Chapter Five: The Paper's And The Policy!

Vanessa's POV.

The sharp sound of the doorbell which rang twice filled my ear, just as I was pouring myself a glass of cold watermelon juice.

I moved towards the door and when I opened it, my eyes landed on Lawrence who stood in front of me with a look that lawyers carry when they have something big in their hands.

“Goodmorning, Vanessa.” he greeted with a calm voice. It was almost casual but the white envelope I noticed in his hand wasn't casual at all.

“What are you holding tightly onto Lawrence? Why do I feel you are here to complete a mission?” I asked with a frown on my face as I stepped aside for him to make his way inside the mansion.

“It belongs to you. It is your divorce petition. Damon has already signed it. All you need to do is sign the divorce papers. And it becomes official.” he said, stretching it towards me as though it was a peace offering.

For a moment, I just looked straight into his eyes. My chest tightened at his words, but not with sadness. It was more like my body felt relief, mixed with the familiar pain of betrayal.

Then out of nowhere, a loud laugh burst from my lips as it echoed in the walls of the mansion.

“Of course he has,” I said, snatching the pen from Lawrence's breast pocket. “The cheat can't wait to get rid of me, as though he caught me fucking another man. What a goddamn joke.” 

I made sure that I signed boldly on the divorce papers so no one would have to ask me for my signature twice, in case they felt it wasn't visible enough.

“I have signed the papers and I am handing it over to you with a message for you to deliver to him. Tell Damon Thorne to frame this into a portrait so he can get to stare at it everyday of his life.” I said with a cold voice and Lawrence's lips curved into a smile.

“Now that we have gotten the signatures out of the way. What are you seeking in the divorce settlement?” he asked and I leaned back against the drinking bar, crossing my arms.

“My settlement from this divorce will be an unequal distribution of assets. I am heavy on the unequal. I built his company from nothing but my brains and my hustle, and he knows it. I'm not walking away with scraps.”

“That can be arranged,” Lawrence said without any hesitation. “I will draft it up and submit it to the court. Once we have a date, I will let you know when to appear in court so we can finalize the divorce.”

“That is perfect, Lawrence”

“I will be leaving now,” he said.

“Sure. Let me walk you out.” I urged as he walked in front and I followed behind. Then we finally arrived at the door as I spoke up.

“Thank you so much Lawrence” I said and he nodded at me before turning his back against me as he walked away.

I shut the door in front of me, and when I turned around, my mother was standing there with her perfect posture and her sharp eyes which stared at me in a questionable way.

“Who was that?” she asked.

“It was Lawrence, our family lawyer” I said, walking past her towards the living room. “Damon has already signed the divorce papers. We will be in court soon to finalize everything.”

My mother's lips formed into a bright satisfied smile and she spoke up. “That is a good riddance and now that your divorce is nearly done. We can move forward with finalizing your wedding date with Lucian” she said and I stopped mid way and turned to face her.

“Who is Lucian?” I asked and my mother's expression towards me felt as though she wanted to rip out my heart and serve it on a golden platter to her appeasers.

“Don't get me started with you Vanessa. It is too early for us to start arguing, don't you know who Lucian is? He is Mrs Adisa's son. The man you went on a blind date with.” she explained and I hummed at her words.

“I didn't know his name was Lucian. Anyways I will leave the marriage preparation over to you. As for me, I can't remain idle and I want to focus on starting my own company.”

“Why don't you work with your father? You will have the resources, the security-”

“I want independence, mom.” I said with a firm voice. “I built Damon's company from scratch. I did all of it underground, I was with nothing but a laptop and an idea. I can do the same for myself.”

“But your father needs help-” my mom tried to speak but this time around I won't let her have a say, especially in my career.

“He has ten thousand employees in Roothmoore Conglomerate,” I cut in. “He is a billionaire with more staff than some small countries have. The company will survive without me. I know it's partly mine, but I want to build something that is mine entirely. My work. My name.”

My mom folded her lips together, the exact way she always did when she was deciding whether to argue or just leave it be.

