Chapter TwentyAnnika's POVThe world has to be messing with me. What on earth is this annoying living being doing in my meeting? How did he even get to know that I was going to be here today, or is this a mere coincidence?I am sure it isn't. I know Ares is trying his best to make my life a living hell. I know this!Ares sits across the other end of the table, scanning my looks as I walk into the room and set my eyes on him.“Wow!” He says aloud, like he is met with something way past his expectations. He begins to clap. Every hit of his clap shook me with a fear that I didn't know where it stems from. He keeps clapping till he stands up. His well-defined cheekbones raises as he smiles widely. He actually seems impressed. Maybe I'm getting the wrong signal.Fidgeting, I hold the bag in my hand closely to the front of my legs and stand still.Everyone in the room pauses as the air in the room clearly wasn't the normal air they expected to breathe that morning. “I'd,” I clear my thr
Chapter NineteenAnnika's POVI don't know which is harder. The fact that I'm hunting for a job that I know nothing about and having to smile through them, or the fact that I know how miserable I will be working my ass off in a nine-to-five that I had never seen myself doing.Sloane is sitting in her car, waving at me. Her small face hidden in her bob is joyful as she shines her teeth like a child. “You've got this, and I'd be back for you when you're done.” Her hand moves in the direction of her words as she reminds me, “You are the best candidate for this job. We've rehearsed this many times, and I know that you will get all their credits.” I am not even sure I remember half of what we practiced but I can't help but wave back with a forced smile that I hope doesn't reflect on my face. I wouldn't want to make Sloane feel bad.“Or do you need me to walk you in?” She yells as I move farther from her.I turn and yell, “No!”Rethinking how I yelled, I add, “I mean, you have to attend yo
Chapter EighteenAnnika's POVThe air in the room thins as we meet the hard truth that we don't have access to money, which also means I can't get a fair shake out of my situation. “I can't believe he will go this length.” I use my hand to push my hair away from my face as I sink into my thoughts of how ruined my life is right now. “Is he even supposed to have access to the money given to you by your dad? Who does this man think he is, like?” Sloane bitterly spit words. “I can't believe in a developed time like this, someone can still have access to one's life this much because he is married to the person.” Sloane stands and walks away from the table, towards the kitchen, which openly leads into the dining room.“You should be able to call your dad and ask him for this help. At least, there should be a little bit of fatherhood left in his heart to play for you.”I shake my head as Susan raises the option. “He won't help. They are working together. It's obvious now. I didn't know wh
Chapter Seventeen Annika's POV“Large amount?” I turn to Susan and then back to Sloane. I don’t know why Susan is asking me such a question or what she might be needing it for.“Yeah. If we want to access these lies that Ares has put in your name on this divorce file, we need some strong connections to be on our side. He sure knows what he’s doing.” Susan walks over, her dark hair pulled into a sharp bun, her lawyer’s eyes already dissecting every line of the document like a surgeon with a scalpel. She places the file down in front of me with more force than necessary.Sloane uses her arm to swipe aside the leftovers on the table, making space for Susan to place the file in front of me. Susan leans closer, tapping the papers with a manicured finger. “He’s structured this so that technically, you’re not divorced until certain financial conditions are met. It’s messy, deliberately messy, so you’ll think you’re walking away with millions but”“But I’m not,” I whisper, because I hadn't
Chapter Sixteen Annika's POVThis new person and the expectations of Sloane that I will like the person makes me uncomfortable. It's her house anyway. I'm the intruder in her life. I don't think it's jealousy I feel but I can't express why it's uncomfortable for me knowing someone else will be with us.What if the person judges me with my past experiences, like the rest of the world? How will I be able to manoeuvre, having to deal with an extra person in a time like this?I have hopes that being here is my peaceful resolution, and now, a part of my peace might be cut short.“Will she be staying with us?” I stand in haste and ask while she walks to get the door. I needed to know if it was going to cost me to leave or not. “She will. Don't worry, Mrs Brooker, you have nothing to worry about, Suz. She's perfect.”It feels odd hearing someone address me by Mrs Brooker, worse, because it's coming from Sloane. “You should just call me, Annika,” I say in a low tone in the hope that she h
Chapter FifteenAnnika's POV“Get yourself a life! Miserable old lady.” Sloane turns to the woman and yells. “It's easy to talk about someone else's life and analyse it like they are some fool when you haven't had to sit in their shoes.”The crowd watches Sloane as she speaks, and they remain calm. “What is this supposed to be? Adult Bullying? This shouldn't be the community where words like these are heard. I thought we were all to support one another?” Sloane speaks bitterly. Her house is nearby, and I believe she's familiar with those people who were speaking. I could not bear it as I stood there in their midst. I did not want Sloane to have to fight for me in public, despite appreciating it so much. At least it shows how much they are willing to hear my side of the story when it's someone else standing up for me since I never get the audience to say the right words myself.“Let's get going. I don't want to be here anymore.” I whisper in the back of Sloane's ear as she stands in