Clarabelle POV
It's stifling. I'm eating my tiramisu as Darren reads over and rereads the divorce agreement. I hate waiting. Carter is looking through the pictures and keeps looking from me to Darren with a lost look on his face.
"Mrs. Sylvester, can I see what else is in that folder?" Carter breaks the silence.
"Sure. Have at it. I've made copies and sent them over to my representative." I say sliding over the folder like I wasn't handing over the evidence I gathered against my husband for nearly a month now just so I could divorce him.
"'Representative'. Clarabelle, what games are you playing? What the fuck is this?" Darren says, looking at me furiously.
"Darren, I really don't understand why you're so upset. You used to threaten me with divorce all the time. You've cheated on me so many times I think I may actually be a saint, and to top it all off, you yourself have told me over and over again how you don't love me and you simply just wouldn't see a need in doing so. So why all the fuss? Just do us both a favor and sign it." I retort calmly, telling him what I should've said years ago.
"Why after all this time is all of that bothering you now? We divorce and then what? You get to fuck around too? Is that what this is about?" I have to hand it to him. For a man who has achieved a lot and has been recognized by many for his brilliance, he's a pretty dumb guy. I laugh, honestly flattered that he thinks I am capable enough and attractive enough to sleep around in the first place.
"You know what Darren, I honestly hadn't thought about that until you'd just mentioned it. Given that my husband of almost 6 years has been finding other women to sleep with and occupy his time I hadn't thought myself able to attract any other man. I mean hell, I couldn't even keep the one man I loved." I say laughing bitterly and finishing my dessert.
"This isn't funny, Clare. And I'm not signing this until I figure out what your real motive is. Like you said it's almost been 6 years, I know you. You wouldn't just leave me." Wow. The confidence in this man is truly beyond. He technically isn't wrong though. If I hadn't gotten pregnant, would I have made the same choice?
"Oh, Darren. Think what you want. Remember you only have 24 hours to sign or it gets serious. I don't want to bother you with all that. I mean look, I even did this at a time we would both already be meeting so we wouldn't waste extra time. I know you're very busy. " I say with a sigh.
"Did you find another man?" He suddenly asks frantically. He darts his eyes at Carter.
"Is it Carter? Lucas? Shit. Is it Pierre? Who is it? You can't possibly like Sandre." He gets up and walks to my side of the table. I stand up too and look him in the eye.
"You cannot possibly think I'm the reason why I want a divorce. You cannot possibly be that selfish and horrible. I did not decide this because I like Carter, or Lucas, or Pierre or even fucking Sandre Wilson. This is about you being a shit husband. If you have no more VALID questions I'm leaving. I have things to do." I grab my things and walk away from the table. I find the waitress and hand her a few bills to pay for the tab then walk out to hail a cab.
Back at the firm I get out of the elevator and see Ashley rushing towards me in her high heels very seriously.
"Mrs. Sylvester, Mr. Graves is in your office waiting for you. You also got several calls from Mr. Sylvester and your brother, Mr. Laney." She reports walking next to me and I hand her my handbag and thank her.
"Thank you, Ashley. I'll go to my office now. Any calls from my brother can wait. If Mr. Sylvester calls again or Mr. Sinclair, ask them to leave a message and I will get back to them." I direct her and walk into my office to see the one and only Mr. Lucas Bailey Graves.
"Lucas. To what do I owe the pleasure." I say light-heartedly. I take a seat on the sofa in front of the love seat Lucas is sat in.
"Darren sent me a message earlier about the proposal and then I got a message from your secretary. Figured I'd stop by since you're resigning soon and I probably won't get to see much of you after you leave the firm. Maybe I'll catch you visiting the corporate building when you visit Darren." He replies back in an easy manner. Talking with Lucas was always easy. He was always very nice and laid back. Unless he was talking about money it was always pleasant conversing with him.
"Alright, let's get straight to it then. Afterwards we can catch up and head out. I have dinner plans this evening." I straighten up and pull out the draft with all of Darren's mark ups. I open the notepad that's always on the center table and we start redrafting the parts about expenses. I have Ashley send me the revised draft from earlier and I refill the areas with the new numbers and forward it to Lucas and Darren.
"I'll get this notarized and sent to the entertainment director as well as Darren. Thank you for helping me finish quickly." I say with a smile packing away all the documents and pens.
"No problem. I prefer working like this. You're always efficient and get it done fast. I'm sad to see you leave when we work so well together." Lucas jokes sultrily. I laugh with a glint of mischief in my eyes.
"Don't say it like that or others might think we work well in other ways. Don't want my husband to get upset." I muse. We stand up to walk out together when suddenly Darren bursts through my door.
"Darren? What are you doing here?" I ask curiously.
"Can't I come see my wife? What is Lucas doing here?" He rebuts disparagingly. This man has absolutely no shame.
"We were working, husband. Did you receive the new contract for the project?" I remark with a biting tone. "We just finished and were heading out since it's already 6." Lucas cuts in and states.
"Clara said she had dinner plans tonight, were they with you?" Lucas questions eyeing me and Darren.
"ye-"
"No." I hurriedly cut off Darren and walked out past him. "I'm going out with Ashley, my secretary. I hate to depart so hastily, but I'm already late. I'll see you gentlemen later. Ashley, sorry to keep you waiting." I say all in one breath, rushing to Ashley's desk.
