I almost,almostsay, “Well, your mother had no problem walking away from you.” He can act above normal human emotions all he wants, but Iknowwhere that would hit him and exactly how hard. My mother dumped me, too. The only reason I don’t say it is because I don’t dare push him too far.
“And you think I would?” I say instead.
“You signed an agreement to that effect.”
Would he even believe me if I said I never read it now? “I never would, and if you try to take them from me, I’ll kill you.” It’s not a threat.
He straightens, his gaze sharpening. He recognizes that I’m serious, and that apex predator brain of his is recalculating. My stomach knots. Did I give too much away? Did I just hand him some kind of leverage I’m not quick or evil enough to see?
“It’s not my intent to separate you from the children. I chose you specifically to be their mother. My goal has always been to create a peaceful, nurturing home for them.”
“Banging your coworker is a hell of a way to go about it.”
His jaw clenches again. I don’t know why bald facts piss him off. Isn’t he the one who said it’s better to deal plainly with each other?
“Cora, we’re not going to get anywhere like this.”
“Where exactly is it that you want to go? Drake Chambers says you want a boy. Is that why you’re trying to make this go away?”
His dark eyes begin to cast sparks. Oh, he doesn’t like Drake Chambers knowing his business one little bit. Noted.
“I would remind you of the nondisclosure clause of our agreement,” he grinds through clenched teeth.
“That doesn’t apply to conversations with my own lawyer.”
“Brian McDonough is your lawyer.”
“Not anymore.”
“Where did you even find this guy Chambers?”
“By the side of the road. Same place where you found me.”
He yanks his tie, loosening it, as a flush rises up his neck, darkening his tan. I don’t think I’ve ever made him this mad before. It’s kind of a high, focusing my mind and bringing me back to my body, huddled on the sofa like a teenager.
He exhales, paces toward the fireplace, thinks better of it and comes back to stand over me again with his hands on his hips. “Considering the temperature of these discussions, I would be willing to entertain the idea of marriage counseling for a limited duration of time with a professional of my choice. Subject to your approval, of course.”
My jaw drops. I did not see that coming. I guess heisapproaching this like a negotiation, and he doesn’t have that many cards to play besides money. If this wasn’t my life, it’d almost be funny. He countered my “leave and never come back” with counseling.
“No.” Therapy is a trap. They get you to confess things, and it only ever makes shit worse. Besides, this marriage never existed except for in my little delulu brain. There’s nothing to salvage.
“You would be compensated for your time and commitment, of course.”
“What exactly do you think they do in counseling that you canbuy?”
He scowls, and for a second, I think he won’t reply, but then he says, “I assume there is a template, some sort of evidence-based process that we would be guided through.”
“Evidence-based process? You’re not evensorry.” I scoff. “You’re not even sorryyou got caught.”
There is a sheen of sweat on his face now, and he can’t seem to keep still. He takes a step in one direction, pivots, doubles back, and then does it again, all while hovering over me with his tie dangling askew like a high school algebra teacher at last bell. He’s really bothered.
Maybe I got lucky, and Drake Chambers is a real shark himself, and Adrian is worried that I’ll take him to the cleaners and keep the kids. It seems impossible that anyone could outsmart Adrian, but that could be my inexperience talking.
Adrian takes a deep breath and grinds out, “I regret that you were upset by my actions.”
I cackle. “You’re sorry that I feel this way?” Has he always been this full of crap, using his big words and business speak to slide tired male garbage past my bullshit detector?
“Yes,” he says with absolutely no shame. “I should have been more discreet.”
