Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 28341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 142(@200wpm)___ 113(@250wpm)___ 94(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 142(@200wpm)___ 113(@250wpm)___ 94(@300wpm)
The words are burning into my retinas. My hands drop the papers. I was just so close to moving on, to starting fresh. To finding myself again. Of course, life has to throw me right back into the trenches.
“What is it?” Hanna questions, gathering the papers on the ground.
“She’s suing me,” I breathe.
“Obviously,” Hanna huffs, shuffling through the papers to order them. “But for what?”
“Fifty percent of my salary for alimony,” I get out. However, my mind is already inching toward disassociation to protect myself from the anger and pain that’s settling in just as fast. “Or thirty percent of the shop.”
“You’re fucking kidding me!” Hanna screams, leaping to her feet. “That ungrateful, entitled--argh! How can she do this to you?! I will die before she gets her grubby little hands on our business, Manny. Or your income, for that matter! It’s been a whole year, clearly she’s doing fine. Besides, she never fully depended on you, did she? She’s up to something, I can smell it from here. I swear… I’m going to call Malaki. He’s going to need to sort this right fucking now. Don’t you worry. God! I can’t believe her!”
Malaki is our cousin on our mother’s side. He’s just a few years older than me and he’s our lawyer; even represented me in the divorce even though his specification is in business law. Hanna is pacing around, stomping, ranting, and raving. I’m… nothing, again. I’m numb. I’m silently angry, but it’s a distant feeling. Like standing upwind from a raging fire.
Damnit.
Chapter Seven
Wren
Six weeks until Caroline’s big day. It's consuming my life so much that you would think I'm the one getting married. Caterers are calling me at work to workout allergy specifications and side pairings, the event coordinator at the venue is blowing me up in hopes of working out an iron clad itinerary, and the wedding planner— who is absolutely useless since I'm doing everything— is calling me to ask the silliest and most inconsequential questions I’ve ever heard. The only reason I haven’t fired her on Caroline’s behalf is because it’s one of her friends who is trying to start a business. And I don’t have the heart to tell her that she’s hands down one of the most incompetent people I’ve ever met. Not only because she’s sweet as can be, but because even though it’s true, I know it would be too harsh and would be more of an outlet for my own frustration at that point.
By the time I'm leaving work early, I have been juggling both the wedding and my job since five in the morning. And yet, I don’t even feel the exhaustion. My mind, body, and soul is completely and utterly stimulated by the thought of the dress fitting with Emanuel. We haven’t talked since that night, but I miraculously haven’t overthought it. We hadn’t personally exchanged numbers and our conversation had left us on the same page. I’m simply ecstatic to have more time with him. Somehow, someway, I hope we get some alone time. After the week I’ve had, I could really use the stress relief.
Just the thought of his hands and mouth on me again is enough to send shivers up my spine.
Caroline meets me outside of the shop, looking as well-rested and giddy as ever. “I can’t believe we are so close!” she exclaims, initiating a sort of jumping-hug that I’m not totally in the mood for. But who am I to rain on her parade?
“I know, I can’t wait,” I breathe. Even though I’m excited to see her big day go off without a hitch, I’m also just ready for it to be over.
After another excitable exchange, we head into the shop. Justine, the front desk clerk, greets us again and guides us right to the fitting area. Just walking to the area makes my skin cover in goosebumps. Flashes of his smoldering eyes, the sounds of shallow breathing, and the feel of his hands gripping me play across my mind. It’s awkward, yet thrilling to think about such things in public. And to know they took place right here.
A heat comes over my cheeks as I sit on the couch. I don’t know what’s come over me. While I don’t think I quite meet the criteria for behaving ‘like a schoolgirl’, I know that I’ve been different since. I’m a little more distracted, a little more chipper, and having an easier time not feeling so overwhelmed. Life isn’t brand new, but it has a hint of excitement to help keep me going.
Emanuel emerges from his office, the same cold and professional expression on his face he had on the last time we were here. I have to keep myself from emoting anything other than a pleasant, polite smile. “Shall we start?” he asks Caroline, not so much as glancing my way.