Seconds tick by in silence. I look down at my hands.
“Is there a chance I lose my apartment to Daniel?” I ask, wanting to change the subject away from Monica. Who would have ever thoughtDanielwould be considered a safer topic of conversation for me?
“No.”
“You’re overly confident,” I say, finally looking up into his dark eyes. The easy confidence that stares back at me helpssoothe my nerves. Still, I add, “There must be at least a tiny chance. Nothing is ever guaranteed.”
“If there is, it’s so tiny you can’t even see it.”
“That’s what she said.” I can’t help the smile that pulls across my lips. Zayn cocks an amused brow.
“Are you really making dick jokes right now?”
My heart flutters as he pushes off his desk and stalks towards me.
“Seems that three days apart has messed with your memory. Perhaps you need a little reminder of hownottiny some things really are.”
Warmth spreads through my body as his palm cups my cheek and he brings his lips down to mine in a soft, hungry kiss. Will I ever stop feeling like a giddy teenager every time he kisses me?
I doubt it.
But before he can remind me of anything, Scabby’s voice bursts out of his office phone speaker and cuts through the desire-filled haze surrounding us. “Mr Sanders and his council have arrived.”
Dread drops into the pit of my stomach like an anchor trying to weigh me down, but when we reluctantly pull apart and head out together to meet my husband, I can’t help but marvel at the fact that, for a moment, Zayn made me forget the meeting was even happening at all.
“This ends one of two ways,”Zayn drawls dryly, leaning back in his chair as though he’s discussing the weather with a friend and not my future livelihood. It’s become obvious to me in the last five minutes alone how he’s built his ruthless reputation in the court room. He doesn’t debate, or discuss, he merelytellshis opponents whatthey’re going to do, demanding their attention the second he enters the room. “Option A you sign off now on my client taking the apartment, or option B we go to court and instead she takes the apartment, three million dollars in cash and…” He checks his notes casually. “A Range Rover.”
Daniel’s been watching me incessantly from across the long glass table since I stepped inside the massive conference room, where I found him and his counsel already seated. Now, his ice-blue eyes are expressionless as he glosses over Zayn’s words like he didn’t even hear them. I squirm in my seat under his cold scrutiny, and a hint of a smile pulls on his lips. He would just love to know that he’s making me uncomfortable.
Asshole.
“My client would like to present an alternative offer,” Daniel’s lawyer says from beside him, his beady eyes trained on Zayn. Of course Daniel would know what I wanted from the divorce before he came in; the fact I want the apartment isn’t news to him. I realise what I’ve been dreading is what Daniel would counter-offer with, what terms he thinks I would accept.
“I see no other options,” Zayn says bluntly. I want to look sideways at him, to check his expression, but I can’t tear my gaze from Daniel. “This is a very good deal for you, one I advised my client was far too lenient. I suggest you take it before it’s off the table.”
Daniel’s lawyer is an older man, and what I would presume under different circumstances would be a formidable lawyer, but it seems Zayn’s reputation proceeds him. He eyes Zayn cautiously before continuing.
“Mr Sanders is… reluctant to end his marriage.” The lawyer shifts in his seat, causing an unnatural cold to settle inmy bones. “He would like to propose he and Mrs Sanders attend marriage counselling-”
Zayn doesn’t let him finish his sentence, cutting him off with a scoff. “Yes, well, he has proposed two times too many now. My client’s offer doesn’t change.”
Despite Zayn’s instant dismissal, Daniel’s eyes glint salaciously. I feel nauseous.Marriage counselling?
“I must insist that you think about this-”
This time it’s Daniel who cuts his lawyer off, speaking for the first time. His rough voice scratches my skin like sandpaper, making want to shrivel in my seat. “Give me one month of counselling, Gia, and if you still decide to leave I’ll give you the apartment without a fight.”
Shock almost renders me speechless. He’sseriousabout this? “Why?”
“You’ll be giving up the apartment regardless, so this is wholly unnecessary,” Zayn says lazily, although I sense more than a hint of impatience behind his words. I throw a glance his way. His facial expression is cold confidence, but his shoulders are tense. He doesn’t like this.
“Why?” I ask Daniel again, confused. “Why won’t you just let me go?”
All this time, I thought Daniel just didn’t want to let me leave with anything that belonged to him. Now I’m starting to think that he doesn’t want to letmego. And why would he? I let him use and abuse me for ten years. I was his perfectly trained little pet.
“Because you’remine. You made me promises, Gia.Vows.” Daniel speaks between clenched teeth, his temper peeking through the cracks of his carefully constructed facade. He doesn’t like to be questioned, especially not by me, and especially not in front of other people.
“What, in sickness and in health?” I scoff incredulously,my voice rising with hysteria at every word. “Are you really holding me to our vows when youfucked someone else?After what you did the night I left? Along with the rest of what you put me through for ten long years!”
