Wooing My Ex-wife Again Novel by Natalie Winter

Anastasia

I nodded and took Lea towards one of the seating arrangements in a corner. My gaze flicked to the entrance that was partially open.

I could see a few women still gushing over and talking excitedly to Julian who was smiling politely at them.

Molly took to the mike that was placed in front of the dias and made a small announcement inviting all the guests to come in.

The room started to fill in as everybody took a seat. There was no sign of Julian when I looked back again.

I scanned the room and saw him entering the hall at last, some lady talking to him.

I turned my attention to the principal, a short and slightly chubby man looking over his forties. He had a balding patch on his head that he tried to hide with his hair oiled and combed down to cover it.

He coughed delicately and I heard hurried footsteps behind me as Julian pulled one of the chairs towards himself and mumbled.

“Sorry, got stuck”

“Are you here to accompany Lea or flirt with other women?” I asked and he had the decency to look guilty.

“I apologized already,” He said with a small frown as I continued.

“If you had to go talk to other women why even promise Lea that you would be with her throughout the event? She was waiting for you…”

This habit of his was annoying. He would start doing something and then suddenly start something different altogether, forgetting what he was doing initially. I would remind him to get back to his original task frequently.

Julian placed a hand on his heart, “I truly am sorry. But you saw those people. They just wouldn’t let me walk away. Plus, that woman was being mean to you”

I pushed my hair behind my car and replied, “You are not here to spread rumors, Julian. She might have been mean to me but that does not mean you tell others that I am your wife.”

I spoke, lowering my voice at the last words and glancing at Lea who had grabbed the crayons and paper on the desk in front of us and started. drawing something.

“Why not?” Julian countered and I hissed. “Because I am not your wife. I your ex–wife, if you want to get technical. But please know that this is just a one–time event. You are not going to be around for Lea every time so stop. behaving otherwise.”

Julian had opened his mouth to say something but closed it when the principal began his speech again.

“Welcome parents and children of this prestigious school, along with the imminent guests who have graced us with your presence. I hope you will find the evening entertaining and hopefully gift us with wonderful donations to make this school an ideal place for your child and to learn and flourish.”

He then listed out the things he planned to do in the coming year and his vision for the next 5 years, the facilities he wished to provide all the students. and more. However, what caught my attention was the concept of special studios/hubs catering to various fields such as science, arts, agriculture and such.

I began to listen attentively and imagined Lea getting spoilt for choice. The principal’s gaze roamed through the crowd once and he saw all the anxious faces staring back at him so he then added,

“Well let me just show you instead of speaking for hours altogether”

He grabbed a small remote from the dias and turned behind him before. pushing a button. A huge white screen began to roll down followed by curtains all around the hall that began to pull down as well.

Another push of a button pulled a projector down from the ceiling and I heard the kids gasp in wonder.

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The principal looked very pleased with himself as he clicked a few mo buttons and a presentation began.

I must say it was truly futuristic and a lot of thought had been put for the student’s growth and overall development.

“Psst” somebody whispered from behind and I looked back to see a small kid holding a small piece of paper in his hand.

I only jerked my chin up to ask what he wanted but he outstretched his hand and dropped it in my lap before running away.

Confused. I looked at the paper and raised my head up again but he had disappeared in the crowd.

I slowly opened the folded piece of paper to read something hastily. scribbled on it.

“Are you looking for a lawyer to help you in your separation with Mr. Blackstone?”

I could not believe the words I was reading. Somebody had the nerve to ask for details about my personal life in the middle of a school event.

I turned back to find who it must be who had sent the note but found more than a few faces staring curiously at me.

I took that note and crumpled it before tossing it down on the floor much to the dismay of the onlookers, eagerly waiting for my reaction.

Julian noticed me looking at the back and whispered, “Pay attention, will you? This is important.”

The audacity of this man!

I was not sure if he saw the note or the kid but I was in this mess only because of him.

I shot him a glare but he had already moved his attention back to the presentation. It continued for 10 more minutes in which the principal explained what all he planned to do and said that he was open to questions. I saw excited whispers among the guests and wondered if anybody would be willing to grant huge donations because his plans did look costly.

One of the guests seated at the very front raised a hand.

A staff member hurriedly ran towards the guest to hold out a mike for them. while principal Kale, which was his name that I learned later, walked back to the dias to stand in front of his mike.

“Yes, Mrs. Vitali?” He asked.

Oh. So he knew that old hag as well. She was probably an influential business woman in this city.

“I want to know if there are special conditions for a child to get into this special program for bright kids that you just explained.”

When Principal Kale threw her a confused look, she elaborated, “I mean

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surely you would pick only the brightest minds and kids of the elites, not just any random kid, right?”

Her words led to a few confused gasps which her husband, Robert Vitali, quickly diffused by saying.

“She meant she would like to know what is the eligibility criteria for a student to get accepted in the hubs you just explained.”

“Oh, well,” Principal Kale scratched his head, “Not much to begin with. We just need kids with a high score who are good in not just academics but sports and other activities as well. Maybe, we look at their overall. personality not just grades or the marks they secure in the tests.”

His answer seemed to pacify a few parents and I looked at Lea who was still busy drawing. She had drawn this very ball with chairs and decorations and balloons.

I could sense that she was more artistic than academic and I found no fault with that. If she wanted to be a painter or any artist, I would be more than happy to help her pursue her dreams.

It looked like the school would be a good place for her to grow and excel. Now, I had to ensure she got into the art hub.

“But…that is a very general statement as of now. The exact parameters and criteria will be updated once we have the funding to bring this project to life.”

Principal Kale added and Mrs. Vitali’s hand shot up again.

“Would the guests you receive funding from have certain rights in the decision making process? If I am investing my money in this, I need to be updated on the decisions and have some control over what goes on here.” She explained with a sweet smile and Principal Kale scratched his temple. before answering, “Well yeah, we will definitely keep the investors‘ opinion in mind.”

Mrs. Vitali whispered something in her husband’s ears while she shot me at look of contempt. Apparently, she was still pissed off with me.

To hell with her.