The Billionaire's Ex-Wife

Strong

Alison's POV.

I slammed the bag of groceries on the counter, watching as a can of chilli tuna rolled down, a hard thunk telling me that it had came into contact with the tiles beneath me. Narrowing my eyes at the can, I squatted down, grabbing it and shoving it back into the plastic bag.

I was fuming. Everything was falling back into place, but yet again he could still pull himself in, a wicked smirk on his face as he watched everything that I had worked for collapse.

As l bustled around the kitchen, returning the groceries into their respective areas, I found myself holding back my tears. My vision was blurred, and I swiped under my eyes in a futile attempt to clear them. Without warning, as if the rock restricting a dam from movement had been dislodged, the water burst from its banks. Just like that, my tears seemed to be never ending, as I released a choked sob, the bottle of milk dropping to the floor.

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- Two hours ago -

I offered Luke a grin as I closed the staff room door behind me. He returned the gesture but with less gusto. Frowning, I made my way to him, placing a hand on his bicep.

"Hey you okay?"I asked, giving him a concerned look.

"You should be asking Mrs A."he sighed, looking down.

My eyebrows furrowed and I quickly looked over the rest of the staff who too seemed to be in the same state as my best friend.

"Luke, what's going on?"I questioned, my voice rising.

He gave me a sad smile, tilting his head towards the retreating form of my boss. Mrs André's shoulders were slumped, and her dress was crumpled. Feeling my heart quicken slightly, I rushed towards the woman. A sense of dread washed over me.

Gripping her shoulder, I whipped her around, a gasp strangling within my throat. Mrs André was an old woman but her natural beauty usually covered this up, with the aid of some light makeup but today...today she looked destroyed. Like someone had reached deeper within and tore her out heart out, blood oozing from their hands as her chest ripped into shreds of meat.  Her frown lines were more prominent now as I gazed at her. Her eyes were lifeless, cheeks hollow and gaunt, complexion plain as milk and lips cracked. She looked done for. Done with life.

"M-Melissa?"

Her head raised slowly at the mention of her name. My heart squeezed as I saw the full intake of her appearance.

"Melissa, what happened?"

She shook her head, her eyes fluttering closed. Grasping her shoulder with both hands, I shook her lightly, maybe trying to shake her out of the oblivion.

"Melissa? Melissa, I need you to talk to me. Melissa!"

Yet the woman seemed unfazed, her attention somewhere behind me. Her eyes widened, and she immediately clung to my arm, whimpering. Turning on my heel, my lips pulled into a snarl as I gazed at him once again.

"What did you do to her?"I shrieked, throwing my hands up.

He frowned, his eyes flittering to the floor before meeting my gaze. Then as if he was suddenly engulfed into a new persona, he smirked at me, crossing his arms over his chest.

"You really shouldn't speak like that to your boss Miss Williams."

What? Confusion clouded my mind like a fog and I stood there trying to process his words. A small crowd of staff had circled around us, watching our exchange.

"Boss? You aren't my boss fucktard."I snapped, and nodded my head towards Mrs André,"She is."

His smirk seem to widen as he uncrossed his arms, and strode forwards,a considerable distance between us remained.

"Oh really? Why won't you ask her then Alison."

Rolling my eyes, I turned around to face the ageing woman behind me. Her shrivelled form cowered back slightly as I approached her, but the defiant flame I had set in my body seemed to ease her nerves as she took me in.

"Mrs André, care to tell this idiot that you're the boss around here."I grinned smugly, carefully watching Blake's reaction with the corner of my eye.

She opened her mouth, her hands shaking. Her wide eyes were fixed on Blake as she spoke, obvious fear and hate swimming in her brown eyes.

"H-He's the boss. He b-bought the restaurant from me l-last night."

The smug grin on my face seemed to have been slapped off, and I stood, stock still trying to process her words.

"What?"I whispered, not believing her.

She smiled sadly, looking at me with her moist eyes,"I'm sorry Alison, I needed the money."

Her nephew had been diagnosed with leukaemia quite recently. The whole family had been mourning his medical difficulty, quickly reaching out to others to spread the news. With the high rates of customers, trickle of staff and the small income the restaurant hadn't been getting much of a profit. Mrs André was suffering financially and I was betting Blake had bribed her into giving up her family restaurant for a large sum of money.

Mrs André may have cherished her restaurant but family would always come first. I must admit that I too would make the same decision. But here as I stood, I couldn't believe that now I would be working for a man I hated. A man I loathed. The very man who had tore me apart.

"I think that's enough dilly dallying, get to work people! I want those table scrubbed clean and the food made, I'll be coming into the kitchen in about half an hour to check them as well."Blake ordered, as staff quickly hurried to their destinations.

But I still stood still, unable to accept the situation I was in. This wasn't real was it? I wouldn't be working for my ex husband right? Right?

Blake strode forwards, a hand grasping my shoulder. Wanting more than every to shove him away, I swallowed that feeling not wanting to cause a scene at my workplace. I could already see the headlines.

YOUNG WORKER AT LOCAL RESTAURANT HAS GONE JACKIE CHAN ON THE WORLD WIDE FACE OF BUSINESS, BLAKE RYDER

"Alison,"he said, his voice quieting so only I could hear him,"Next time don't act like a complete idiot in front of everyone."

Shuddering as his lips ran over my ear, I glared at him before giving him a small shove. Stepping back he smirked at me, spotting my uneasiness. I had never been a fan of PDA, and I wouldn't change that for a person like him.

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It was as if fate was elated at my pitiful life. I was like some rag doll, thrown from person to person as they used mefor their advantage before tossing me to another when they had gotten fed up. But I was sick of it. Sick of being used. Toiled with. Broken. Fixed. Cracked again. No. I was done with it. I wasn't someone's toy. I was a strong willed woman who would chose her ways, no one would get in my way. Not even the man I had once loved. Because I was done with their attitude towards me.

I was stronger.

And I would never break again.