"It's no problem, Mrs. Sylvester. Should we head out now?" Ashley curtly says as she hands me my handbag and jacket that I keep as part of my wardrobe in the office just in case. She grabs her own bag and jacket and we head to the elevator.
"Mrs. Sylvester?" Ashley quietly says as we ride down the elevator.
"Yes?" I say back
"If you don't mind me asking. Are you avoiding Mr. Sylvester? He's been calling all afternoon and even showed up, and you completely dodged him. Did something happen?" She asks with her bright blue eyes wide in question.
I sigh and turn to look at her. "Is it that obvious?" I ask with exasperation dripping in my voice.
"It is, Mrs. Sylvester. Is it because of all the gossip this morning?" She asks, still staring at me.
"No, well, not really. I'll explain when we get to the restaurant. What are you feeling?" I ask her as we head towards the busy street.
"How about Japanese? They have warm food and good liquor." She simply states, she must've thought about where to go all day.
"Sounds perfect. I'll follow your lead." I smile and she smiles back and we hail a cab and head to a place downtown.
I am pleasantly surprised by Ashley's company tonight. She's actually really sweet and fun. She went to school in California and came to Seattle after reading an article about Silverbane Enterprises. She actually came to work here because of me. I don't know why but that really touched me. She had so many hopes and dreams and goals it reminded me of when I was 22 and newly married to Darren. I finished my degree in business and applied to law school in Washington State. I wanted to stay as close as possible. But, Ashley isn't held back by those things. She's single, young, smart and beautiful. She has so much going for her.
"You know Mrs. Sylvester, I've been dreaming about getting to do this since I first started working at Silver Law. I can't believe it's happening now. I'm a little disappointed it's probably the only time I'll get to, but still." Ashley says dreamily.
"Hm. It may not be our last time. I'm actually really enjoying this. I can't believe I never took the time to do this before." I chuckle as I take another sip of my water.
"Sorry for letting you drink alone. I just haven't been in a drinking mood lately." I say apologetically.
"It's no problem. Since it may not be our last time eating out we'll just drink next time." Ashley says cheerfully.
"Ashley, I actually brought you out tonight because I wanted to talk to you about something." I say and I can feel the tone of the night shift with the breeze. Ashley turns to me and bites her lip with anxiousness in her bright blue eyes.
"Mrs. Sylvester, I'm so sorry." Ashley suddenly starts with tears clouding her eyes.
"Ashley, I don't blame you for sleeping with Darren. I promise." I try to reassure her as I scoot a little closer to pat her shoulder.
"Why? You should hate me. I hate myself everyday knowing that I did that to you. When I had come in that week after you found out I thought you'd ask me to resign. I even kept a letter of resignation in my desk waiting for you to ask me." She confesses, full on bawling at this point.
"Ashley, why would I do that? You're a great secretary. You've never been late, or disrespected me. You work overtime with me nearly every day. Even if I had asked you to resign or even fired you in that case, Darren would get his hands on any other pretty girl he could find." I say with a sigh and pour myself another glass of water. Ever since I found out I was pregnant, I've been so thirsty.
"Listen, Ashley, I am not resigning because of you. Nor am I resigning because of any of the rumors surrounding Darren and his various escapades. On my last day I'll tell you why, just know that I have my reasons. Also know that you are not one of them." I say to her with conviction and make sure she clearly understands.
Ashley wipes her tear stained eyes and turns to me with a question in her expression.
"On your last day? Is it something even more serious than adultery? Mrs. Sylvester, I'm sorry, but I refuse to believe that all those things and rumors don't bother you." Ashley queries. I can understand her doubt, and I'd be lying if I said that all those things never bothered me. Of course they did. And still do.
"I never said that the 'adultery' or rumors don't bother me, I said it wasn't my reason for leaving. Anyways! Now that that's over and done with, let's finish eating and have a good time." I say with a smile and pick up some takoyaki.
After we were done eating and realized it was almost 1am, Ashley and I went our separate ways. I didn't want to return to the Sylvester manor, but I know I have to keep up appearances until Darren and I separate.
Once I arrive I step out of my taxi and pay the fare. Making my way to the gate I notice two Lamborghini Aventadors. One that is black with white stripes and one that is white with black stripes. I walk over to the house door with a smile and shake my head knowing exactly who is here.
"SHE WHAT!?" I hear a shrill voice as soon as I open the door. Ah. He must be telling Lucile and Sandre about the divorce.
"Hello? Lucile?" I called out worried she might yell out again. I walk over to the living room and put my bags and jacket down. I sit and hear the rapid clicking of Lucile's high heels and the tapping of two other people following her.
As she comes into my field of vision I see Lucile's light brown hair and her crystal green eyes furrowed into disbelieving concern. I smile at her and stand up again to greet her. Suddenly she hugs me and forces me back onto the couch.
"Divorce? Do you want to leave me? What about Madam Sylvester and Madi? You can't just leave us!" She exclaims aggrievedly. I chuckle and hug her back, forcing us apart a bit. She's the youngest of Darren's friend group and she took to me as a little sister.
"Lucile, of course I'm not leaving you. It's Darren I'm leaving." I say it straight. I can feel ice coming from where I presume Darren is sitting and continue to ignore him.
"Ha! Nice, she finally got tired of you and all your games, Dare. Maybe I can give it a go." I hear Sandre and roll my eyes.
"That's never going to happen. And she's the one playing games. I mean divorce, really?" Darren scoffs and walks to sit in the armchair closest to me.
"Games? Darren, what are you even saying? Is my proposed happiness a game to you?"