I watch Michael expectantly, waiting for the anger I saw in him a few moments ago, but he just sighs. “Why didn’t you come and find me?”
“Because that’s not my job. A decent father would have been here.”
My lips part in shock. I can’t believe she would say that to him. Anger prickles hot under my skin as she continues her vicious tirade.
“Poor Henry is in there, suffering, but do you care?” She rolls her eyes. “No. You’re thinking only about yourself. Typical, selfish Mike, who—”
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” The words slice through the air, stopping Mel mid-rant, and it takes me a second to realize they’ve come from me. “Don’t speak to him like that. Don’t youdarespeak to him like that.”
She arches an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”
“You don’t get to talk to him like that anymore. He’s the best man I’ve ever met, andyouare just a liar.” I turn to Michael, ready for him to step in, but he’s giving me a wary look.
Fine. Alright. I’ll get the ball rolling.
“He knows you’ve been lying, telling people that he was the one who cheated, when—”
“I don’t think that’s any of your business,” Mel snaps, her eyes blazing. “What happens between my husband and I—”
“Yourex-husband,” I correct. “And itismy business if it’s a lie that’s still causing damage.”
Mel opens and closes her mouth, momentarily wrong-footed, then her gaze cuts to Michael. “What did you tell her?”
“I told her thetruth,” he mutters. “She seemed to be under the impression thatIwas responsible for our marriage falling apart.”
I squeeze Michael’s hand and when he squeezes back, I feel a swell of triumph. Right. Time for him to put her in her place, once and for all.
“Well, you could have tried harder, Mike,” Mel spits. “This is your problem—you don’t try hard enough.”
“Look, I know I’m not perfect,” he says. “But—”
There’s a noise from Henry’s room and Michael drops my hand, pushing past Mel and in through the door. I go to follow after him, but Mel’s manicured claws curl around my arm and I freeze.
“We’re not done,” she hisses as the door to Henry’s room swings closed.
I feel a dart of panic at being alone in the corridor with her. It was one thing when I had Michael beside me, but now I begin to shrink.
“It’s a shame you’re involved with Mike now, right when Justin was about to offer you that column.”
What?
I step back to examine her face, trying to read her expression. She has to be lying. Justin would have called or emailed me if I’d gotten the column. No, she’s just using something she knows I want to manipulate me. God, Michael was right. She’s the worst.
“I don’t believe you,” I say, squaring my shoulders. “Justin would have contacted me if I’d gotten it.”
“Oh, he will. But you,unfortunately, will be unable to accept.”
I force out a breath, suddenly exhausted. “Fine. Whatever. Then I’ll talk to him about writing something else.” I glance over her shoulder to Henry’s room, hoping he’s okay.
“I don’t think so. We don’t just offer out jobs at random, Alex.”
Her words drag my attention back to her and I wonder, for a fleeting second, what if she’snotlying? What if Ihavebeen offered the position, after all this work, only to have it taken away from me?
“You know,” she continues, watching me carefully, “it’s not at all surprising that Mike would try to do this to your career.”
My heart jolts. I know she’s trying to bait me and I should resist, but for some stupid reason I can’t. “What?”
“He tried to sabotage my career, many times. He was always threatened by my success. It’s sad that he’s still up to his usual tricks.”
