chapter four

Mitchelle

The next six days passed in a blur of fabrics and aggressive credit card swipes as Danika took control of my life with the precision of a military general. She dragged me to the most exclusive boutiques in the city and forced me to try on dresses that cost more than my first car.

"This isn't just about looking good Chelley, this is war paint," Danika declared while holding up a dress that looked like liquid fire. "When you walk into that room you need to look like the woman he couldn't afford to keep."

I tried on the dress and looked in the mirror. For the first time in three years I didn't see the tired infertile wife who begged for affection. I saw a goodess.

"Shoulders back," Danika commanded while adjusting my posture. "You don't walk like you are apologizing for your existence anymore. You walk like you own the ground beneath your feet."

We spent hours practicing my walk in the hallway of her apartment. Danika taught me how to hold my head high and how to look at people without really seeing them.

"You are the prize," she repeated over and over until I started to believe it. "He threw you away and now you are going to show him exactly what he lost."

On the seventh day Danika took me to a private beauty house downtown. I sat in the chair for three hours while a team of professionals worked on my hair and makeup. When they turned the chair around I gasped because the woman staring back at me was a stranger. My skin glowed and my eyes looked dangerous.

"You are ready," Danika announced with a proud smile. "Let's go crash a party."

We drove to the Hunt Estate in Danika’s car. The driveway was lined with luxury vehicles and the sound of a string quartet drifted through the open windows. I felt a moment of hesitation as we approached the massive front doors but Danika squeezed my hand.

"Do not stop," she whispered.

The doors swung open and we stepped into the grand ballroom. The chatter of the elite guests died down instantly as heads turned to look at the new arrivals. I walked into the room with the confidence Danika had drilled into me and let the silence wash over me.

"Is that her?" a woman whispered loudly near the entrance.

"It can't be," another replied. "She looks..."

Jason and Chloe stood at the front of the room holding champagne flutes. They looked like the perfect couple until they saw me. Jason’s jaw dropped and he took a step forward as if he couldn't believe his eyes.

"Is that chelley?" Chloe asked while clutching Jason’s arm.

"I am not sure," Jason muttered while squinting at me.

I walked straight toward them with Danika flanking me like a bodyguard. My parents stood beside the happy couple smiling like they had won the lottery. My stepmother looked me up and down with a sneer while my father refused to meet my eyes.

"Congratulations," I stated smoothly when I reached them.

"You actually came," Jason replied while recovering his composure. "And you cleaned up well Mitchelle."

"I am here to finalize our business," I corrected him while pulling a sleek envelope from my clutch.

"Did you sign the divorce papers?" Chloe asked eagerly.

"I signed the divorce petition," I confirmed while handing the envelope to Jason. "But I also included a counter-agreement that you need to read very carefully before you pop that champagne."

Jason frowned and opened the envelope. He pulled out the documents Danika had drafted and began to read. His face went pale.

"What is this?" he hissed. "Forty million dollars?"

"Consider it a settlement for the emotional distress and the medical fraud regarding my eggs," I explained calmly. "Or if you prefer not to pay you can agree to the second option."

"I am not giving you forty million dollars," Jason laughed while looking around to make sure no one heard. "You are delusional."

"Then read the second option," Danika interjected. "Option B is that you remain legally married to Mitchelle for exactly thirty more days. She lives in the house and she retains her title as Mrs. Hunt. After thirty days she will sign the final divorce decree and walk away for good."

"Why would I do that?" Jason demanded.

"Because if you don't agree to either Option A or Option B we file the lawsuit attached on page three," I revealed. "A five hundred million dollar suit for reproductive theft fraud and emotional abuse. We will release the medical records proving you harvested my eggs under false pretenses and we will destroy your stock price before the market opens."

Jason looked at the lawsuit draft. He looked at the detailed accusations and the list of witnesses Danika had compiled.

"You can't prove any of this," Chloe argued while trying to snatch the papers.

"We have the dates and the signed forms and the testimony of the nurse who administered the injections," Danika lied smoothly. "Do you really want to test us in court Chloe?"

Jason pulled Chloe aside and whispered furiously to her.

"We can't afford a scandal right now," I heard him hiss. "The merger is fragile. If this goes public the investors will pull out."

"But forty million Jason?" Chloe whined. "That is our money!"

"I am not paying her forty million," Jason snapped. "We take the second option. It is just one month Chloe. She stays in the house and we ignore her. In thirty days she is gone forever and we save the money."

Chloe hesitated while looking at me with pure hatred. She looked at my dress and my makeup and the way Jason’s eyes lingered on me for a second too long.

"Fine," Chloe spat. "One month. But she sleeps in the guest room."

Jason turned back to me with a tight smile.

"We accept your terms," he announced. "Option B. You stay for one month."

"Excellent," I replied while taking a glass of champagne from a passing waiter.

Jason turned to the crowd and raised his voice.

"Attention everyone," he called out. "There has been a change of plans. The wedding announcement is postponed due to some legal technicalities that need to be resolved. Please enjoy the evening."

A ripple of shock went through the room as guests began to whisper furiously. My parents rushed over looking furious.

"What are you doing Mitchelle?" my stepmother demanded. "You are ruining your sister's happiness!"

"You ruined my life when you sold me to him," I countered while looking her dead in the eye. "Thank goodness you always hated me because it makes it very easy to not care about your opinion anymore."

"You are ungrateful," my father muttered.

"I am surviving," I corrected him.

The guests began to filter out leaving only the family in the center of the empty ballroom. Chloe walked up to me with Jason trailing behind her.

"It is just for a month," Chloe sneered. "You think you can win him back but you are wrong. He loves me. In thirty days you will be on the street and we will be married."

"I don't want him back Chloe," I laughed while taking a sip of the champagne. "I just want to watch you squirm."

"Get out of my sight," Jason ordered while rubbing his temples. "Go to the guest room Mitchelle."

"Actually," I smiled while checking my watch. "I am the lady of the house for the next thirty days Jason. I sleep in the master bedroom. You can sleep in the guest room with your mistress."

"You are pushing your luck," Jason warned.

"I am holding the detonator," I reminded him while tapping the lawsuit documents. "Do not test me."

I turned to Danika who gave me a victorious wink.

"I will see you tomorrow," Danika promised while hugging me. "Give them hell Chelley."

"I sure will," I replied.

I watched Jason and Chloe standing there looking defeated and angry. They had won the battle three years ago but the war had just begun. I turned on my heel and walked toward the grand staircase leaving them in the ruins of their celebration.

"One month," I whispered to myself as I climbed the stairs. "Let the games begin.”