My CEO Husband Hired His Ex - Chapter 4: Chapter 4

The company party was in full swing, and Marina, the new hire, was already several drinks deep—thanks to her coworkers egging her on.
The manager raised his glass with a smirk. "Marina, you just started and you're already Mr. Blake's personal assistant? Damn, that's fast. Let's toast to that!"
She hesitated, but with everyone cheering, she caved—one drink, then another, then another. Before long, she was swaying on her feet, clearly buzzed.
Lucian hadn't said a word all night, just watched her with that unreadable stare of his.
The manager turned to me, shoving a glass of wine into my hand. "Selene, you're the only one not joining in. Come on, take a shot with the new girl!"
I took the glass, but before I could even respond, Marina suddenly whirled toward me, her eyes wide and glassy with tears. "Selene, please… no more. I can't—I can't do this."
It almost sounded like she was blaming me for the drinks she'd downed.
I set the glass down without a word.
But the teasing didn't stop. Marina, now unsteady on her feet, bolted from the room, clutching her stomach.
Lucian's expression darkened instantly. He slammed his glass on the table and shot me an icy glare. "Selene, had your fun?"
The room fell dead silent. All eyes locked onto me.
"Why gang up on her like that?"
Without waiting for an answer, he stormed off.
The others shifted awkwardly. The manager sidled up to me, lowering his voice. "Selene, look… we didn't mean for it to go this far. Just trying to break the ice, you know? You don't think Mr. Blake actually believes we were following your lead to get her drunk, right? Seriously, this wasn't the plan. Sorry you got dragged into it."
I forced a tight smile. "It's fine."
In Lucian's eyes, I was just some petty, scheming woman—and there was no changing that now.
From the corner of my ear, I caught the whispers:
"That drink was weak, though. How is she that wasted?"
"Right? Feels like an act to me."
"Totally. Playing the victim. So obvious."
I tuned them out as my phone buzzed—the lawyer.
Stepping outside to take the call, I walked back in just in time to see Marina pressed against the wall, tear-streaked, with Lucian looming way too close.
"What do you want from me?"
Lucian leaned in, voice dangerously soft. "Sign the agreement. Stay with me. I'll pay you 150 grand a month."
I was about to leave when her response stopped me cold—sharp, defiant. "Not happening."
I froze. That… wasn't the reaction I expected.
Lucian smirked. "You sure about that? Remember that night? You came onto me first. And with the debt you're drowning in… really think you can outrun your creditors forever?"
Marina's face flushed with rage. She slapped him—hard. "You asshole. Is this revenge?"
"Yes. Either you're mine, or I bury your career. You'll never work in this industry again."
His tone shifted, almost pleading. "Marina, no one will ever love you like I do."
"Lucian, I won't be the other woman."
A beat of silence. Then his grin turned razor-sharp. "So you want me to divorce her? Not a chance."
I didn't stick around to hear the rest.