Chapter 13: A Wife AT Home

VIVIAN'S POV

I stood still.

My thoughts were scattered. My anger rose to the sky.

He stretched his hands towards after he had long placed his hands in his pocket.

“Take and sign it off….I have had enough of this meeting. I'm a businessman with a lot of things to attend to!!” He blurted.

I looked down at the papers again. It wasn't a small offer. Ten million dollars could do a lot. It could raise my brand to the heavens. It could make me free, finally!

“But……..” the voice in my head opined.

Taking this money meant leaving Alexander and for just for that moment, that felt like a lot of weight I wasn't ready to let go.

I scanned through the papers one more time and shook my head in disagreement. I pushed it back to him, just a little.

“I want these terms in writing,” I said.

He smiled like he had utterly won me over, “You don't need to sound cool, Vivian. Everything is in writing, right there!!”

I chuckled.

“Not just this, Richard. I meant all of it. The agreement, the non-disclosure and possibly the apartment papers. I want to see all of it before I make my decision…”

He smirked at me….”Before you what? Are you still considering it? This is the biggest offer you can ever get, young woman!!” He blurted out.

“I am not considering it,” I spoke quickly.

“I am… Well, I need those things I asked for, for comparison… with my marriage agreement. With my prenup. I want to see what I signed. I want to know what I'm worth on paper, whether I'm just a deal to this family…” I stammered.

For that moment, it felt like I was negotiating my own freedom and it was just weird.

I paused and looked at Richard dead in the eye, “Alexander can't know about this…So don't even try telling him about this. Just send the terms to me directly,” I said in a rather sharp tone.

“And why is that?” He said with a raised eyebrow.

“Because this is between you and I,” I said. “You said so yourself….” I added.

“Hmmmm…true..but know this,” he pointed his big fingers at me.

“All you have is forty-eight hours and after that, the offer is gone. Whoever finds out about this is definitely from your end and not mine. It would be your problem to deal with, not mine so make your choice quick!!” He spoke in a sharp tone…

I stood up with shaky legs. I didn't understand why that was happening.

“Ooh…I get it now….you don't want him knowing you are here negotiating with me, uhn?”

“I am not negotiating,” I said. “I am listening. There is a difference.”

“Whatever you call it,” Richard said, “just remember. Five million is more than love ever paid you.”

I didn't respond. I simply turned and walked out without looking back. I didn't touch the salad or thank him. I was no longer interested in hearing anything else he had to say.

I got outside, the fresh and cold air hit my face. I let out a sigh. “What do I do?” I muttered to myself.

It was at this point Natalie's call came in and I blinked….”Perhaps I should tell her about everything…” I said as I stared at her call.

“Pfff…I don't need her advice. She would probably say something entirely off..” I responded to myself as I let the phone ring without answering.

I wasn't feeling okay. The discussion I had with Richard kept bugging me so hard like a heavy stone in my chest.

I didn't plan to tell Alexander. At least not until I had compared everything. “I'd let him know about it later on,” I told myself.

That fateful afternoon, I rushed to the workshop to relax and perhaps think about everything once more.

The email came. From Richard’s lawyer. Subject: CONFIDENTIAL FORM

I opened it. Full terms. Ten screaming million dollars. Brooklyn apartment. Sign within 48 hours.

I printed it. Just to hold it. Just to compare it with my prenup, which was in the drawer at home. I folded it and put it in my bag.

*******

I was blank. For minutes. I was back at home and I just couldn't come up with anything.

Alexander came home early. Earlier than usual. He was already home when I walked in. He was sitting on the couch, phone in his hand, jaw tight.

He didn't say a word to me. He didn't even ask about my day.

“Are you with me?” He finally spoke like he had rehearsed the timing.

“What do you mean?” I responded with a raised eyebrow.

“Explain this,” he said, holding up his phone.

On the screen was a forwarded email from Richard’s lawyer to me. I hadn't realized Richard had been copied on the original email. Of course he had.

How could I be so stupid to think Richard would listen to the same ‘me’ he was trying to get rid of??”

My stomach dropped to my feet.

“Alexander, I can explain—”

“Explain what?” he asked, standing up. “That my father offered you ten million dollars to leave me, and you asked for the terms in writing? That you have been negotiating behind my back?”

He said those words and I felt so pissed at myself for agreeing to meet Richard in the first place..

“I was not negotiating!” I said, voice rising. “I asked for the terms to compare them! To see what I signed! I did not agree to anything!” I answered defensively.

“You did not tell me!” he shouted. “You went to meet him alone. You hid it from me. You took his meeting, you took his papers. Gosh!! What was next? Were you going to take the money and leave and I would come home to an empty house?”

“No!” I said. “I was going to tell you—” I stammered.

“When?” he asked. “After you signed? After you left New York? After you count the money?”

His words hit me hard.

He had a point. I had thought about the money. For one second, I had thought about what ten million could do for my business. And now he could see it on my face.

“Alexander, listen to me,” I said, trying to stay calm. “I was insulted. He treated me like I was for sale. I wanted to see the papers to prove to myself I am not for sale. That is all...” I voiced out.

“Then why did you keep them?” he asked, pointing to my bag. “Why did you print them? Why did you hide them in your bag then?”

How did he know about that?

I shook.

I had no answer.