“Will you stay the night?” I asked and crawled to my knees on the edge of the bed.
He cocked his head to the side and stared at me. The only sound was the sound of my own blood pumping and a clock ticking in the background.
“I’ll give you a chance to convince me.” He finally answered with a smug smirk.
Fucking asshole.
I unfolded my legs and slid down to the floor on my knees again with my mouth open wide. I could deal with him being an asshole if it meant that I got what I wanted.
I’m not letting this one get away… this one is my meal ticket to a better life.
13-Melanie
Griffin and I had exchanged a few texts after I picked up the new phone. He assured me that he was picking through the information I'd already sent with a fine-tooth comb. After I sent him Penelope Yang's information, he told me that he was impressed with Gram's choice and seemed relieved. Apparently, Yang had a vicious reputation.
Me: Met with my lawyer, she wants any proof that I can gather of infidelities or offshore accounts. He changed his password, but I still have the laptop.
I sent Griffin a text as soon as I got back out to my car and then started driving back to the house.
I probably should’ve told Penelope that I was pregnant, but I knew for a fact that pregnancy was going to complicate a divorce. I wouldn’t be able to hide it forever from Ben, but if I could get the proceedings started before he found out, then maybe he wouldn’t be able to use it to delay the inevitable. I knew that Ben wasn’t going to give up on this marriage without a fight unless we forced his hand, and right now, he didn’t have anything to hold over my head, but I had plenty to hold over his.
I pulled into a grocery store parking lot and headed inside with a resigned sigh. I’d been gone for a week and doubted that Ben had kept the kitchen stocked with fresh foods. The least I could do for all the support Lily had provided was make her a nice dinner. I wandered the familiar aisles on autopilot as I gathered the ingredients for a homemade primavera.
“Melanie?” A voice called from the end of the aisle. I tensed and pasted a smile on my face as I pivoted to greet the person who was approaching.
Cassie was walking towards me with a look of concern on her pretty face.
“What are you doing here?” she said quietly as she got closer, “I thought you were in North Dakota? Ben told Billy that your grandmother had passed away, I’m so sorry for your loss.” She wrapped her arms around me in a gentle hug.
“I had to come back early to deal with some stuff here, but I’ll be going back in a week or so.” I eased back from her embrace.
“I was surprised to hear that Ben didn’t go with you…” she said slowly. Her eyes bounced back and forth between mine.
“I was too.” I shrugged and looked down at the cart.
“Melanie…” she chastised.
“Ben’s sleeping with Peter’s secretary.” I admitted. Her lips tightened into a thin line, but she didn’t speak. “I returned from the funeral to find them together… in my hot tub.”
Cassie’s jaw clenched, and she looked around to make sure we were still alone before speaking.
“Billy told me that Peter’s secretary had a meeting in HR with Ben yesterday and was walked out of the building afterwards. He said there had been whispers about them, but we didn’t think Ben would do that to you.” Cassie shook with anger as she began retelling the story that her husband had told her.
Apparently, Angela had arrived at work only to be escorted into a meeting where Ben, his lawyer, Peter, and the HR woman were all waiting for her. The rumor mill speculated that she had been accused of sexual harassment. Still, some of Billy’s coworkers claimed they had seen Ben and Angela together after hours on multiple occasions, and he didn’t look like he was being ‘harassed’ by her.
“I’m a little surprised he got her fired. I can’t imagine that’s the best foreplay in a relationship.” I snarked. Cassie gasped and then snorted back a laugh.
“I’m sorry, nothing about this is funny.” She apologized and waved a hand back and forth in horror.
“At this point, it’s either laugh or cry, and the man doesn’t deserve my tears.” I said dryly.
“What are you going to do?”
“Oh, I’m all done. I already told him we are getting a divorce. It turns out she wasn’t the first and I’m sure she wouldn’t have been the last.” I shrugged and busied myself by checking the items in my cart again.
“Wasn’t the first?” Cassie repeated. Her tone conveyed her shock, and I rolled my eyes.
He really did have EVERYONE fooled.
