The Ex-Wife They Begged To Keep - Chapter 59: Chapter 59

Erika could only watch helplessly as Jacob walked toward Serena. Suddenly, a surge of jealousy flared up in her chest.
She grabbed Jacob's arm and shrieked. "Jacob, what the hell are you doing? Chasing her right in front of me? Who do you think I am?"
"We're done, Erika. Quit your nonsense." Jacob brusquely pulled his arm away.
Erika glared and snapped, "Done? How dare you just decide it's over like that?"
Jacob snapped, "Enough. Erika, you have been desperately throwing yourself at me. Don't blame me for your one-sided fantasy."
Erika's hands trembled as she clung desperately to Jacob's sleeve, her voice choked with tears. "I know I messed up, but I really love you. Please, don't leave me. I'll do anything. Just don't go."
"I'm fucking done with you. Get lost," Jacob snapped.
He impatiently shook off Erika's hand with such force that she staggered back several steps. Her high heel twisted beneath her, sending her sprawling onto the floor in an undignified heap.
All around them, coworkers stopped mid-task, riveted by the unfolding drama between the three.
"Oh my god, this is some next-level soap-opera love triangle. Who knew we'd get front-row seats to this drama in our own office?"
"Jacob is such a scumbag. He's two-timing both women and acts so unapologetic about it. That's just outrageous."
"Look at Serena's aloof demeanor. She clearly wants nothing to do with this mess. You can tell she's not the least bit interested in Jacob."
"Honestly speaking, the moment she tossed Jacob's roses into the trash, I thought she looked totally badass."
Serena watched the farce coldly, disgust welling up inside her. 'What a waste of time. I want nothing to do with these two,' she thought.
Serena stood up, coolly gathering the scattered documents on the desk before slipping them into a folder.
Jacob turned around, beaming as he looked at Serena. "Ms. Gray, let me clarify. There's absolutely nothing between her and me anymore."
"Your breakup is none of my business," she said coolly.
"How about I pick you up after work tonight for dinner?" Jacob offered.
"Not interested," Serena icily dismissed him. She stepped around him and headed straight for the office door.
Erika stood rooted to the spot, her face ashen with rage as she glared daggers at Serena's retreating figure. 'She actually dares to steal my boyfriend,' she seethed.
In the days that followed, Jacob launched an obsessive pursuit of Serena.
Every morning, Serena would find fresh flowers waiting on her desk.
Serena was unfazed by Jacob's advances, dismissing him outright every time.
That evening, the moment Serena stepped out of the office building, she spotted Jacob waiting for her. Her brows furrowed instinctively.
She tightened her grip on her bag strap, cursing him inwardly, and turned her head, pretending not to notice him.
After hesitating briefly, she quickly picked up her pace and slipped out through a side exit near the main entrance.
Jacob noticed Serena trying to dodge him and quickly caught up to her. He called out, "Hey, Ms. Gray, just got off work? How about I give you a lift home?"
"Mr. Banks, I've told you multiple times. I'm not interested in you. Stop harassing me," Serena snapped.
"Why must you be so distant?" Jacob pressed, his voice dripping with false sincerity. "Just give me a chance, and let me take care of you."
With that, he thrust the bouquet of roses toward Serena, his gaze full of expectation.
Serena didn't take it. She said coldly, "Mr. Banks, this is my final warning. Stop harassing me."
Jacob's smile froze. He snapped, "Serena, don't be stupid. Do you even know who I am? There are tons of women dying to get with me, and you've got the nerve to turn me down again and again?"
"Is that so? Well, what an honor. But getting into your bed is the last thing I'd ever want," Serena sneered.
"Don't test my patience," Jacob snarled.
"Mr. Banks, if you continue this harassment, I will call the police," Serena said coldly. Looking at the furious, desperate man before her, she felt a wave of visceral disgust that made her skin crawl.
Serena took a step back to put distance between them, then turned on her heel and strode off.
Jacob stood rooted to the spot, his gaze fixed on Serena's retreating figure, his face darkening menacingly. "That damn woman."
Jacob hurled the bouquet of roses to the ground with all his might. "If I can't have her, no one else will either," he muttered through gritted teeth.
The next day, dressed in a sharp suit, Jacob marched straight into Serena's company and headed directly for the manager's office.
"Max, I have a project that requires a designer." With that, Jacob slammed a document folder down onto the manager's desk.
Max took the document folder, skimmed through the materials inside, and nodded. "No problem, Mr. Banks. I can arrange for one of our top designers to work with you right away."
"Don't bother with all that. I'm assigning Serena to my project," Jacob said.
Hearing Jacob's words, Max inwardly groaned.
The office had been buzzing with rumors about Jacob pursuing Serena lately, and he'd certainly heard them.
It was obvious Jacob had ulterior motives. His real target was still Serena.
Max's face tightened with discomfort as he lowered his head, pretending to carefully examine the documents. "Mr. Banks, Serena is currently handling multiple projects and likely won't have the bandwidth."
"I don't care how busy she is. I want her, and only her, on my project." Jacob snapped, cutting Max off. "I'll pay double. Get her here immediately."
Max frowned wearily, sighed helplessly, then forced a professional smile and said, "Mr. Banks, since you're so insistent, I'll do my best to accommodate.
"Serena is currently swamped with work, but as soon as her workload lightens, I'll arrange for her to handle your project right away."
"See that you do," said Jacob.
Max nodded frantically, beads of cold sweat breaking out on his forehead as he kept assuring. "I'll get right on it."
After a tense silence, Jacob turned on his heel and stormed out of the office, leaving Max standing there, his face twisted in dismay.
Max turned stiffly, trudged over to his desk, and sank exhaustedly into his executive chair, utterly drained. He rubbed his temples, trying to ease the tension, then picked up the intercom.
He said wearily, "Notify Serena to come to my office immediately."
Moments later, Serena knocked and entered. "Max, you wanted to see me?"
"Serena, come sit down. About Jacob? What's going on between you two?" Max asked.
Serena paused for a split second, then realized what Max was implying. She couldn't believe Jacob was this relentless. He'd actually gone so far as to involve Max.
"Max, I want to clarify that there's no personal relationship between Jacob and me. He's been bothering me," Serena relied.
"Mr. Banks was just here. He specifically demanded that you take charge of his project," Max said.
"Max, my schedule is fully booked with current projects. I don't wish to take on his assignment," Serena rejected.
"Lately, rumors about you and him have been spreading like wildfire in the company, causing some negative impacts. I hope you can handle this matter properly and prevent it from escalating further," Max reminded.
"I understand, Max. I'll handle this appropriately," Serena promised.
Serena walked out of the manager's office. Unconsciously, her steps slowed as she stared blankly down the deserted hallway ahead, feeling utterly drained.
Not only was she juggling a crushing workload, but she also had to constantly fend off Jacob's relentless harassment.
'It has completely thrown my life into disarray, leaving me gasping for air. I need to find a way to put an end to Jacob's harassment for good,' Serena thought.