Once Invisible, Now Irreplaceable

delay the divorce. As if a face-to-face discussio

ightly, his t

Ashcroft family's lawyers. Let's se

ing the issue, then moved

, is expecting you at the golf course this af

his tie with practiced,

t's

sed in elegant designer wear, they radiated wealth and status. She s

caller ID flashed the

r father Dean's voice

a divorce all of a sudden? Did you two have a

pass before ans

years-ever since the day we got married.

unded f

a rough patch. We're about to launch a new round of financing. If you sep

a's voice cut through, sh

ily. If she'd actually made a little effort, Ethan wouldn't be sending

or a moment before res

t easy for a divorced woman to start over. We can g

e really thinking of her... or only of the co

have the he

used to take her everywhere, terrified of letting her out

as for his treatment. H

the call

r family, it meant the lawyers' negotiations had hit

ered to spare a single g

his mind, waiting around he

r, she bumped her knee hard against the doorframe, wincing at th

allegos, the son of the p

been so buried in another project lately

appointment with the studio. He was currently at a local

, put the car in gear, and

kirts of the city-a sprawling, pristine

woman stepped forward to greet

leasure to meet you

lawless, pra

er into a high-e

and caddies for maintenance reasons. I've pr

" Elena said. "B

u can change in here. They

for all sorts of activities just to secure a contract

t and a matching headband. Elena pulled her hair back into a sle

e. Her gaze landed on a group of men near the tee,

l executives, he radiated

a fr

was

n the open. There was

nd vibrant. The short skirt left her long legs completely bare, drawin

cond. Then, without a flicker of recognition, he l

ined anchored on Ethan. The executives hovering around him wore masks of flawless politeness, jockeying for his attention without daring to overstep. Impecc

ip tightening on her golf club, before tu

ng. With no apparent effort, the ball sailed straight toward the hole. S

ing, Mrs. Ashcroft, " he called out w

gos. I'm just here to help

acent fairway, making room for a VIP. Dirk caught Elena

et up a game for them today. The deal they're t

s who loved to flex their wealth. She

he said smoothly. "Two hundred billion is certainly impressive, but for a ma

up with a hi

first to partner with Ethan since his return

waves, " Elena replied, keepi

green, taking a swig from a

at he might already be marr

her grip on her club. "He doesn'

that wouldn't hide his wife... un

on of a second before she followed

rha

g on the sway of her ponytail and t

round for everyone to see, " Dirk said, his voice

ed a break. Elena opened her mouth to steer the conversati

d first. I'm sweatin

the best time to pit

g and was grabbing her bag to leave when t

women's locker room. No one sh

p and froze.

slung low around his waist. His body was soft and out of shape, bearing the

ng place, " she said sharply. "T

s gaze raking over he

loser. "I've asked you out half a dozen times, and you always shot me down. But to

k a hard

hat you'