthusiastically. “The success of the new projects has played a crucial role in that.”

“Right. It is not possible without the efficiency of the people working there.”

“Absolutely. Things are going smoothly there.”

They continued their discussion. But Ava frowned slightly when she heard there was no issues at work in the overseas branch.

“Excuse me,” she interrupted. “You mentioned there have not been any issues at the overseas branch. But Dylan said urgent problems had come up, which is why he had to travel. Could you clarify what’s going on?”

Both directors exchanged puzzled glances before one of them spoke confidently. “There are no issues in the overseas branch, ma’am. Everything is running smoothly. I was there last month for the inspection.”

“Exactly.” The second director added, “Mr. Brooks isn’t even there. His current trip is confidential, and we haven’t been briefed on it. But I can assure you, it has nothing to do with the overseas branch.”

The air suddenly emptied from her chest as she processed their words. Her grip on her bag tightened, and her mind raced. She realized Dylan had lied to her, a mix of confusion and unease swirling within her.

‘If Dylan didn’t go to the overseas branch, then where is he?’ she wondered anxiously, her thoughts now clouded with doubt and suspicion.