"What else?"
His dry voice interrupted her thoughts. Rory looked at his cold eyes that were looking down on her. She felt slighted by his look.
Something snapped inside her. She didn't want to be in his presence anymore.
She put her pride aside and practically begged him, but he is treating her as a pest. Her ego got bruised.
"Nothing," she said and turned to leave. But her blood started boiling as his conceited expression lingered in her mind. She didn't want to leave like a loser.
"Ah, I almost forgot," she opened her purse and took out his mother's ring(her engagement ring) she had with her.
"Here," she placed the ring on the table in front of him. She looked for the picture frame and it was not there anymore.
"What…" he tried to speak, but she interjected him.
"Once I get the divorce certificate, I will return the necklace you gifted me. So…" she wanted to shout, but she held herself back and smiled ear to ear.
He would be pleased with himself if he successfully angered her. She cannot let him win.
Plus, she still needs to think about Ellie.
Ah… Ellie…
"You are getting rich, Fizzy," she used the name only she uses. She softened her tone remembering Ellie. "Who knows? I might change my mind and ask for alimony and child support."
She brought up child support because she hoped he would address his previous accusation that Ellie is not his baby. And they can talk about their baby.
She eagerly focused on him, waiting for his reply.
There was silence. He stared at her as if his eyes were X-raying her. And then the corner of his lips raised.
"I dare you to," Liam smirked. His ears have gone red and his nose flared.
Of course, he got mad!
Rory didn't know if she should laugh or cry. He should know better that she does not need his money.
She turned to leave. Her chest hurt and she took in a deep breath. The pain was worse than when he threw the divorce papers at her. Her eyes clouded and she couldn't even see what was in front of her.
She could feel that their relationship is over, completely! And Ellie probably will never meet her father.
It's okay… I will meet my grandmother and leave for my homeland… It will be okay…
She held her breath as if that would reduce her pain. All the memories she shared with him flashed through her memory. She wiped the tears rolling down her cheeks with her fingers and opened the door.
"Goodbye, Fizzy," she said without turning back and shut the door behind her. She lost all her strength as she leaned on the door.
Covering her mouth and nose with her hand, she sucked in her tears. She didn't want to cause a scene in his office. She can go cry in her room.
But… he didn't even ask about Ellie… he really thinks that she is not his…
Well, It is his loss! I am not going to cry over him.
Rory composed herself.
-----
Liam placed the photo frame back on the table carefully. He stared at the ring on the table for some time. He gnashed his teeth. His angelic appearance was no more as his face darkened with rage. He picked up the ring and raised his hand to throw it at the door.
But he stopped and put the ring in his trouser pocket. The ring reached the bottom of his pocket and made a clinking noise as if it was making a happy scream as it found a friend in there.
"Return? She'll f*cking return my gift?" he picked up the AC remote and threw it at the door. "That f*cking fire-head!"
Rory jerked hearing the bang on the door. That guy must be breaking something.
So typical! His hot-head switch has turned on. Idiot! He can have his money all for himself! I am not going to ask for it!
She let out a sigh and her eyes clouded once more.
So this is how it ends…
"Are you okay, Rory?"
Rory groaned hearing the voice of Allison.
Ugh! She's still here..!
"I am fine," Rory brought back the smile on her face. She didn't want to hear Allison speak so she walked away.
"Give me your number. I had it but I missed it…I want to stay in touch, Rory. It has been a long time and I missed you," Allison walked along.
"Missed me?" Rory stopped at the reception area of the executive floor.
"I did! Come on, Rory," Allison placed her hand on Rory's shoulder. "We were pretty close and you stopped talking to me in our final year. But I thought we cleared it out during our commencement ceremony. But after that day you stopped texting me back. Remember that day? We had so much fun. We…"
Allison went on to talk about the Commencement Ceremony.
Rory wetted her lips and looked around. There was one or two staff walking around and she saw another hallway leading to the other side of the building to her front. To her right was the break room and some secretaries with their badges on were having refreshments.
"Oh, shut up, Allison," Rory spoke softly, gritting her teeth. She didn't bother to be polite with her anymore.
May 15th – the day she still remembers. Their Commencement Ceremony was held that day, and that was also the day she signed the divorce papers he gave her a week ago.
The entire day, she tried to tell him that she was pregnant, but he was not listening to her and kept on asking about the divorce papers. And so she signed it marking an earlier date and threw it back at his face.
Allison knows it! She was standing with him. And then as if nothing happened, they all went for drinks while she locked her room and cried her heart out.
Rory understood that Allison brings up that day purposefully in this public place.
"I don't have the energy to pretend to like you today, Allison. So just leave before I'm a pacifist," Rory said without raising her voice, and with a smile.
She popped her knuckles and fisted her hands with a genuine smile seeing Allison's face getting red with anger.
"Before you're a pacifist?" Allison snorted. "Illiterate b*tch," she muttered under her breath.
Rory shook her head as she could hear her "mutter". She shooed Allison out of her way. And that provoked Allison more.
"I always knew you were a b*tch, Rory. Your hair colored orange like a carrot to get attention and your firm, ample…fake…slutty…" she stuttered and her hand pointed at Rory's chest.
Rory smirked. "Fake?" she snorted.
Oh, she did not!
No one can call her tiddies fake. But she was happy her real ones are so perfect to be misunderstood as a fake. Lately, they are more firm because of breastfeeding.
Rory continued looking at Allison with a scrutinizing glare, "Fake is your nose and your lips, and your hair and boobs and…butt..? Me…I'm all real, baby! From my hair to toe."
With a giggle, Rory put her right leg backward. Placing her heel firmly on the floor, she twisted her torso a bit while fisting her hand. By now the people in the break room all have turned their attention toward them.