Winning Back His Ex's Wife's Broken Heart by Hayley

Chapter 126 Richard pov.

Sarah looked adorable as she tried to take charge at the office, even if the chaos around her was anything but adorable.

She had this determined look on her face, like she was ready to jump back in and start running the place. But the reality was, she wasn't quite back to full strength yet, and it showed.

I watched from the doorway as she stood by Zoe's desk, her arms crossed in that "I'm serious now" way she always did when she was ready to get down to business.

Zoe was sitting in her usual spot, cool as ever, like she'd been holding down the fort for years-and technically, she had.

Sarah tapped her foot as Zoe scrolled through something on her computer. "Zoe," Sarah said, "we need to go over the quarterly reports. I haven't seen them yet." Zoe didn't even look up, just clicking away on the keyboard. "I've already handled them. They're in the folder you asked for," she said smoothly, barely blinking. "But we can go over them now if you want." I could tell Sarah wasn't happy with that. She didn't like the idea of someone else making decisions for her, even though Zoe had been doing an excellent job.

Sarah had always been a little control freaky, and I found it both endearing and a little frustrating at times. "No, I mean, we should sit down and really go over everything," Sarah said, leaning over Zoe's shoulder. "I want to make sure I'm... you know, in the loop." Zoe finally looked up, giving her a dry look. "Sarah, you were literally in the loop a few days ago. I've been handling everything fine. Trust me, you don't need to micromanage right now." I tried not to laugh as I stood back, watching them bicker in their quiet, professional way. It was obvious Sarah wasn't ready to fully let go of control, and it was equally obvious Zoe wasn't going to budge.

I leaned against the doorframe, feeling a smile tug at the corner of my mouth. It was funny to watch them, but I also knew Sarah was just trying to jump back in as though nothing had changed.

The reality was, she had to take a step back and let Zoe run things. I knew that, but Sarah? She was always a little harder on herself.

"You're both right," I chimed in, stepping into the room. "Maybe we should schedule stto go over the reports... after lunch, of course. The office isn't going anywhere." Sarah turned to me, and I saw the flicker of irritation in her eyes, but it melted away when she sawsmiling. "I don't want to be that boss," she said quietly, "but I feel like I'm losing touch with everything. I've been away too long." "You haven't been away long enough," I said gently. "It's okay to let Zoe handle the day-to-day. You can cback when you're ready, but you don't have to rush it." Sarah didn't respond right away, but I saw her shoulders relax. Zoe, however, shota quick glance before turning back to her work, and I could tell she appreciated the support.

Lunch was supposed to be a break from work, but even at the table, I could feel the tension between Sarah and Zoe.

They were sitting across from each other at a small cafe, the noise of the city swirling around us. The air was warm, but the heat didn't seem to bother anyone.

"So, how's everything going with the new projects?" Sarah asked, picking at her salad.

Zoe sighed, stirring her coffee. "They're moving along. We're waiting for approval on the new marketing campaign, and I've got a few meetings lined up for the next week." "I don't know. We need to speed things up," Sarah said, furrowing her brow. "The company can't keep waiting for things to get done. We need to take action." I could see Zoe's patience wearing thin. "We've been moving fast, Sarah. I've been making decisions, and the staff's been handling things. You don't have to worry about the little stuff. Focus on the bigger picture." Sarah's face tightened. "I don't want to not worry about the little stuff. I want to be involved in everything." "Sarah, you don't have to do everything," Zoe replied, her voice steady. "Trust me, I've got it. Lethandle the little stuff, and you take care of the big things. You've got a lot on your plate already." I watched them, unsure whether to step in. Their back-and-forth had beca bit of a dance-Sarah pushing and Zoe holding firm.

It was clear Sarah didn't like feeling out of control, but Zoe had stepped up to fill the gaps Sarah left when she stepped back from the company.

Trying to lighten the mood, I leaned in with a grin. "Alright, alright. We'll make a deal. You both can run the company, and I'll turn the office into a vacation resort. That way, everyone wins." Zoe shota raised eyebrow, and Sarah laughed, despite herself. "A vacation resort?" Sarah repeated, shaking her head. "Is that really your solution?" "I mean, think about it," I continued, leaning back in my chair. "Yoga sessions in the morning, margaritas by noon, and I'll even hire a band to play in the corner. Who wouldn't want to work at a place like that?" Zoe finally cracked a smile. "Margaritas in the middle of the day? I don't think that's what the staff needs."

"Oh, but you'd be surprised," I said with a wink. "A little relaxation goes a long way in boosting productivity.

Sarah smiled, her tension easing a little. "Okay, maybe that's not such a bad idea. But I'll leave the margaritas to you." "Deal," I said, raising my glass in a mock toast.

Later, after lunch, we found a quiet spot outside the cafe. Sarah seemed a little more at ease, but I could tell her mind was still racing with work stuff. She hadn't fully let go yet, and I was starting to get concerned. "Sarah," I said gently, "I know you're worried about the company, but you need to remember why we're here. This trip isn't just about checking in and taking control again. It's about relaxing, about not stressing." She looked at me, her eyes a little tired. "I know. I just... I don't want to let Zoe do everything. It feels like I'm abandoning it all."

"You're not abandoning it," I said softly, taking her hand. "You've built this company from the ground up. But right now, you need to focus on you. Your health, the baby, all of it. Let Zoe do her thing. She's more than capable." "I know she is," she admitted quietly. "But I still feel like I should be doing more." I shook my head. "You are doing more. You're taking care of yourself. That's the most important thing right now. We're not here to add stress, we're here to relieve it." Her shoulders slumped as she sighed. "I just feel so guilty sometimes, you know? Like I should be doing more. Like I should be back in charge." "You're already in charge," I said firmly, squeezing her hand. "But it's okay to step back when you need to. You don't have to do everything. That's why you've got a great team around you." She gavea small smile, but there was still doubt in her eyes. "I know. I'll try." "Good," I said, pulling her closer for a hug. "Now, let's take this one day at a time, okay?" She nodded, her head resting against my chest. "Okay."