“Mom, please I am politely begging you not to force me into doing what you want because this time around I won't. I am ready to disobey you, so you have to encourage me instead and let me prove to you and dad that I can do this all on my own.” I said softly.

And before she could answer me, my phone rang. I looked at the screen and stepped aside to take the call.

“Yeah. It's Vanessa Roothmoore speaking,” I said quietly, walking towards the window and there was a pause from me as I stopped right at the spot, then my heartbeat increased.

“I will be there in thirty minutes.” I said and I hung up immediately, walking back to my mother.

“I have something important to take care of. I will be back later.” 

I leaned in closer to her and I placed a kiss on her cheek, heading out of the house towards the garage.

My slippers made sounds on the floor until I reached my car. I pressed the remote button on my car keys but the door wouldn't open. I frowned and pressed it again. Still I got nothing out of it.

“That won't work.” I heard a deep voice behind me.

I turned around, only for my eyes to land on a tall man in a tailored black suit with broad shoulders.

“And you are?”

“My name is Marcus. Your father assigned me to be your new bodyguard. He had your car's access changed. And from now on, I am assigned to drive you wherever you need to go.” he said and I blinked at him.

“Excuse me? You changed my car's access without my permission?”

“It was your father's orders,” Marcus replied and I giggled at his words.

“I have been perfectly fine living all on my own without a babysitter. I am not used to dragging people around with me like a handbag. Go back and tell him I don't accept his care.” I retorted as I stretched forth my hand.

“Hand over the keys to me. Do it right now!” I commanded and he hesitated, clearly trapped between my father's orders and my dangerous glare.

“Marcus,” I called out his name with a sharp voice. “Hurry up. I have somewhere important to be.”

He pulled out the car from his pocket and placed them in my palm.

“Thank you,” I said, entering into the driver's seat and I zoomed out of the garage before he could say another word to me, which would make me angry.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The hospital smelled faintly of antiseptic and too many unspoken stories of mine, which I didn't feel there was a need to share with anybody.

I walked up to the reception desk, and the nurse handed me a clipboard.

“Fill this out before we begin,” she said.

My eyes landed on the word: Termination of pregnancy.

My fingers moved involuntarily as I wrote my name. For three years, I had wanted a child. I ached for one. I had always been a strong lover of children, and I imagined my baby tiny hands trying to hold onto my fingers.

And how I would hear my babies laugh at the silly jokes I would say to them, alongside the silly faces. But I didn't want my dreams to be like this. Not with the wrong father.

It was no lie that I could raise my baby alone. I had more than enough money to give them the best life possible. But society had it's consequences. I had seen how merciless it was to children without fathers.

Questions were being raised. They were judgements and pity present in every conversation. And I wouldn't let my child start it's life under a shadow.

“I’m sorry my beautiful baby. Please forgive your mommy and come back to me when there is a father who will accept and love you too.” I thought, rubbing my stomach gently.

“I'm done.” I said, handing the clipboard back to the nurse.

“Let me guide you to the next step.” she said as she led me through the corridors to a quiet cabin. And a woman with a white coat looked up at me, from her desk.

“Vanessa Roothmoore?” she asked.

“That's me.”

“I am Dr. Elise Morgan.” she said as she gestured to the chair opposite her. “Please, sit.”

I sat down on the chair and I placed my hand on my thighs.

“So, is this decision yours alone or has anyone pressured you into it?” she questioned gently.

“This decision is mine and no one is forcing me. I know it's hard. But it has to be done.” I replied and she nodded slowly at me, then she leaned back.

“I am not here to question your choice. But what you are asking me to do right now goes against this hospital regulations.”

“What do you mean?.”

“As an obstetrician- Gynecologist, I specialize in terminations,” she said carefully. But I also took an oath. In this facility, I can only proceed if the father of your unborn child is present or a family member.”

The air seemed to freeze between us and it felt as though it was two of us in the entire hospital.

“What?” I exclaimed, without even realising my voice was loud.

“That is the policy.” Dr. Morgan said softly. “Either the father, or a family member, has to be here with you.”