Page 19 of Stay Here Tonight
Francis stiffened. “I remember.”
“She and the police were at my house taking the last of her things from the divorce. The police! Do you know how embarrassing that was? Why didshehave police there when she’s the dangerous one?”
Lydia bristled at the implications.I have no idea what’s going on. I knew Penelope Amarillo was considered “difficult,” but aren’t most women in this man’s world?
“Because she’s trying to get to you. For a long time she had the divorce to mess with your head. She’s the one who became completely unhinged, butshe’sthe possessive one, Max. She doesn’t want you forgetting her.”
“I won’t ever forget her! She was my God damned wife!”
Francis slowly shook her head. “You know it goes beyond that. She wants to be in your head 24/7. She wants to completely dominate who you are and what you make of your life. You can’t let her. You have to fight these baseless accusations.”
“I am. My lawyer’s been on a libel case since Saturday. He thinks we have an excellent chance of winning, but it might include making some of our divorce proceedings public.”
Francis thought about that for a moment, her dark eyes narrowing as she carefully studied her younger yet richer friend. “I understand that you don’t want some of that getting out.”
“The judge sided with me on everything even before my lawyer and I settled to give her more money, but that doesn’t mean those scandal rags won’t twist anything they can find. I’m shocked they haven’t had anyone leak them the records to begin with. I bet Penelope’s salivating to go back on her NDA, and this is how she’s doing it.”
“You may be right. Make sure your lawyer does everything else he possibly can first.”
“He better, for as much as I’m paying him. I have my reputation to protect in business circles. Man is rumored to beat his wife? Life goes on and people continue to fling themselves at him. A woman does it? I’m ruined.” Maxine jerked up with a start. “Not that I’m saying women should be able to get off free too…”
“I know what you mean.” Francis scratched behind her ear. “Stay strong, Max. She’s going to keep pulling shit like this until she finds someone else to sink her teeth into.”
“You mean like that guy she’s with now? I’d love to see her try that shit on a man. You know she’s doing this to me for a reason. She’s always resented being in a gay relationship. Now I’m able to realize that she was using me for scandal to sell her name and get her face in the spotlight. I should have seen it, but I was so blinded…”
“Penelope is very charming and very beautiful. It’s easy to see why you fell in love with her. It could have happened to anyone. That’s how narcissists work.”
Maxine dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief pulled from her jacket pocket. “Thank you. I needed to hear that.”
“I’m not trying to downplay the severity of what she’s doing, but youcan’tlet her get to you for too long. It’s one thing to panic, Max, it’s another to completely lose your mind and let her win. You still going to therapy?”
“Twice a week like a fucking head case.”
“Might wanna make it three if you think the shrink’s good enough. You’re going to need the extra support.”
“Ha! Support. Don’t know if you’ve heard, but I’ve not good at keeping people around.”
“Because you intentionally push them away?”
“At least I’m aware of it.”
“You’re still grieving the traumatic way your marriage ended. No one can expect anything greater of you.”
“But?”
Francis sighed. “You can’t keep this up forever. At some point you’re going to have to let someone in again.”
“You mean like a girlfriend?”
“Youarelegally single again. Practically single for the past, what, three years? I don’t know the exact number you’ve played with since then, but I’ve noticed it’s rarely been the same woman twice.”
“You’re so observant, Frank.”
“No problem, Max.”
The two sat in further silence. Lydia pushed off the window and slinked back to her desk, where an elderly woman had been waiting to talk about PFLAG for the past five minutes. Lydia had no time to digest what she had heard while she helped the woman find out about how to help her grandson deal with his newfound sexuality.
The place was clear when Maxine emerged from the conference room, eyes red. Francis remained behind.
