Page 14 of Ella Gets the D
The woman of the hour extends her hand with a smile. “It was nice meeting you. I’ll say a prayer for your patience with thatone.” She nods to the glass windows that face out to the rest of the office. Charles is near the entrance, deep in conversation on his phone.
Mr. Richardson lets out a playful laugh. His eyes lift with a genuine smile. “I have years of practice, dear. I’ve been one of the family’s attorneys since he was in preschool.”Huh.“I’ll leave the two of you to talk and will check back shortly.”
The room is silent after the door clicks shut. Grier and I stare at each other before we erupt into a cheer. I hug her with everything I have. I’m so happy, I could cry.
“You were amazing,” I say with a finger snap. “Your mom told me you’re not to be messed with, but damn.”
“Thank you, thank you.” She bows with a giggle. “What about you, Ms. Run Me My Check Now?” She laughs. “You were brilliant.”
“What’s next?”
“All parties sign off on the separation agreement. Since Charles isn’t contesting it, we’ll avoid trial.”
Right, a year.
Staying another hour in this marriage is a special kind of torture, but letting a court decide if Charles committed adultery is not an option. Well, it is. A costly one that will end in hundreds of thousands in legal fees I don’t have and risk a judge siding with my ex and his bullshit defense. I’ll be in debt and back to waiting for the one-year minimum separation requirement before I could even file for divorce since we have kids—assuming his courtroom victory wouldn’t inspire him to drag things out until I get nothing and have nothing left.
Grier was smart to threaten legal action to force Charles to sign a separation agreement. If I have to wait a year until I can file for divorce, I’d rather have guardrails in place.
There’s a tap on the conference room door before it opens. A head peeks around it, a head with a beautiful face and hauntingbrown eyes. “Is everything okay? I heard screaming,” the head says in a faint accent.
His eyes move from me to Grier. The lines on his forehead deepen, drawing his thick brows together. A strong Adam’s apple bobs with a swallow, and down my eyes go on a journey from pursed full lips to a short boxed beard.
Did he come with the office?
Grier’s gaze lingers on the mystery man.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three seconds pass.
My fingers trail over the pulse in my neck, which is doing back flips. For Grier’s sake, I hope she’s not his superior the way she’s humping him with her eyes. The sexual tension between them isthick.
If this happens when he shows his face, what’s her reaction when more of his body comes into view?
“We’re okay, thank you,” she says, like she’s playing out different fantasies in her head.Don’t blame you, girl. “Mateo, this is Ella. Ella, meet my husband and business partner.”
Oh.
Ohh.
That explains the bedroom eyes. I’m sure the photocopier and the windows in this office have seen some things. There’s no way I could work in the same office as my spouse—one I wanted to stay married to—and be expected to, you know, do work.
Mateo’s face has a rough edge to it beneath the surface. He’s in a toffee-colored suit with no jacket, rolled-up sleeves, and a matching vest. His silk copper tie brings out his golden skin and cognac eyes, which are fixed on their target. Mateo is a few inches taller than me and built like he doesn’t skip leg day, or any other day in the gym.
He extends a hand. “Ella. It’s nice to finally meet you. Grier talks about you like you two have been friends for years.”
That makes me smile. “She’s an amazing woman.”
“That she is.”
“We’re wrapping things up and going for drinks to celebrate her separation agreement,” Grier says. “Where’s The Tyrant tonight?”
“Staying over at Dejia’s house. The international club leaves for Charlottesville bright and early tomorrow.”
Grier bounces on her toes. “You mean?”
