(ARIELLE''S POV)


    My restaurant, A and M, an initial for Arielle and Maverick, had finally opened its doors to the public the previous day, and today, I was hosting a meeting with potential shareholders of my restaurant. The response and turnout has been overwhelming, and I was excited to discuss the future of my business with these interested individuals.


    A number of them had arrived, and a few were on their way. The meeting wouldn''t start without them, and besides, it wasn''t yet time for the meeting, so the wait was worth it.


    The entrance door went open, and I already knew it was one of the interested individualsing in, so I braced myself and put on a smile, ready to wee whomever it was with a smile, like I had done to the others. The figure walked in, and the smile on my face faltered. I froze, eyes widening and mouth almost hanging open. What the hell in Hades was happening here? My head eximed, as I locked eyes with the neer. No way! Jared?


    Against my will, my eyes swept over him as I took in his look up close, after three years. Much had not changed, I realized. He was still as good looking and meticulous about his appearance as I remembered in the past.


    But on a closer look, I noticed weariness behind those piercing eyes, and there were fading eye bags, too. What had happened? I couldn''t help but wonder. Jared never had eye bags because he ensured to take adequate rest whenever needed. I suddenly caught myself, deciding I had no business with his eye bags or tired eyes.


    I returned my eyes to his face, avoiding his eyes, and he had a knowing smile on, that I felt like pping off the instant they appeared.


    Before my return to New York, I always knew I was going to run into him one day if I eventually did, but what I didn''t envisage was meeting him in such a way, and on such an asion. It was weird, as much as it was annoying.


    Realizing my silence since Jared arrived might seem suspicious to the other upants of the room, I looked back at them, preparing to say something, but just like me, everyone had gone silent, staring at Jared.


    Of course, how could I have forgotten? He was Jared Smith, and hemanded attention wherever he went. Unease washed over me as I wondered how he''d managed to get on the list, especially since his name wasn''t anywhere on it. But I was not going to let him interrupt or ruin things for him. This was my business, my future.


    Swiftly, I rose to my feet and turned to the other people in the room. "Um, gentlemen anddies, please excuse me."


    They nodded and I approached Jared who was still standing, the annoying smile still on his face.


    "What are you doing here?'' I asked, trying to keep my voice low.


    "I''m here for the meeting," he replied. "And hi to you, too, Arielle. It''s been a while."


    "You''re not wee here," I said, ignoring his pleasantries.


    "Why not? Last time I checked, everyone here is for the same meeting. Why am I an exception?"


    "Because you were not invited. Your name is not even on the list. Howe you got in here?"


    "My name is on the list," he said calmly. "How else did I get ess to the venue and date, or even the online ess?"


    I paused, weighing his words. He


    was right; there was only one way he


    could have gotten ess to this room, and that was because his name was on the list. Howe? Was the question, because I would never approve of him if I saw his


    name on the list. Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Then it urred to me that he might have used another name. My fists clenched on my side, as I pinned him and an angry look. The guts of him to try to get into my business through deceit? "I''m afraid, I''ll have to ask you to leave," I said, firmly.


    But he was annoyingly calm. "If I can''t be here, then no other businessman would dare make an offer."


    The room fell even more silent at his words, as the other upants of the room seemed wary and too cautious to challenge his im.


    I looked at their faces and decided


    their t


    there was no point arguing with


    Jared further. I was not going to let him ruin the meeting for me, but for now, have to let things y out his


    way until the meeting is ve


    "This is not over, I promise," I whispered to him before stepping away. And then I walked back to my seat, forcing a smile on my face.


    "Alright, so we have an additional person in our midst. We will just have to wait a little longer for others to arrive, and then we''ll begin." Everyone nodded, obviously okay with the ns.


    Jared, still smiling, walked over and took the seat close to me. I stifled an eye roll, knowing it was going to be a long day.


    I managed through the meeting with


    Jared by my side, giving my annoying smiles anytime our eyes met. His presence was frustrating and distracting, but I refused to let him get under my skin.


    As the meeting concluded, I didn''t want to see him or exchange another word with him, so I grabbed my bags, ready to leave.


    "Excuse me, Arielle," he said, rising as well.


    I turned to him, my expression stone cold. "Best is it? You''ve made your presence known, haven''t you? But know this, you''re not wee on my board." "I''m not interested in the board," he said, surprisingly.


    I cocked a brow. "Is that it? So why are you here?"


    "I''m here because I wanted to speak to you, and I had to do what I did because I know you''d never willingly give me the chance to speak to you."


    But I was unyielding, refusing to listen to him. "Leave, Jared. I don''t ever want to see your face again."


    "Arielle, please -"


    I was just about to rebuke him further when my phone buzzed, cutting me short. I red at him before turning to my phone. It was a message, a message from my chef Reba. I let out augh. "Perfect timing," I mumbled.


    "What''s going on?" Jared asked, looking at me suspiciously.


    I turned back to him, shing him a sweet smile. "Mr Smith, since you are so interested in your ex-wife''s life, why don''t you join me for a bit of entertainment?"