“You really had to do this to me, didn’t you?” Melinda complains as they pick up another stick to examine. “You couldn’t have used protection before you got the divorce?”
“Babe, it’s going to be fine because we’re going to be divorced soon! Esme—that fucking stupid woman—she’s got no idea about us! Besides, she’s got significantly more savings than I do, and soon, we’re going to inherit a fortune!”
“You better hope so, dumbass,” Melinda groans as she turns the pink box over in her hands. “This is stressing me out.”
“Look, we’ll inherit the money, we’ll be rich, and you and I will be together. You should get pregnant immediately, unlike Esme. She can’t even have kids!”
I feel my heart turn cold, my skin burns, and my anger blinds me. This bastard! This whole time, I thought our main issue was over not having children!
My fingers strain around the bottles I hold, and a million different things cross my mind to screech at these two people; people I trusted!
This entire marriage has never hindered kids; it’s only ever been for Ryan to divorce me and take my money! That spineless, pathetic piece of shit.
“Melinda! What the fuck?” I screech at the two, giving away my position. “I can’t believe you got into bed with him!”
The two of them turn to look at me, eyebrows raised, and, at least in my cousin’s face, a slight hint of fear.
“What are you doing here?” Ryan demands.
“Hearing you plan your new life.” I glower at my soon-to-be ex-husband. “You really think I’m this stupid?”
“Oh no, I don’t think it, I know it!” Ryan shoots back.
I look straight at my cousin, my eyes falling into slits as I speak the truth. “I don’t have children. No. But maybe that’s because this man’s got useless sperm.”
I jab a finger in Ryan’s direction. “I won’t let you parasites take a single penny from me! This is fucking war.”
I stomp out of the pharmacy with a new purpose and officially wide awake. I’m not letting this ship go down. Just the opposite: I’m going to ruin their lives.
I’m getting a lawyer, gathering all the evidence, and I’m taking them down every peg possible.
But first, I need to move the hell out of this place. The thought of Ryan and Melinda fucking in my bed makes me want to vomit.
I spend the night putting together what I can find, refusing to let sleep take me away from my work.
Once the sun comes up, I start chugging coffee, heading into the office to ask if any of my colleagues know anything about nearby rental options.
I let myself get lost in my job and rental searches, frantic as I let the day whiz by me. It’s not until I stop for a moment in the daze of anger and work that I realize two things:
The first one is that I told Anderson I needed time off, and I still came into the office today.
The second one is that it’s almost five, and I have two messages from my boss asking me to come to his office when I have a moment.
“Shit!” I whisper. I stand up abruptly, grab my phone, and throw it into my pocket, rushing down the hall to Anderson’s office. God, this is going to look really weird, isn’t it?
I knock on the door and straighten myself out, but in my head, I know I’m going to look like a mess.
“Come in,” I hear Anderson call, and I slowly open the door.
“Hi,” I say shyly, moving forward into the room.
“Ah, Esme,” he smiles. He gestures at me. “Come in, close the door behind you.”
Oh God, am I being fired?
“I’m sorry, sir, I didn’t see your messages until just now. I was busy with my work.”
He nods but tells me to sit down. “No problem, I just wanted to discuss something with you.”
The moment my body touches the soft cushion of the chair, I’m quick to explain. “I completely forgot that I’d asked for time off, and then I didn’t even remember until I read your messages! I’m so sorry for—”
He holds up a hand to stop me, and I listen, confused. “That’s not why I called you in here.”
“Oh,” I say, shrinking into the chair. If I could just disappear into thin air right now, that’d be wonderful.
“I did, however, want to ask you if you’re alright. You do seem a bit…tense.”
I need the power of invisibility right about now.
“Yes,” I lie.
“And the conversations around the office about you looking for rental options?”
Shit, I’ve been caught.
“Are you looking for a place, Esme?” He asks again.
He must have listened in on one of those conversations because I only spoke to a few people, and they were relatively short ones.
“I’m sorry, really, I hope you can understand that this has been a difficult time for me. I’m sorry for discussing personal matters during work hours.”
He raises his hands to me to calm me.
“Esme, take a breath. It’s fine; we have a comprehensive employee care system.” Anderson gives me a deep look, seemingly looking for something. “Considering your…special situation, the company has some housing allowances for employees.”
I sit up straighter. “Really?”
The man nods. “Yes.”
I let a long sigh out. “Oh, wow, okay, thank you, sir. And thank you for not telling anyone about the divorce. I haven’t told anyone, and I’m not exactly ready for the entire thing to go public.”
He nods again. “That’s tough, and I understand.”
I feel compelled to apologize again; this information on the housing is incredibly helpful, and I’m so sleep-deprived that it actually seems like a good idea to shake his hand and give him a hug.
Get your shit together, Esme.
His small smile and that nod, however, make me feel a special spark ripple through me. Finally, someone understands and has given me the best encouragement I’ve received yet.
I’m so grateful for his kindness, but a few tears prickle the corners of my eyes. Something about his stature and genuine concern for my well-being and home life makes me feel closer to Anderson than to my own friends.
“I appreciate the information and for everything you’ve done for me, sir.”
“My best employee deserves to know that she is a valuable member to the team. If you’re not in top fighting shape, then we all lose, correct?”
I nod vigorously. “Of course, yes.”
“Very well. Go speak to Mrs. Halloway on the third floor about your housing request, and she should be able to get everything sorted out for you today. Hurry, though, she’ll be leaving any minute.”
I jump up, and without really thinking, I get moving, calling over my shoulder my appreciation once more.
As I rush down the stairs, I remind myself that Anderson is also divorced. He’s even got two little girls to take care of. Maybe, this is a shared sympathy?
He must know the torture I’ve been enduring since Ryan’s heinous words last night. A divorce is a painful process.
I believe, however, that my situation is guaranteed worse than anyone will know.
I manage to catch Mrs. Halloway as she’s putting her papers together to leave. She is kind enough to sit with me for twenty minutes after five as we sign papers, and I’m given the keys to a new apartment to live in.
I call Annie and Lily in hopes the two women can help me move out tonight. The sooner I’m out of this place, the better.
As we’re putting my things into boxes as quickly as possible, the girls prod me with a bunch of questions.
Clearly, everything is moving quickly to them.
“You said this is company-provided housing?” Annie asks, incredulous.
