I am divorced

Daniel didn’t stay long at Grandpa Holston’s place as he was in low spirits with the blow that the news of Emile’s departure brought him.

Ronald drove while Daniel sat lost in thought on the way back.

“Why did she leave just like that?” Daniel mumbled as he sat in a daze. 

“Why would she stay?” Ronald retorted rudely “Did you ever give her a reason to stay in these 3 years?”

“Huh?” Daniel turned to look at Ronald feeling lost. He couldn’t explain his current state of mind. He should be happy but why did he feel lost?

“Where to?” Ronald drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. He didn’t want to pursue this topic. Although he never agreed with what Daniel did over the last three years; he didn’t want him to delve into it, especially now that there was no point.

“Your apartment or house?” Ronald asked again, since he didn’t get a response.

“House??” Daniel repeated regretfully before asking “Drop me off at my office.”

The “house” Ronald referred to, was the wedding present Grandpa Holston gave him and Emile as their wedding present. He didn’t want to go there yet! At least not until he was able to digest his current situation.

*************                         ************                      ************                    ********

George, Daniel’s right-hand man and personal assistant was waiting for him with a twisted expression when he arrived at the office.

“What is it?” Daniel asked in a grumpy voice as he sat in his chair behind the desk.

“The board of directors aren’t convinced with the decision to invest in medical research.” George wrinkled his forehead as he continued “Two of the old foggey’s have threatened to withdraw they funds.”

“Threaten…. Ha!” Daniel scoffed as he turned on his laptop “Tell them they are welcome to sell their shares. Buy them back at market price.”

“Anything else?” Daniel raised his head as he saw George standing still without any intention of leaving.

“Michelle called.” George had no idea why his boss was infatuated with that woman. He couldn’t see an honest bone in her when he looked.

“And?”

“She asked me where you were?” George shrugged “I figured the reason she asked me was because you said you were here.” He paused to take in Daniel’s reaction before continuing “I told her you were in a meeting and would pass the message when you came out.”

“Um” Daniel nodded before turning his attention back to his laptop.

“Oh …” Just as George was about to walk out of the office Daniel stopped him “Find out where Emile is staying.”

“Isn’t she with you?” George asked in confusion.

“We got divorced.” Daniel responded flatly before ignoring George’s gossipy eyes and turning back to work. George had no choice but to leave the room with a heart full of gossip.

Daniel sat back tiredly and closed his eyes once George left the room. He wasn’t in the mood for work or company. That’s partly the reason he asked Ronald to drop him off here; He could avoid everyone under the pretext of work. The other reason was he didn’t want to go back to the house. He needed to calm down and sort out his emotions.

He had always known how much Emile liked him. He chose to feign ignorance till he was forced by his Grandpa’s iron fist. Even so, he never gave her any false hopes. He felt he had treated her fairly and felt annoyed when he thought about how she didn’t even have the curtesy to bid a proper farewell. He conveniently forgot the last 6 months and his rudeness on the night of their third wedding anniversary.

His life flashed past him as he sat reminiscing about the last few years. Their cooperative first year, the awkward second year, his acceptance and reluctance towards her affection and his confused feelings and finally the last six months where he turned into a beast flashed past like a reel of movie. Daniel knitted his brows as he reflected on his actions but soon comforted himself that his behavior was justified. His Michelle wouldn’t have run away from him and have to live miserably overseas if it wasn’t for Emile. They had an agreement. She was the one who violated the agreement first, what reason did she have to cry victim?

“Dring…. Dring…. Dring…” Daniel’s phone rang waking up from his thoughts.

“Danie are you okay?” Michelle’s worried voice came through even before he could say hello.

“Um”

“Danie, where are you?” I will come over. Danie, I am worried.” Michelle spoke in one breath without giving Daniel a chance to speak.

“I am in the office.”

“I will come over.” Michelle hung up without waiting for Daniel to respond. Her intuition told her something was wrong with the way Daniel interacted with her during these two days. She wanted to find Emile and find out but hit a brick wall at that end.

Daniel looked at the screensaver he had saved of Michelle and smiled bleakly. What was he worried about. He was finally free… finally free to marry Michelle and give her the title that was rightfully hers. Without realizing, Daniel lifted his righthand and clutched his chest in the position of his heart to ease the stifling feeling.

He hypnotized himself saying this was outcome was inevitable; he couldn’t be unfair to Michelle’s love for him all these years. The only reason he was feeling uncomfortable was because it was abrupt.

Daniel didn’t have to delve in introspection for long as Michelle arrived 10 mins later.

“Danie, baby, are you okay?” Michelle asked in concern as soon as she entered. She walked straight to his desk and sat in his arms hugging his neck without waiting for a response.

“What’s wrong?” She asked again in concern as she lifted her chin to look into his eyes as he didn’t respond.

“I am divorced.” Daniel’s eyes darted trying to elude her gaze.

“Really?” Michelle’s face brightened with excitement, not realizing something was wrong with Daniel.

“Um” Daniel absent-mindedly twirled his finger on her hair.

“That’s great.” Michelle clapped as she sat upright “Now no one will stop us from being together.”

“Um” Daniel hummed against his will. Emile never stopped them; instead they were the ones overindulging in her acquiescence. Now that he had time to think, Emile never once voiced her opinion or requests in their relationship. The only thing against her was Michelle word that Emile threatened her.

He still remembered Emile’s shell-shocked expression and outburst when she heard this. At that time, he had put it down to her trying to cover up her guilty conscience. But now that he had time to calm down and reflect, he was not so sure. Emile’s nature was straightforward. She never had qualms owning up to anything she did.

“Baby, are we going home together today?” Michelle asked as she looked hopefully towards Daniel. She was finally able to get rid of that bitch.

“Let’s go my apartment.”

“Why? Is she there?” Michelle pouted “Does she want the house?”

“Baby, I like that house.” Michelle continued to act like a spoiled child and flirted coquettishly without giving Daniel a chance to speak.

“She didn’t ask for anything.” Daniel knitted his brows in frustration.

“Huh?”

“I don’t want to keep the house. I am planning to dispose it.” Daniel didn’t want to continue the topic.

“Why? Baby, I really like the house.” Michelle drew circles on his chest as she insisted with a pout.

Michelle sat up from her coquettish posture and looked at Daniel with caution when she didn’t hear his agreement. He always agreed with her.

“Do you have feelings for her? Are you regretting it?” Michelle lowered her head with feigned sorrow “Then… then…”

“Don’t .. it’s not like that.” Daniel hurriedly stopped her. He hated seeing her aggrieved look the most.

“I was only thinking about you.” He hugged her close “I thought you wouldn’t want to stay there.”

“Really??” She looked at him skeptically before leaning into his embrace “Then you don’t have to worry. I like that house.” Michelle continued in a soft voice with deep feelings “Although she lived in that house, it was also the house where we officially lived together. There is too many of our memories there.”

She would never tell him the truth. This was the house where she got to trample on the rich miss perfect everyday…. The house where she could affirm her position in his heart was untouchable. To add to that, the house was located in a prime location and was a symbol of status and unshakeable power.

“All right...” Daniel sighed “If you like it!”

Michelle took the key from him and decided to head to the house to make the changes she wanted as she would be the mistress of the house from today onwards.