Chapter 9

Chapter 9 Menu Julian quickly took off his suit and draped it over Rita. She was crying and screaming, like the sky was falling apart.

Olivia, get out” Julian bellowed, completely unaware that I was dreadfully pale.

Roy recovered from the fright and quickly supported me. “Are you okay, Mrs. Frost?”

I clenched my teeth, my eyes turned red “Julian, you really make me sick.”

I pushed away Roy’s hand. I could barely stand, but I didn’t want anyone’s help.

Roy said “Ms. Frost seems to have hurt her back. It’s pretty serious.”

Julian’s face changed. Perhaps thinking of my painful expression, he let go of Rita, got up and chased out.

“Sherry, I want to end this now. I... don’t want to see his face again.” Leaning against the corner of the elevator, I spoke in a gosseful voice with a choked sob. Unable to return to the office in such a discomfited manner, I had to force my way out of the company and into my new house.

Sherry recognized the breakdown in my voice and immediately grabbed her purse and car keys. “Where are you?”

I gave her my address.

“Okay, I’ll be right over.” We grew up together, and she knew me very well. She was also my divorce lawyer. Though I seemed soft on the outside, she knew there was a core of steel inside.

Ever since catching Julian cheating. I’d been hurting deeply but stayed calm–preparing divorce papers step by step, never letting Sherry see me cry. But this time I completely broke down. Perhaps even the strongest walls crumbled when the pain cut too deep “Well, I’ll wait for you.” I hung up closed my eyes and leaned back motionless. Long hair covered my face, blocking all light, and my thoughts seemed to be dragged into an endless black hole....

I had no idea know how long it took.

“Are you done?” There was a sudden muffled voice in the elevator.

My eyes snapped open like broken window blinds.

Black wool shoulders filled my vision, framing a marble–pale neck.

A pair of cold, deep eyes were staring at me.

“It’s you...” I recognized him, and continued to stare at him.

I could tell that he was having a headache, because I had commandeered the corner of the elevator. He leaned over, like a mountain. I subconsciously raised my hand to push him. “What are you...”

Before I could finish my sentence, his pianist fingers brushed my elbow, steering me aside to tap the fingerprint scanner.

Thadn’t been fully conscious until now. The elevator hadn’t moved because I didn’t press the button... And I blocked the fingerprint lock. It was so embarrassing...

The elevator started to run. I jabbed my floor button, accidentally glimpsing his destination–Floor 46. The air turned thicker than congealed ramen broth.

Then his phone vibrated. He answered with a deep voice, “Yes? Hah? Bust measurements? Ms. Frost asked that...?”

My neck creaked like rusty hinges. I took a deep breath. “Um... I hope you weren’t offended.”

His expression remained calm.

< Chapter 9 “Ding The elevator doors open. Relieved, I hurried out, holding my waist.

By the time Sherry arrived, I was sprawled on my stomach. I actually felt better.

“What happened?“She asked softly, crouching down.

I realized that my own mistake in the elevator had calmed me down. I told a calm story about what had happened in the company. Sherry was furious.

“While you’re still bleeding in his office building, he’s already parading that homewrecker through the lobby? Fucking during business hours? And he DARED shove you?! You’re sure you just want divorce papers?” She stabbed her croissant. “They’re practically pissing on your doorstep.”

My back still hurt. I winced trying to roll over.“You know, I didn’t choose this way because I was afraid of him. I’m going to tell him that I’m done with him. I’m done with this unfaithful, rotten man. I’m going to throw him away like garbage.”

Sherry looked at me with soft eyes and rubbed my head.“Then how did you get yourself into such a mess?”

“Got...carried away,” I snorted.“But in fifteen days, even if they fuck on my desk, I’ll just order air freshener.”

“Ew...that’s gross.”

“It’s just like animals mating. I’ll spit at most.”

“... I’ll pray for your stomach then.”

M Sherry bought me a plaster and stayed with me for a while.

It was already dark.

Julian searched everywhere I would normally go, called all my friends and even went to my parents‘ house. He still couldn’t find me. Sherry was the first one he hit, but she said she didn’t know where I was. She didn’t pick up the second time he called... By the tenth time, I said, “Take it, he should know you left the firm in the afternoon.”

“Son of a bitch,” Sherry went to the balcony to answer the phone.

I heard her sneer.“Thought you’d throw a party now that Olivia’s ghosted–no more cockblocking from your little side piece, huh?”

Julian already knew I was with her. I caught his gravelly “Let me talk to her” through the glass.

“Sorry, I don’t know where she is. Oh, maybe she jumped into the sea. Shall I get you search–and–salvage vessels?”

Then she hung up the phone.

Julian’s face must be gloomy.

Sherry’s phone rang again, and I said, “I’ll take it.”

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.

Julian’s breathing became heavier, and there was caution in his voice.“Where are you? I’m coming to pick you up now! How’s your back? Does it still hurt?”

“Heh...” I laughed.“Save the Lifetime movie act for your mistress.”

< Chapter 10