My Ex-Husband Begged Me to Take Him Back - Chapter 223

Chapter 223: Sealing the deal Chapter 223: Sealing the deal Erica’s insides clenched in annoyance as memories of her past with Luke surged to the surface.

She had given him her heart and virginity two years ago.

Yet, he hadn’t valued her.

He hadn’t stopped flirting with other women.

Heartbroken and angry, she had cut all ties with him.

The sting of betrayal still lingered.

Yet here she was again with the same man who hadn’t changed a bit, his playboy smirk intact.

Erica mimicked the slyness.

“I’m here for business, not to relive old mistakes.” She pushed his hand away.

“If you don’t like me, there is no way we will continue this.” She clambered down the bed and started dressing up.

Luke continued smoking, his cigarette dangling lazily between his fingers.

His sharp eyes followed her every movement.

“What deal are you talking about?” he asked.

“Are you willing to listen to me now?” she scoffed sarcastically.

“I thought you were only interested in sex.” He chuckled.

“I can’t control myself when a beauty like you comes to me willingly.

Now cut the crap and come to the point.” “You want the Port Development project.

I can make sure your company wins the bid.” Luke raised an eyebrow, intrigued but cautious.

“And how exactly do you plan to do that?” “You know, Dylan has his eyes set on that project,” she said, her tone deceptively casual.

“He is determined to secure it.

But€¦I can get you the Ace Group’s bidding price.” “Is that so?” His sharp eyes narrowed skeptically.

“You expect me to believe you’d betray your own cousin and hand over sensitive information to the competition?

Do I look like a fool to you?” Erica’s expression turned icy, the smile fading.

“I have no loyalty to Dylan.

This is personal.

I’m settling a score, not playing family favorites.” Her tone hardened as she added, “Take it or leave it.

I have no time for suspicion.” She turned to leave.

“I’ll find someone else if you’re not interested.” Luke’s eyes flicked toward her retreating figure, his expression tightening as her words lingered.

His instincts screamed caution, but the opportunity was too tempting to ignore.

“Wait,” he called out.

Erica paused mid-step, a triumphant gleam flickering in her eyes.

When she turned back to him, her face was a mask of cool indifference.

“Changed your mind?” “I’m interested.” “Okay.

I’ll share all the details with you, but I need money.” “Humph!” He snorted derisively.

“I didn’t know you were in shortage of money even though you were a part of the Brooks family.

So sad.

It seems your cousin doesn’t care about you.” Erica’s features hardened.

“Are you satisfied mocking me now?” “I’m not mocking you.

I’m only feeling pity for you.” Erica rolled her eyes.

“Will you give me money or not?” she asked fiercely.

“How much do you want?” he asked sarcastically.

“Two billion.” She lifted her chin high, crossing her arms across her chest.

Luke’s brows furrowed deeply.

“Two billion!” he barked with disbelief and anger.

“Are you out of your mind?” Erica stood her ground, her posture unyielding.

“Two billion is a drop in the ocean compared to the profits this project will bring you,” she countered.

“Once you win, your company will dominate the industry, leaving the Ace Group in the dust.

Besides, I’m the one taking all the risk here.

If Dylan finds out, I’ll lose everything-my family, reputation, and freedom.

But I’m willing to gamble it all, for you and myself.” Luke hesitated.

He knew the stakes were high, but the reward was undeniable.

His father had been obsessed with securing this project.

If he could secure it just by spending two billion, the company would earn a huge profit later.

And they would become the top-notch company in the country.

He stared at Erica for a long moment, weighing his options.

Finally, his scowl softened.

“Alright.

I’ll give you the money.

But mark my words-if you double-cross me or fail to deliver, you’ll owe me double the amount.

No excuses.” Erica felt chills coursing through her veins.

But right now, she needed the money.

Or else, Dylan would send her to jail.

Once the work was done, she would still have one billion left in her account, and she would just disappear from there.

“Fair enough,” she replied coolly, though her heart raced with anxiety.

She extended her hand, sealing the deal with a firm handshake.

“You won’t regret this.” “We’ll see,” Luke muttered as he crushed his cigarette in the ashtray.

“You’d better hope you don’t disappoint me.” He tugged at her hand in an attempt to pull her into the bed once again, but Erica resisted, freeing her hand from his grip.

“I want the money in my account in one week.

Once the money is in, I’ll share the details.” With that, she walked out of the room.

Inside the restroom€¦ After finishing the meeting with Scott, Ava came to the restroom.

She approached the sink, turned on the faucet, and let the cool water wash over her hands.

Standing before the mirror, she dabbed her face with a tissue and then reached into her purse for her lipstick.

She reapplied her lipstick.

Her phone buzzed inside her bag.

She took out the phone and saw Dylan’s name.

‘Why is he calling me?’ Her brows furrowed slightly.

Her thumb hovered over the answer button, dithering whether to reply or not.

Did he have something urgent to say?

In the meantime, the restroom door slammed open with a sudden force, and two men strode in.

Ava’s breath hitched, and she instinctively stumbled back, her fingers slackening around her phone.

The device slipped from her grasp, clattering loudly onto the floor.

The call connected as her trembling hand brushed the screen, but her focus was locked on the intruders.

“Who are you?

What are you doing in the ladies’ restroom?” she demanded defiantly, though her heart lurched to her ground.

Terrified she stepped back further.

“Someone wants to see you fall,” one of the two men spoke.

They stepped toward her.

Ava’s eyes darted between them, her pulse quickening.

“Don’t come any closer,” she warned, her voice shaking.

“I’ll scream!” Fear coiled around her legs like chains, threatening to rob her of her strength.

But the men didn’t deter.

With a smirk on their faces, they advanced, their boots thudding ominously against the floor.

Ava, her mind racing, searched desperately for a way out, but the space around her seemed to shrink with every step they took. She shuddered as her body pressed against the cold tiles.

One of the men lunged at her, grabbing her arms, and she instinctively fought back.

The other man stepped back, pulled out a phone, and started recording the scene with a sinister grin.

“Get off me,” Ava screamed, her body thrashing to break free, but the grip on her was unyielding.

He pressed her roughly against the wall and tore the sleeves of her dress.

“Ah,” she shrieked, terrified.

The panic swelled in her chest, suffocating her.

Dylan, on the other end of the line, panicked when heard Ava’s cries.

“You bastards,” he yelled on the phone.

“Don’t touch her.

I’ll kill you.” He ran out of the restaurant and toward the restroom.