3. Eager For A Divorce

One should always choose their battles well, or so Mandy was often told. 

She reasoned she had every right to be angry at Harrison for the deceit, for the betrayal. And yet, she didn't wish for a fight. She wanted to save her energy for the court.

Before marrying the despicable man, she had been a respected lawyer on her way to the top. But like the arrogant businessman he was, he had claimed he wanted to be the one to provide for her.

What foolishness prompted her to accept? One word: Love.

She had been foolish enough to love him dearly. She had been stupid enough to overlook his flaws, and neglectful enough to not see the signs – that he was, and probably had always been, cheating on her.

She briefly wondered whether all the times he had come home late was because of his mistress, not his work, and a dry chuckle escaped her.

Love truly was blind, or maybe it rendered people blind.

It was about time you opened your eyes, Mandy, she told herself in a half chiding half derisive tone. You can cry later. But for now, let us march towards that damned penthouse and get our things.

It was the morning after her confrontation with the man at the restaurant.

She had spent the night at her best friend's place. Sam, short for Samantha, had asked her no question, and had simply allowed her to silently drown her sorrows in alcohol.

But that was yesterday… and now, it was time to get her life back together.

Self-loathing, and reprimands will do me nothing, she told herself resolutely. I need to make a name for myself, and prove to the world – myself included – that I am worthy of love and respect.

Head held high, chin jutted in defiance, she was soon enough on her way to, and then entering the uptown building.

She wasn't surprised to find the penthouse empty. Hell, she was glad she didn't find Harrison there to try to reason with her. And yet, it stung that he didn't reach out to her, and that he didn't try to find her.

But then again, he had never cared for her before. Why should he start now?

A single errand tear escaped her eyes, and she wiped it furiously before gathering her things – the things she had brought along when she had first moved in with him.

None of the jewelry he had offered looked enticing to her, even though they were worth quite a sum of money. She left them there, and only got what she had paid for herself – before and after making her vows.

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

Harrison was at a loss for words. And he never was.

He had foolishly thought that his wife needed time and space, and thus had allowed her both.

I'll let her calm down, he had told himself. She'll come around. 

He knew she loved him and had basically made his bet accordingly. But maybe – just maybe – he had taken her love for granted. That had been his mistake.

And it was now to be his loss, he realized, as he looked at the divorce papers in front of him.

Was he supposed to sign them without making a fuss?

Hell, why was she so quick to act? Did she have someone on the side?

The mere thought, the idea of her being with someone else, made him see red. And he almost stumbled as he rose to his feet in his ire.

He started pacing around his office.

He had given her a week to simmer down, and had each day been doing his best to go back home early. But his penthouse no longer felt like home without her in it.

And she was seemingly too stubborn to return – at least not without an apology.

But first things first, he needed to find out where she was.

He then decided it was the right time to call her.

"Where are you?" He asked the moment she answered the call.

"Why, hello to you too," she let out sarcastically. "I have been good, thank you."

He pinched the bridge of his nose at her response, not quite in the best mood to enjoy her newly-found feisty side. "Where are you?" He repeated in a clipped tone, as he undid his tie.

"Does it matter?" She retorted flatly.

Of course, it does. You're my wife, damn it! That was how he wanted to counter, but he was afraid of making a scene at his own office.

He was known as the glacier. He couldn't let his wife's stubbornness get to him. He couldn't allow her to get under his skin… and yet, almost inadvertently, she already did.

"I won't repeat myself, Mandy," he told her instead after breathing in noisily in an attempt to calm himself.

"If you must know, I am at Sam's place," she said on a sigh.

Sam's place? He echoed inwardly. She had been staying at a man's place all along while he had been going home to an empty and desolate penthouse.

The thought irked him more than was deemed appropriate.

He should have guessed she had an affair. Why else would she be so eager to get a divorce?

"I see," he deadpanned, steeling his resolve not to show how her confession affected him.

"Did you sign the papers?" She then asked matter-of-factly.

"Are you in a hurry to get rid of me, woman?" He countered.

She basically crushed him with one simple word, "Yes."

"I will," he then told her matter-of-factly as he came to a halt in his office. "Once my lawyer goes over them."

"I basically only want the divorce. I asked for nothing."

Was that meant to reassure him? What did this boy toy of hers – Sam was it? – have that he himself lacked?

"You may have the penthouse," he offered, because he thought she might have brought her paramour over at the place he had once considered their haven.

"I don't want it," she retorted.

"Well, you'll have it anyway," he insisted. "Unless you want me to drag this divorce matter endlessly and make it a matter of public opinion?"

Silence met his words. His wife had always hated the spotlight. He was taking advantage of that weakness of hers.

"Have your lawyer make the appropriate modifications then," she said after a moment. "And do not forget to sign the papers before sending them to me."

"Roger that," he scoffed.

And with that, she hung up on him without further ado.