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“Didn’t contribute! What about the loveless nights I spent alone while he worked away in that fucking office of his? What about all the happiness and time I gave up being his wife while all he did was work?”
Natasha’s lawyer has a gentle hold on her arm as she practically screams across the short distance at me. It’s become a regular occurrence of all these incessant meetings, and I’m not sure I can take much more of her constant berating and demands.
“You didn’t seem to mind when you were spending all the money I earned on shitty dye jobs and designer clothes.”
“Mr. Steele. I’ll remind you to keep your allegations to those you can prove.”
Ensworth speaks up, knowing full well there’s no way for me to prove anything about her spending because she did it using my credit cards. But there’s one thing I did see with my own eyes.
“Like the adultery?”
Natasha gasps, standing abruptly, and the look of guilt that creeps over Henry’s face is almost worth the entire meeting. But the sting of the betrayal still hurts. Even after all this, not even my anger can dull the pain completely.
“You son of a bitch!”
“I saw it myself, dear.” Sarcasm bleeds through my tone. “So I don’t think those loveless nights were actually all that common.”
She glares at me, a wicked smirk on her face as she sinks back into her chair.
“Well, it’s too bad you didn’t have a prenup in place. Should’ve listened to old daddy while he was still alive, huh, babe?”
Rage seethes beneath my skin, and I worry I might crack a tooth with how hard I clench my jaw. The blow is beyond low, even for her.
“You—”
But I stop myself. It’s exactly what she wants. Blowing up at the table makes me look bad in front of everyone and gives her leverage to use against me.
Instead, I push back from the table and head for the door. Daniel scrambles to keep up with me, and I leave Natasha with one last parting statement.
“The offer stands, Natasha. If you won’t take it, I’m fine with taking this to court.”
The door shuts solidly behind me, and I can hear Daniel quickly following behind as I head to the parking garage. The sound of my shoes clicking on the shiny marble flooring makes my skin itch.
It’s nights like this I’m glad I have a home gym. It’s the closest I’m willing to get to actually punching something.
“Noah! Noah, wait!”
Daniel catches up, and I turn. Whatever he has to say isn’t enough to keep me here.
“If you’re about to tell me to go back in there or that I said something I shouldn’t have, you can back right the hell off.”
“No, no.” My lawyer sighs. “I get it. She’s working every last nerve you have, and she’s damn good at it, too. Some of the best I’ve seen. But…”
I eye him, waiting for him to get to the real point.
“Look, I just want you to strongly consider not taking this to court; you should try to settle. She’s the kid’s mother, and they tend to give moms at least half custody. It’s been a tricky arrangement right now, but it could change.”
Now it’s my turn to sigh, and I rake my fingers through my hair, mussing the previous coifed style.
"Daniel—”
“Just consider what a judge might think, okay? You’re a single dad who works all the time, and she’s a stay-at-home wife with a partner more than capable of paying the bills.”
“You mean the guy I found her fucking on my desk? That reliable guy? My fucking business partner!”
It’s impossible to stay calm at this point, and I storm off. As Daniel calls out behind me, I wave my hand at him.
“Later.”
