Tempting My Cold Husband

Chapter 3 Not Giving In

Over the course of the next week, Jessica officially launched her first project after taking over Moore Company. Moore was a well known entity in the real estate industry before its sudden collapse in recent years. Jessica was hell bent on bringing Moore back on to its rightful throne. She hardly ever left her office, very often working late in the night, dedicating her time in making improvements and optimisations. She started firing and hiring as well. She needed to ensure that there were no more moles trying to destroy her company from the inside. There was no stone unturned in her case.

Jessica understood that her focus should be on developing hotel real estate to boost Moore further. The hospitality industry was skyrocketing and she wasn't going to be left behind in that race. She cherry-picked the land in Westford and assembled a planning commission to assess its viability. She was going to plant her feet deep in her home base.

It was a hot day with gusts of dusty winds blowing at them. Jessica stayed throughout the survey and planned the next steps to ensure nothing was amiss. The sun was setting and the committee decided to wrap up for the day. Jessica had a dinner to attend to, and had to hurry to get changed. But to her utter displeasure, there was a massive traffic congestion and it looked like there wasn't going to be any kind of movement anytime soon.

"Charles, what's going on?" Jessica frowned. "We're going to run late!"

"Let me check what's going on," Charles said and got out of the car. There seemed to be a rally nearby which was why there was a traffic jam. Upon enquiry, Charles got to know what was actually happening. He also knew that Jessica wouldn't be happy hearing about it.

Charles sighed. He might as well get over it.

"There seems to be a PR event nearby which is why the jam. It should be done soon," Charles said, getting back into the car.

"But this is the city center and peak rush hour. Who got the permit to conduct a PR event here?" Jessica looked around.

"Apparently, some big businessman with a lot of contacts," Charles shrugged, hoping that they would divert from the conversation.

There were huge LED screens on the buildings around them for advertisement purposes and as they moved at a snail's pace, she saw a very familiar face on the screen. It was none other than her husband, William. He was addressing the media about a new product launch. Jessica wasn't stupid. She put two and two together and figured out the entire situation.

"Does that big businessman with a lot of contacts have anything to do with us, Charles?" She questioned as she continued staring at that screen. Only a few days ago, that very handsome face was doing unspeakable things to her.

"Well, it is William, and it seems like there is a new product launch in collaboration with the government. That explains why he can have this entire event right in the dead center of the city. Also, he is one of the very few people here at Westford with the power to create such a huge sensation," Charles explained.

"Power of the Patel family, huh," Jessica mused. The very power she intends to use to rise to the place where she belongs.

Finally after almost half an hour, the traffic seemed to be taken care of and the roads started clearing up. That clearly meant that the event that William was hosting was finally over and that he would be gone from the city center. Charles drove into the hotel's parking lot, but just around the corner, a speeding car swerved by leaving a huge dent in their car.

Cursing under his breath, Charles quickly got out to inspect the car and have a word with that rash driver. But when he walked around the car and took a good look at the other car's license plate, realization dawned on him and he paled significantly. This was no ordinary car.

66666 on the license plate meant the Patel family.

An angry driver got out of the extremely privileged car and fumed at Charles.

"Charles, can we deal with this quickly?" Jessica asked, tapping her foot impatiently. She didn't understand why they had to waste their time in the parking lot when it wasn't even their fault.

Charles retreated from the raging driver and bent down to get within Jessica's earshot. "Jessica, um, we seem to have a small problem here."

"What is it? You know that we don't have enough time, right?"

"Um, yes. But we seem to have hit William's car just now," he explained, his face filled with worry.

Out of all the people in the city, she couldn't believe that she ran into William directly. Like, literally ran into his car directly.

The other car's driver came towards them seething in anger and knocked on the car to get their attention.

Jessica got out of the car gracefully and looked up at the man. Maybe she can talk this out with him. Or pay herself out of the situation.

"We need to get going quickly. Let Charles know if you need any compensation. We'll take care of it," she said, trying to get back into the car.

"It's not about the money. Don't you think the Patels have enough?" The man scoffed. "It is this disrespectful attitude…" he said and Jessica interrupted him.

"I do know that they have money. In fact, they only ever seem to have money. Not a heart. Or a brain in this matter," she rolled her eyes.

