Page 37 of Undone, Love Times Three

There is no point arguing with Ted, or bringing up the fact that suing Blue’s Hideaway is the biggest crock of shit I ever heard.

There is no telling what something like this could do to her business. That it might be harmed in this nonsense claim is worrying. One thing is for sure, I won’t be telling them I don’t know anything. I’ll be telling them exactly what occurred that night.

I call out to Penny, and she opens the door and steps in.

“I need to talk to my father.”

“Already got you a slot at three.”

“Thanks Pen.”

She leaves and I get up, walking to the window to look over downtown Chicago. I won’t lie and say I haven’t thought about Blue since that night, but I never thought I would see her again. And not under these circumstances.

I’m not sure if she will appreciate it or not, or even need it. I’ve no intention of letting Faulkner ruin Blue’s Hideaway. Or Blue.

Whatever Reed Faulkner hoped he was getting when he named me in his lawsuit as a material witness, he didn’t get. Ted came with me to make sure my testimony was recorded, because Faulkner would likely not want to use it.

I confirmed my version of events. The Truth. That Reed started it and was ejected from the bar. The bruise on my jaw served as evidence, although they disputed that saying it wasn’t necessarily their client who caused it.

Ted was doing a good job of backing up my story with irrefutable evidence. He had footage from Blue’s Hideaway which showed how Reed attacked me. When the hell did he get that?

My anger rose and my fists clenched tight. Watching it back made me madder. Luckily, it was a sloppy punch. If I’d moved a fraction faster, he would have swung into air. That pissed me off even more. Ted played it a few times to make his point.

I stopped watching Reed swing and my reaction, instead watching Blue. She turned away and pressed something on the wall, then she jumped over the bar as the doormen came into view.

Jesus she is something else. Even in those tiny little shorts and her sneakers, she moved like a panther, like it was no big deal vaulting a four-foot-high bar. Was that some kind of alarm on the wall? It was a good idea, and it worked.

Nothing about what the doormen did made me believe they took Reed outside and beat him up.

Whatever happened outside of the club that night had nothing to do with me. I couldn’t do anything about helping where the doormen were concerned.

I want to make sure she is okay. My instincts tell me to stay away from the bar. I played my part, did what I could to derail the pointless lawsuit. Who knows if it is enough? Blue will knowI’d been pulled into it, given my lawyer showed up at the bar for a copy of the footage.

A couple of days after meeting Faulkner’s lawyers, I’m working late again. Ted just left, this time we’d completed the divorce. The papers are signed. Ted just needs to do his end and then it’s done. We’re no longer married.

I pour myself a shot of whiskey, which I keep in a locked drawer in my desk. Penny knows the exact brand I love, it’s not expensive, like the aged bottles dad keeps in his office. It’s the only thing I ever accept from her as a Christmas gift.

Sitting down I pick up my phone and open up the camera roll. I have to scroll back a good few months before I come to any pictures of Lauren and me together.

I don’t know why I didn’t see it sooner, the distance in her eyes. Mine aren’t that present either. Our smiles are almost perfunctory, like we’re playing at something we used to be.

My family insisted upon an iron clad pre-nuptial agreement. Even so, Lauren is entitled to a good pay out. I don’t begrudge it. It’s a one off. We have no kids, we both want a clean break.

It’s time to go home. And time to get Penny out of here.

I’ve lost track of the number of times I’ve told her not to stay after six. She doesn’t need to hang around because I’m working late, especially when I’m only here to meet with my lawyer about a personal matter.

After I’ve convinced her, we leave together and I see her to her car. As I’m about to pull out after her my cell rings and the screen display lights up with my wife’s name.

Ex-wife. I don’t know what to call her. Lauren, I guess. Rolling my eyes, I answer the call.

“Hi, Daniel.”

“Hey.”

“I just had a call with my lawyer. Thank you for making this go smoothly.”

“We both wanted it over quickly and easily, Lauren.”

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