Chapter 8

“Your wife? Are you kidding me? She divorced you, and you're still calling her your wife? Where was she when I was your girlfriend all these years?”

“Stop it, Vanessa. I don’t have time for this.” He started to leave the restroom, but she stopped him.

“You are mine now, and don’t even think about her just because she’s rich.”

“You don’t understand, do you?” Cole said, staring at her in disbelief.

“I don’t care! Just stay away from her!”

“Hailey is my wife, and no one is taking her place in my life or my heart!” Cole shrugged Vanessa aside and left her.

Tears streamed down her cheeks the moment he was gone. With her back against the wall, Vanessa slid down to the floor. She opened her purse, took out her phone, and with shaky hands, dialed a number.

“Mom!!!!” she cried.

“My love, what is it? Who hurt you?” Connie’s worried voice answered.

“I lost everything, Mom.” She sniffled.

“Lost what? Talk to me, sweetheart. How did the meeting go?”

“Terrible! Hailey is back.”

“Hailey? Isn’t she dead?”

“She’s back. She owns ENROL. She’s the new CEO, and she wants Cole.”

“What?”

Chapter 8

“How is that even possible?”

“I don’t know, Mom. Grandfather made her the heir, not me. She owns ENROL, she’s taking over everything. Dad couldn’t even look at her; he was so ashamed, and Cole keeps running after her.” Vanessa cried.

“I’ve worked so hard, and I don’t want to see it all wasted. This is a slap in the face. She can have the company, but I’m not losing Cole.”

“Please come home, sweetheart, and let’s talk. I’ll talk to your father. There’s probably a mistake in Grandfather’s will.”

“What if she tells Dad I beat her up and made her lose her baby?”

“Come on, sweetheart. Your dad didn’t believe her when she said she was drugged and ended up in bed with Cole. Why would he believe her now?”

“Hailey is rich now. She’ll be everyone’s favorite.”

“How rich?”

“I just said she owns ENROL.”

“You should see her, Mom. Hailey is way out of our league. Her handbag is a limited edition—almost a hundred thousand dollars. I never believed in karma, but this is starting to look like it.”

“This is unbelievable. Where did she get the money to start a company? Your allowance was five times what your father gave her. Nothing adds up,” Connie said, confused.

“She’s probably sleeping with someone who’s funding her. It doesn’t matter; I deserve her life, not her. She’s the stepdaughter; she should suffer.”

“Come home, my dear. Let’s talk properly.”

Connie heard her daughter crying.

“I don’t want to lose Cole.”

“Then make him marry you.”

Chapter 8

“I’ve tried. He’s stubborn.”

“Then try harder, baby! It would be great if you were pregnant. Then you’d be entitled to marriage and his assets.”

Vanessa sighed. “It’s so hard to get him into bed.”

“How hard can it be, Vee? You implicated your stepsister. Why is it so hard to do it for yourself? Try harder!”

“Four years is more than enough time for you and Cole to get together and have a family. I don’t know what you’ve been doing.”

“What? Are you blaming me, Ma?”

“Who knew Hailey would rise from the dead?”

Cole met Itam by the elevator.

“Sorry, boss. I had some calls.”

“Where’s Hailey?”

“She left with her boyfriend.”

“What a jerk.” Cole pressed the elevator button twice, waiting impatiently.

“What’s wrong, sir?” Itam asked, concerned.

“I’m not letting her leave me again.”

“You mean the company?”

“She’s my wife, dammit!!!”

Itam frowned. The elevator doors opened. Cole entered, and Itam followed.

Chapter 8

The elevator descended before Cole finished speaking.

“You’re married? Where? How?”

“You’re not even wearing a ring, and I don’t remember her wearing one. That’s why those in the office…”

Cole turned to Itam. “They dared to flirt with my woman?”

“Sir, Hailey isn’t just any woman. She’s the brain behind most of our projects. She’s calm and loving. No sensible man would let a good woman get away.” Itam stopped, realizing he’d gone too far.

“I’m sorry, sir. What I mean is…”

“Give me their names. Everyone who had a crush on or flirted with Hailey will be fired.”

“And if I find out you had a crush on her, I’ll kill you.”

The elevator doors opened. Cole glared at Itam before leaving.

Itam stared in shock. He’d never seen his boss so possessive. Cole’s earlier behavior now made sense.

Itam left the elevator and ran after his boss.

“Fuck!!!!” Cole cursed, seeing Hailey’s car driving away.

He got his phone and called a private investigator.

“I need every bit of dirt I can find on the owner of ENROL Enterprise! Hailey.”