Page 53 of Wife By Accident

While she’d been planning to confess her feelings, had he been worrying that she would go after his fortune?

Her heart raced as more grim scenarios flashed before her eyes. Was this the real reason Leo had invited her to New York — so that he could keep an eye on her while he prepared the postnup? Had he kept her around because he was worried she was trying to take what was his, not because he wanted to get to know her?

Had all of this been an elaborate ruse to keep her from walking away with even a penny?

Olivia stumbled backwards, just as the door opened and Leo stepped through. He held two mugs with the Palasa logo, both of which were letting off curls of steam. He looked at Olivia and at the papers in her hands, then nudged the door closed behind him.

“What is this?” Olivia asked, holding up the agreement. Leo’s expression was calm as he crossed the room, set the coffee on the desk, and took a seat.

“Here’s your coffee,” he said. “Cream and sugar.”

“What is this?” Olivia repeated. She was still standing, the papers clasped in her hands. “A postnup?” Her voice shook a little, but she fought to keep it as steady as she could.

“It is,” Leo said calmly. He met her eyes. “I wanted us both to be protected in the divorce. You knew I was having my lawyers work on divorce papers. This is part of that.”

“You wanted us both to be protected?” Olivia laughed dryly. “This only protects you.”

“I do have more assets.” Leo frowned and shook his head. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. Look, Olivia, I didn’t even want you to see this. It’s better if we can talk everything through and reach an agreement together.”

“If you didn’t want me to see this, why is it in your drawer? Why did you keep it? Why did you make it?”

Leo looked at her steadily. “I’ve spent my life building this company, and I didn’t know you when we got married. Just like you didn’t know me. I didn’t mean to hurt you, but I did want to make sure you weren’t going to take my company or hurt my reputation.”

“I was never going to!” Olivia protested. Then she shook her head, too. “But if you don’t know that already, I'm not even sure what we’re talking about here. I can’t believe you don’t trust me.”

“I do trust you. I just… I know how difficult your financial situation is. I couldn’t blame you if you had wanted something from me. And listen — we don’t have to follow the postnup. I’ll draw up a new one. I’m happy to give you some money, enough to cover a year or two of expenses. Consider it a… gift.”

That was the last straw. During their time together, Olivia had imagined herself as many things to Leo: a friend. A lover. A temporary wife. A confidante.

But now, she knew how he really saw her. As a charity case. Despite all they’d shared, all they’d talked about, he still thought she would take his money.

She wouldn’t.

Olivia slammed the papers down on the desk. She pulled open Leo’s drawer and grabbed a pen.

“What are you doing?” Leo asked.

Olivia flipped to the last page, past sections and sections outlining all the ways in which Leo didn’t trust her. In which he thought she’d steal what was his. In which she wasn’t as honorable as he was, just because she wasn’t rich.

“You don’t have to sign that!” Leo sounded agitated now, but Olivia didn’t look up. She just entered today’s date, then, quickly, signed her name below it.

“There.” She handed him the papers and slammed the pen on top. “Now you know, for certain, that I won’t take your money. Not one cent. And I was never going to.”

“Olivia, let’s talk about this.” Leo’s eyes were wide.

“You had plenty of chances to talk to me, and instead, you had your lawyers draw this document up. You planned to give me a little stipend. You cut me out of these decisions — and that means that you missed your chance to talk.”

“At least let me buy you a ticket back to Seattle.”

“You’re done buying me things. I’m not a charity case.”

Olivia’s heart was tight. Her eyes pricked with unshed tears. But she wasn’t going to let Leo see how much this had hurt her. She’d never been real to him. She’d just been an object of distrust and pity, a charity case to fly around the city before casting aside.

Olivia didn’t look at Leo. She just strode across the office, past him, and into the hallway. Leo didn’t try to call her back. He didn’t try to stop her. He just let her go — and that broke the last bit of Olivia’s heart.

She hurried down the hallway, into the elevators, across the lobby, and onto the sidewalk. All the while, she fought to keep herself from crying. She couldn’t let the heartbreak building inside her spill out. She just couldn’t.

Olivia hurried down the street towards Leo’s penthouse. A single tear slipped from her eye and ran down her cheek, but on the crowded sidewalk, no one seemed to care.