10. Changes

Mandy had always wanted to blend in with the walls, never quite enjoyed being under the spotlight.

She had also relied, for two years, on the one she now viewed as the most despicable man to have ever graced the earth.

She knew better than to seek help from her parents. They had had no qualms marrying her off to a man who didn't love, or even respect, her enough to keep it in his pants.

Admittedly, they couldn't have known that he'd cheat on her.

But surely, they could have regarded her divorce from another perspective, and been more supportive of her decision…

It was utter foolishness to wish for some semblance of support from them, she realized.

She had cared for far too long about what everyone had to say about her, her looks, her manners, her upbringing. And she now knew that pleasing everyone was but an impossible task.

All that she was essentially made of needed to change.

She decided to have her hair cut into a short bob for her job interview. By changing the way she looked, she was in a way putting an end to the sad tale of Mandy Jefferson. The tale of a woman so desperately and foolishly in love with a man, she had not noticed the signs of his debauchery.

When she emerged from the salon, she was a changed woman… or at least that was what she kept telling herself.

She sported a smile on her way to the penthouse, greeted the concierge amiably, and the old man complimented her on her new look, telling her she looked beautiful.

Her smile broadened at that. And as she took the elevator, she was positively beaming.

Her phone buzzed. A quick inspection of the device told her she had a job interview scheduled for next week.

Out of all the jobs she had applied to, only one company had gotten back to her, and that was David Corp.

She was so happy, she could dance. She would have if the elevator didn't have cameras.

She reached the penthouse she had once shared with Harrison, and released a heavy sigh, knowing the memories that haunted the place would torment her on this evening as well…

Changed woman as she might be, she wasn't made of steel, and was no glacier.

She needed to forget about him. But her emotions were still much too raw for her to heal just yet. Maybe she needed to date anew. The very idea was daunting and yet exhilarating at the same time.

To new beginnings, she told herself as she looked at her reflection in the mirror, a small smile stretching her lips.

** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

Her interview went well. And it wasn't long before she got the call that informed her that she got the job.

Mandy was so elated, she had almost called Harrison to tell him the news.

She remembered a time where she used to share every little thing with him, whereas he, as per his reputation, shared so little.

She dialed Samantha's number instead. Her best friend was at work. She took a coffee break for Mandy's sake, and told her how happy she was that she had gotten the job.

"Let's meet up at a café," Mandy offered. "Your choice, my treat."

"Really?"

She could picture her friend's excitement. She had one hell of a sweet tooth after all.

They agreed on going to Sweet Delicacy, a café known for its pastries, before ending the call.

When it was close to the meeting time, Mandy regarded herself in the mirror, and was proud to say she looked different.

She sported a radiant smile, and her brown eyes were sparkling with both mirth and excitement.

Nobody would dare look at her as the scorned and ridiculed wife of Harrison Michaelson.

She was now her own woman, or at least that was what she told herself.

Since the café wasn't far from the penthouse, she decided to walk, wishing she would enjoy the surprisingly warm weather.

It was indeed a beautiful weather, fit for a romantic get-away.

Sadly enough, neither she nor Samantha had anyone to look forward to a get-away with.

But, on the plus side, they had one another, and at the end day, that mattered a great deal to both women.

Samantha exited a cab the moment Mandy reached the café.

"Perfect timing," the pregnant woman giggled. "We couldn't have done it better." 

Mandy smiled brightly at her before engulfing her in a hug.

"I missed having you around, you know," Samantha said timidly as they walked into the café.

"I missed you too," Mandy told her softly.

They were all they both had.

Samantha had not been brought up in a loving environment. Neither was Mandy admittedly, but her best friend had had it worse.

While Mandy had suffered through her father's cold demeanor and her mother's control-freak tendencies, Samantha had to endure beatings from her alcoholic single mother. 

It was therefore no wonder that the woman hadn't been elated by her pregnancy.

They enjoyed themselves at the café, chatted animatedly about meaningless and other meaningful matters. And Mandy could admit she had not had as much fun with her friend in a while.

"We can hear your voice and raucous laughter from the entrance," a woman exclaimed in a disdainful manner. "It is no wonder that Harrison chose to put an end to your sham of a marriage."

Mandy turned to the woman, her good mood dissipating at once.

She could recognize her husband's mistress anywhere. 

"To what do I owe the misfortune of seeing you, Clara?" Mandy offered her a cool smile.

"Excuse me," the woman all but shrieked.

"You're excused," Samantha told the woman in a haughty and disdainful tone that almost matched her earlier one.

"You were but the paramour, Clara. I was the wife," Mandy told her in a tone that was meant to mock and hurt the indignant woman. "What right do you have to act in such a manner with me?"

"You have grown so defiant, little miss nobody," the woman scoffed, seeming at a loss for a better retort.

"We have to call a cat a cat, dear," Mandy said softly as she rose to her feet.

The woman paled at once and made to retreat.

"Oh, do stay. I'm not finished," she went, uncaring of the attention she was getting in her ire. "You should have your sources checked, for I was the one to file for a divorce."

"How clever of you," the woman let out sarcastically.

"I know you feel differently, but I have never condoned adultery."

A wink later, and Mandy and Samantha were on their way out of the café.

"Are you okay?" Her friend asked her once they were far away from indiscreet ears.

"That felt good," Mandy smiled at her, not quite answering the question.

And Samantha allowed her to evade it. She merely nodded at her in response, an indulgent smile gracing her features, "I bet."

It indeed felt good to go from meek timid wife to this… whatever this was. And Mandy couldn't be happier she had stood her ground when facing Harrison's mistress.