Page 2 of Retribution

We would like to thank each and every one of you who applied for the position. Your hard work has not gone unnoticed. A meeting will be conducted further in the week to discuss the new direction of this law firm.

Sincerely,

Mr. Jonathan Atlas

Atlas & Breckenridge

I re-read the email three more times to allow the news to sink in. I did it. I’m named partner.

Maddy is watching me quietly, trying to read my reaction. Breaking out into the biggest grin I can manage, I jump up from my chair. She jumps up too, squealing and lunges forward to wrap her arms around my neck. I swing her around as we both celebrate in unison. After all, she gets a promotion out of this also.

“I can’t believe you’ve done it, Reed; I am so proud of you!”

I plop her down, straightening out my tie and gather my wits again.

I did it.

I’ve gotten everything I’ve ever wanted.

Maddy pulls me into a conversation about some of the new protocols we were going to have to run through, booking in an official meeting with the rest of the firm to discuss new management. It’s then that I pull up my phone to ask Allie to meet me for lunch, to discuss the bad news and boast about the good news.

* * *

The first part of our lunch runs smoothly, as you would expect from a husband and wife. It’s far too platonic for our usual encounters so, I begin to call the shots.

“Divorce papers, huh?” I chew on some pasta and take a sip of my water, not bothering to pay attention to her reaction to my forwardness.

I can see her placing down her cutlery in my peripheral vision and I could almost roll my eyes at her dramatics. She was always one for the ‘movie-style’ scenes.

“We both knew that it would come to this eventually, Reed. We had no other choice with you being so busy at work and I don’t want Willow getting mixed up in our family affairs.” She stares intently at me, her green eyes piercing and battling with my blue ones.

I nod my head agreeing.

“I just didn’t expect it so soon, you know? What’s the rush?” I say accusingly.

“There is no rush, it’s just something I’m certain of, something that is long enough in itself that I didn’t want to drag out for any longer–”

I couldn’t help but cut her off. “Were you aware that I’ve been named partner?”

She looks out of the restaurant window and contemplates for a moment before returning her attention to me.

“Of course,” she offers a tight smile and leans forward with her elbows propped up on the table, “It couldn’t have fallen at a more perfect time.”

I shake my head and tsk, a scowl evident on my face. She always was a conniving little bitch.

“Ah, I presume you have a plan. Take me for half of everything I have, yes?” I smirk and gaze back at her with fire in my eyes.

The thought of her trying her best to clean me out ignites an anger within me that burns, the flames thrashing and begging to surface.

“When do I ever not have a plan, Reed?” She smiles at me sweetly and refills her wine glass, the red liquid thick and tempting.

Something about her calmness makes me nervous, like she has another trick up her sleeve. Like, she knows a way to make sure I end up with the lesser half of everything.

“I’m just warning you; I am one of Atlanta’s best lawyers, Allie. You are not just going to battle in court against me, honey. You are going to lose in such a way you’ll wish you’d never even come across me.” I relax in my seat, glad that she seems anxious.

“Reed, darling. I don’t think you know how to be a father if your life depended on it. The courts will see you for the heartless human that you are and Willow will belong to me.”

“You say ‘belong’ like she is an object” I snarl, the tension between us beginning to hold me in its grasp, tugging at the darkest parts of me.

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