Page 77 of Room Service
“What the hell?”
“Yeah. Pretty shocking, but it’s given me the closure I needed. My parents were nothing but money grabbers, out for themselves, my mother even more so than my father.”
“Have you spoken to your dad?” she asks, and I shake my head.
“No, and I don’t want to. He may not have a clue about her and Derrick, but he watched and played a part in guilting me to ensure they were okay, and I can’t forgive that,” I tell her honestly. “It’s not like I ever had a close bond with him, not really, it was always my mother calling the shots and pulling the trigger.”
“Fucking hell, Elise,” Celeste exclaims, shocked. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Totally. I mean, I can’t even say I’m surprised, not when I think back on it. She was always on Derrick’s side, always belittling me and making him look like he was the most amazing man to walk the earth. I guess, to her, he was. But then she got nastier, hated me more, and her jealousy took over any love she may have felt for me once upon a time.”
“God, she doesn’t deserve to have you in her life.”
“I know that now,” I say with a smile, and Celeste’s watery eyes stare back at me. “All I have to do now is divorce the bastard, and then I’ll be free.”
“Hell yes. And you know we’re having a divorce party,” Celeste says, blinking her eyes rapidly as I try to lighten the mood before we start work in our new roles. Today isn’t about sadness, it’s a day to celebrate where we are now. I’m done looking back.
“I’ll drink to that,” I say as I raise my coffee cup, and Celeste does the same, both of us laughing as we finish our drinks and head out of the penthouse.
“So, at risk of already knowing the answer,” she begins. “Are you coming back to stay with me anytime soon?”
“I’m planning to,” I say, because I can’t live in a penthouse forever, nor do I want to.
“Pfft.” She scoffs as I push the button for the lift. “He’s not going to want you to leave now.”
And even as we travel down to the ground floor where our joint office is located, I know that she’s right. And if I’m being honest, I don’t want to leave him either.
* * *
My first day as manager went pretty well. Celeste and I worked together most of the day to get everything in order, and I feel like we’re going to be people that the staff can come to because we can relate to them more than someone coming in here straight from an office job or something similar. Working from the ground up gives us that insight into how the staff are treated and how we can make it better.
I have a pep in my step as I walk into the penthouse, seeing Dorien is already here. He’s at the table, working on his laptop, but his focus turns to me as I walk towards him, going behind him and resting my arms over his shoulders until my head is beside his. I kiss his cheek, and then he captures my lips with his.
I moan into his mouth, having missed the feel of him all day long. I’m totally obsessed with him, and I’m okay with it. The feeling seems to be mutual, and I move around him until he’s pushing his chair back and I’m sat in his lap.
“How did your first day go?” he asks, his lips brushing mine, tempting me, teasing me.
“It was really good,” I reply with a smile.
“Glad to hear it, and I’m about to make it even better,” he says, and I quirk an eyebrow at him.
“Oh yeah?”
He chuckles. “Not in that way, not yet anyway.” He winks and then reaches around me, picking up an envelope and handing it to me. My brows furrow as I open it, and when I read the contents, I’m astounded.
“Dorien… this is—”
“Your divorce. All signed and sealed,” he finishes.
“How did you… when…” Words fail me at seeing Derrick’s signature signing everything over to me, as well as my parents’ house and any possessions we had.
“You’re welcome.”
I move my eyes from the paperwork, staring at him like he’s the key to my soul. Which I guess he is.
“But, how?”
“It doesn’t matter how. What matters is that you have your freedom, Elise. No more ties.”