The driver's phone rang and upon seeing the name flash on his screen, he retreated to his car quickly and spoke to someone, probably William, inside it.

"We're already late, Charles. We can't be held up this way," Jessica complained and by then the arrogant driver returned.

"Mr William would want you to come see him," he said.

The only thought that occurred in her head was simply a resounding no. She wasn't ready to meet William. For the past week he had been hounding her to sign the divorce papers that he had been sending both to her house and her office. In fact, when she kept refusing, he took time out of his extremely busy schedule to make time to call her, asking her to sign the papers and get out of his life. But she wasn't going to budge at all. All these years of stepping down on her had made her determined to use their family, their name and possibly their wealth too. She was never going to be divorced with him. She was going to make them pay.

"He wants to see me? Sure!" She said exasperated with him. The driver clearly didn't know about William and his lawfully wedded wife, a.k.a. hers truly. Disrespect not only ran in the Patel family, but also in all their employees. But didn't William not want to do anything with her? So why was he interested in seeing her again?

Maybe his giant ego was hurt because of their last conversation.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of your call, William?" Jessica smirked.

"Enough is enough, Jessica. Sign the papers and let's get it over with. We don't have to do this," he growled in subdued anger.

"You don't want to do this. But surely I do," Jessica shrugged casually.

"I can make your life a living hell, I can promise you that if you don't agree to sign the papers." He seemed like he was going to burst at any moment.

A bellowing laughter erupted from Jessica. "I'm already living in hell, Mr Patel. I don't think you can make this any worse for me. Anyway, I'm not signing the papers and I had a great time in your suite. Looking forward to meeting you again." With that, she hung up on him.

Jessica walked to William's car with a strut and the driver opened the door for her.

"You want me to get in?" She raised her eyebrows at him and upon meeting with no reply, he sighed and got in.

William was seated inside, looking like he was chiseled by God himself. He was wearing a black shirt with gray trousers, a broody look on his face which somehow made him much more enticing.

Jessica smirked at the man in front of her, "Did you miss me?" She brushed her finger on his palm and he tensed up at her touch.

"Peter, start the car," William barked at his driver, completely ignoring her advances.

Peter jumped back from his train of thought and turned on the ignition. He had often heard rumors that spoke about William's wife, but he never thought that it was true. But what if the woman behind him was the one that everyone is talking about? Could she be his wife?

"Sign the papers, Jessica," William finally spoke after a long time.

"We've already been through this, William. I am sure you know what my answer is."

"What do you want in return?" William finally got down to business.

"There's only one thing I truly ever wanted from you, but I don't think that you can give it to me ever. So no, I'm still not doing this," Jessica looked out of the car window. It seemed like they were almost at the outskirts of the city.

"What is it?" William asked. "There's nothing that I can't give you."

"I want a loving husband, William, a family. Someone that I can come home to and fall in love all over again. I thought that you'd be the one. But you pushed me away, saw my life crumble and watched me as I wasted away. What did I ever do to deserve this? I didn't wish for my life to go this way and I am not going to allow it. I've already been married to you for the past 2 years and I intend to be for the upcoming ones."

William narrowed his eyes on her. This was the first time he heard her speak about her feelings. So that's what she felt? She needed someone to love? But why would she still want to be with him if he never was going to love her back? She definitely wasn't the same broken woman that he remembered her to be. She recently got out of the psychiatric ward and even took over the reins of Moore Company. What was she planning to do with him? Unless she wants to use him for his money and fame.

"Stay married and do what? Use me for my money and connections? I'll never let that happen!" He growled. "I don't want a wife as scheming as you! I'll ask you this once again. Sign the papers and we don't have to see each other ever again."

"Never. Not until I die," she looked at him in defiance. Something tugged at William's heart when he looked at her, but he shrugged off the feeling.

"Then I'll torture you to death."

"I'll wait," Jessica smirked at him.

"Stop the car!" William barked. "Get out," he sneered at her.

Jessica calmly got out of the car and they sped away. She was left at a highway in the middle of nowhere. "William, you bastard," she muttered under her breath as she fished for her phone in her purse.

She immediately dialed Charles checking in on her dinner situation. Charles respectfully canceled on her behalf and she was grateful about that. She hung up and the next name that flashed on her screen took her by surprise.

It was her mother in law, William's mother.

"What the hell!" Jessica cursed out.