Chapter 1
“Drumroll, please.” Eryn drummed her fingers on the counter while her best friend, Harlow, stared at the envelope from the Los Angeles County Superior Court. This…this was it, what she’d waited months for—a final dissolution of her marriage to husband and manager Robert Barbetz.
It had dragged on much longer than she’d anticipated, all because Robert had made it a point to go back and forth. Even after initially signing off, allowing the divorce to proceed, he’d backtracked. One minute he insisted he wanted a divorce ASAP. In the next breath, he asked her to consider reconciling and signing up for marriage counseling.
What it all boiled down to was Robert wanted the gravy train, aka his mega-star wife, to patch things up so the power couple could continue raking in the big bucks. Despite having repeatedly assured her soon-to-be ex that she would, albeit reluctantly, fulfill her end of the manager’s contract she’d signed, he had it in his mind that staying married was a more favorable decision.
It wasn’t for love, but for the love of money…and power. Robert was all about both. The longer the couple were apart, the more Harlow realized the kind of person he truly was—a greedy, self-serving narcissist.
But finally, there was a light at the end of the tunnel. Robert was hot on a new project he deemed perfect for Harlow. It was a plum movie deal, working with a top-notch production company. Her husband, ever the wheeler-dealer, was salivatingover it, and had even made a special trip to Mackinac Island to hammer out the details.
And this is where Harlow saw her opportunity to escape his controlling, conniving clutches, at least in the marital arena. She had dangled the carrot over his head. She would sign, but only after Robert agreed to the final divorce terms…every last one and requested that his attorney forward it to Nigel Beckworth, her legal counsel.
As soon as the divorce was final, Harlow promised she would execute the contract.
She pressed the envelope to her chest, almost afraid of what she would find inside. Freedom? Or another roadblock courtesy of Robert and his equally snake-y attorney?
“Do you want me to open it?” Eryn asked.
“No. It’s just…I want this chapter of my life over so badly I can taste it.”
David Wynn eased in next to his daughter. “As badly as Robert is chasing after this new deal?”
“I would say so.”
“Then he would be an idiot if he didn’t go through with the divorce.” David clicked his tongue, making a tick-tock sound. “The contract is expiring soon. If he wants the movie project, he’ll sign.”
“There’s only one way to find out,” Aunt Birdie chimed in.
Harlow’s hand trembled as she flipped the envelope open and peeled the flap back. She removed the single sheet of paper and slowly unfolded it.
“Well?” Eryn prompted. “What does it say?”
“It’s a request for additional information.”
David’s eyes narrowed. “You’re kidding.”
“Yes, I’m kidding.” Harlow triumphantly waved the sheet of paper in the air. “It’s over. Our divorce is official.”
Lottie whooped loudly. “Finally.”
“I was beginning to think Robert would drag it out into the new year.” Harlow briefly closed her eyes, thanking God for finally giving her closure after a tough…a very rough stretch, starting from the moment she woke up in the hospital after her car accident.
Despite a myriad of challenging circumstances, she reminded herself of the silver lining—reconciling with her father after years of being estranged.
“I’ve been chilling a bottle of Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne, waiting for this momentous occasion.” While David tracked down the bottle of celebratory bubbly, Lottie rummaged around in the cabinet for champagne flutes.
She held one up to the light and wrinkled her nose. “Good grief. When’s the last time you poured a glass of bubbly?”
“At least a decade,” David said. “I haven’t had much of a reason to celebrate, at least until now.”
“This one is a doozy.” Eryn clapped her hands. “I’ll help you wash the glasses.”
Working together, the women cleaned the glasses while Harlow ran to her room to put the divorce decree in a safe spot. She glanced at her phone, sitting on the charger, and noticed a new text message from Robert:
Robert:Did you get the papers?
Harlow:Yes.
