"Ugh." Ariana heaved a heartily sigh shutting the door behind her.
She walked across her room to the little study space she had arranged herself. It had a chair and table with her laptop and a few necessities.
Gently sitting on the little chair, she opened up her laptop and checked for any unread messages.
There was just one and she quickly sent a reply to the contact saved as lawyer.
'I'll be on my way soon.'
She pulled out a little jotter from one of the drawers and opened it up, marking the first task on the list which stated 'Request a divorce' as done.
Ariana didn't know whether to be happy she was leaving a toxic relationship or saddened she was going to be a divorcee.
Which was highly looked down upon in this side of the country.
Hell, No one in her family was a divorcee yet she was turning into one at the young age of 27.
Buzz Buzz
She was about to place the jotter back when her phone rang loudly on the drawer top breaking her space of thought.
She picked it up and frowned at the shattered front screen. She forgot to tell Dalia to get her a new phone.
She could hardly make out the numbers displaying alongside her melodic ringtone.
Ariana hesitantly answered the call and pressed the phone against her ear. "Hello."
The deep rich baritone which brought some air of nostalgia every time she heard it sounded on the other side.
"Ariana Wales?" He breathed out in more of a questioning tone.
Ariana's breathing ceased in the moment and her mouth dried up, not knowing what to say for a second.
She shoved the phone back to take another glance at it.
It had been long since anyone called her by her maiden name and even as she was planning a divorce, she hadn't pictured the feeling that would come along with her not being 'Madam Cole' anymore.
The feeling felt foreign at first but then a fiery sensation of determination burned outhadowing the guilt she felt underneath.
"Are you there?"
Snapping out of her daze, she quickly answered. "Oh Yes Yes, Speaking."
Caleb Ernesto's indifferent face brightened up slightly, twirling on his office chair with a wide grin on his face like a teenage boy talking to his high school crush.
"It's Caleb Ernesto."
"Oh Yes Caleb, I know."
"I'm going to get brunch at your favorite restaurant by 3 pm, Would you mind tagging along?"
His approach was quite demanding and imposing even but his calm demeanor made his words rather acceptable and Ariana found herself, nodding obediently.
She had forgotten he couldn't see her reactions from the other side of the mobile phone.
Seeing the long silence, Caleb's face fell and his lips formed a slight frown.
Worried, she would reject his offer, he hurriedly added. "Be ready, I'll be outside your house by 2:30."
Beep...
Ariana was about to state her address when the call went red, Caleb had ended the call, and she glanced at the phone with uncertainty.
Certainly, she wasn't ready to get into the dating market right before the end of her 5-year marriage.
But reflecting on the past, she realized she owed Caleb and had to make up to him.
She glanced at the band around her ring finger and a flicker of guilt went through her. The ring was a reminder of her failed marriage that she oddly couldn't come to terms with.
Their marriage had been declining from the start but she forced herself to scale through alone.
Ariana heaved a deep sigh, her hands tugging onto the wedding band she had gotten customized for them.
She hesitantly pulled it out and her eyes darted to the C&A she had gotten engraved on the interior.
It was supposed to be a symbol but it was now an eyesore.
'You aren't going to be wearing the ring for much longer anyways.' Ariana thought.
She comforted herself with these words, packing her blonde hair into a high bun, she threw on a fur trench coat over her tiny frame.
As usual, she beeped Dalia on her phone and they were on their way but when they walked past the dining room, Charles Cole was nowhere to be seen.
Ariana didn't want anyone tracking down her location so she and Dalia only called a cab when they were far from the mansion.
The taxi driver stared at Ariana with pity as Dalia helped her into the car and proceeded to fold the wheelchair, placing it in the trunk.
The taxi stopped at the address given which was before a 5-storey building with the words CE Legal Group boldly written above.
Dalia stepped out of the car first but this time she didn't help Ariana with her wheelchair, Ariana's long legs slowly stepped out of the car leaving the cab driver with a shocked speechless expression.
He wanted to drive away but Ariana had paid handsomely more than he even made from 10 trips for her trip to and fro.
As she strode into the building, a tall handsome man standing by the reception straightened up, adjusting his wide-rimmed glasses as he approached her.
"Good day Miss Wales, I got your message." The tall man greeted her politely, lowering his head slightly, he stretched out his hands.
Ariana accepted his handshake with a smile. "Just call me Ariana please."
"Of course, I'm Jacob Mark, Vice President of the corporation and I'll be personally handling your case."
Although Ariana thought the man seemed too young to be the Vice President of such a major law firm, his posture and countenance had an air of elegance that said otherwise.
"Come with me."
Mr Jacob swiped a platinum card in the elevator slot and it opened up, shutting back after they all got in.
The elevator stopped at the highest floor of the building and they all walked out, entering the office by their right.
"So Miss Ariana, I've read through the file and it's quite complicated, he might decide to sue you for marital fraud as regards the wheelchair."
Ariana frowned lightly, responding to him. "My legs were truly immobile for a few days after the incident."
Jacob's face turned into a grimace, deep in thought, he sighed. "We can't take any chances."
Ariana was silent as she contemplated his words. After she had left the hospital, her legs were numb for a few days as a result of the violence inflicted.
The Cesarean section had also weakened her and she still had spontaneous episodes of pain in her lower belly.
After some minutes of small talk, Ariana and Dalia left the lawyer's office.
Ariana gazed outside the car window the entire ride pondering on the best way to tell her soon-to-be divorced husband she could walk again.
"Stop."
Ariana yelled at the top of her voice spotting a shiny store.
Her sudden yelp jolted Dalia and the taxi driver making them stare at her with mixed expressions.
As the car halted to a screech, Ariana's long legs stepped onto the pavement, practically jogging to the jewelry store.
The staff attendant who was on duty politely smiled at her the moment she walked, moving closer to her, she asked.
"What would you like ma'am?"
The jewelry store was a small place, it looked cheap yet it brought a classic 80's style. Ariana looked out of place in the store but she didn't seem to mind.
"Can I have a look at the white beaded bracelet on the display rack?"
"Of course." The attendant opened the display rack and brought out a set of three bracelets, all black with different wordings but identical styles.
Ariana nodded excitedly and asked, "How much will that be?"
"20$ dollars ma'am." The young attendant smiled sheepishly at her ability to make her purchase less than an hour after her resuming.
Ariana glanced at her noticing the bright smile, she seemed to be in her own little world but she was pleased with her services.
Whenever she dressed so simply, most attendants treated her less favorably but the young lady didn't seem to care.
Ariana brought out a handful of 100 dollars and shoved it in her hands collecting the cheap-looking paper bag from her.
Before the young lady could protest, she hastened her steps back to the car.
"Let's go." She commanded with a huge grin on her face clasping onto her gift like her life depended on it.
Dalia eyed her suspiciously but pursed her lips tightly,relishing the quite solace of the car.
The taxi stopped close to the Cole Mansion and this time, Dalia stepped out then proceeded to pull out the wheelchair from the back of the car.
She set it up and made a turn,helping Ariana into it.
Just as they were about to approach the gated mansion.A voice called out behind them.
"Ariana."