Chapter Three - Where Will She Go

                Leon followed the yellow cab through the crowded streets because he knew this was a shit-show of Michael’s making and Juliette always ended up knee deep in its consequences. He kept wondering why she allowed herself to be injured by Michael’s actions. Leon worried Juliette would injure herself one day when Michael went too far, and she wouldn’t be able to get past her humiliation.

                Juliette knew two things on her wedding day about the prenup agreement they had forced her to sign. Michael kept everything from before and during the marriage, and she would receive nothing. Michael ignored a minor detail saying that anything she created during the marriage belonged to her. Since he’d destroyed anything, she’d brought into the marriage and believed he’d kept a tight rein on the money he gave her to use. Michael also believed he’d made it impossible for Juliette to work so that he could keep her where he wanted her. Despite Michael’s efforts, Juliette found a way to work and hid that work from him.

               Juliette sat in the taxi watching the city slip past the car window beside her. Humbling wasn’t a harsh enough word to describe her feelings. She hoped that she had enough set up to survive with. She’d authored a novel and sold it. With its success, her agent pushed her for another. Now she was writing a third novel and her agent wanted to send her off on a tour to promote her books. Until now, she’d said no.

Juliette didn’t want to reveal her efforts or success to Michael.

                Right now, she had no interest in her writing career. Tonight, she would indulge in self-pity and mourn the loss of her marriage or the farce it had become.

                “Ma’am, I’d like to confirm the address I’m taking you to?” The taxi was already moving and yet the driver was asking her this.

                Juliette sighed from this minor annoyance. “223 Hearth St.” Juliette kept a small apartment where she kept her writing space. Her pen name had its own identity, and she kept it inside that apartment. 

                Juliette was ready to abandon her current life and become A.K. Crusader, fantasy romance author. 

                About a year ago, things got so hectic for Ms. Crusader and Juliette had to stop going to her monthly spa weekend in favour of spending her entire weekend writing. When Michael went on business trips or golfing tours, she’d come here to write. 

                “How are you going to pay, Ma’am?”

                 “Take the payment from the app, please. I’ll wait to make sure you receive payment.” Juliette sat in the taxi for a moment while the driver finished the transaction. When the driver popped the trunk of the taxi, Juliette stepped out of the taxi and retrieved her bags. When she straightened, a Mercedes Benz glided to a stop a few lampposts away. This wasn’t the type of vehicle that stopped in this neighbourhood. Leon, the ass, owned several. Annoyed, she decided she wouldn’t confront him. Instead, she headed into the building where she now lived as A.K. Crusader. The main entrance door closed behind after she saw Leon striding toward the building. But it locked behind her. He didn’t get in and all he saw was her entering the elevator.

                Leon watched the floor number above the elevator door as it rose. Its elevator stopped at the fourth floor.

                Leon took a photo of the names on the small apartment building’s communication system. He had a feeling he or Michael would need this, eventually.

                Leon saved the phone number she’d given him under her name and started a photo album for the video, and now this photo. He added notes with the address and floor.

                Who did Juliette know here? Eventually, Michael would want to know.

                At least Juliette isn’t alone. He’d already confirmed her name didn’t appear on the list of residents.

                Once he was back in his car and driving, he tried calling Michael again. “I’m working what?”

                “Well, I would normally congratulate you on your third-year anniversary. But you are eighty percent of the way to being divorced. So, I won’t.” Leon felt disgusted at Michael right now. The man didn’t learn from his mistakes. Leon only dated Aria after she left Michael. The friends knew she’d run when Michael pressed her to sign the prenup agreement.

Leon was unaware of the prenup and trusted Aria’s claim that Michael had cheated on her, leading to the disrupted wedding plans. He’d taken pity on her and helped her leave.

                Michael was silent for several seconds before he responded. “What are you talking about?”

                “Let me send you a video. I suggest you watch it at once. Seriously, watch the video ASAP.” When he stopped at a red light, Leon sent Michael the video he recorded for Juliette. “She made me record that for you. What the fuck, Michael? This is a new low for you.” Aria may have suckered Leon into taking her away and pampering her for a time. But she wouldn’t screw up Leon that badly. Michael had treated Aria like a queen who could do no wrong.

                Leon could hear the video playing and then Michael cursing. “Why didn’t you call me before she signed? Those documents weren’t supposed to be delivered until tomorrow and handed to me.” Michael watched as Juliette went numb and shut down. She wasn’t supposed to shut down. She was supposed to fight and give him hell. Juliette was supposed to show her true colours and demand her due. She shut everything down. 

                “So, you planned to divorce her, just not at your wedding anniversary party?”

                “What party?”

                “The party your now ex-wife threw for you because Judith Bloom and her country club posse pressured her to throw it.”

                “It’s not locked in stone. My signature isn’t on it. So, she can’t file it. I’ll go home and rip it up in front of her face. Or lock it up in my office safe.”

                “Good luck with that. She left when I did.”

Leon found he wasn’t willing to offer the information on Juliette’s whereabouts.

                “She’ll be back when her money runs out. I give her a day or two. A week tops.” Michael was sure Juliette wouldn’t be able to live the life she’d become accustomed to after marrying him. Sure, he kept a tight rein on the money. But he didn’t neglect her.

                “Oh, stop by the security desk. She left her key card there for you, and you have quite the clean up waiting for you, as well.” Leon could hear Michael’s teeth grind in annoyance. The man despised an unkept house. He’d been lucky because Juliette prided herself on her household skills. 

                 Michael watched the video again. This put a wrench in his plans. Their marriage should have lasted two more years before he made any decisions on divorce.

                Those papers weren’t supposed to be signed. He’d planned to use them to force her to end the affair she was having.