“We’re pretty swamped here, Dad, but I’ll see what I can do. That said, I really need to get back to my office. I can walk you out, and we can catch up later,” I said firmly, leaving no room for further discussion, which seemed to piss him off even more.
Masking his annoyance, he spoke with a smile. “Of course. We’re actually having a small get-together in a few days or so. Spoke to Gavin about it this morning. His parents will be there too. Should be fun.”
That son of a bitch.
I let out a sigh. “Dad, Gavin, and I are... going through something right now. I don’t think now would be a good idea—” I tried, but he cut me off.
“Nonsense. I haven’t seen my only daughter in years, and your mother misses you terribly. Every marriage has rough patches. And he seemed fine over the phone, excited even to spend time as a big happy family once again.”
“Right… I’ll try to make it,” I muttered, and he nodded, satisfied with my answer at the moment.
“Good. It’ll be just like old times.”
I bit my tongue as my blood began to boil.
Thinking of the past only made me more infuriated as memories of me enduring the misogyny, the berating, the scolding, the belittling, the chastising, the lecturing, and the criticism began to surface. And I would sit there with a smile, hiding my tears as my husband watched silently.
Just like old times.
Stepping out of my car, I slammed the door shut before marching my way up to the building of Gavin’s law firm. Ripping the door open, I stormed into the lobby and everyone went silent as my heels rang through the room.
The receptionist looked over to me and stuttered, “Ms. Hart, Mr. Johnson is currently in a m-meeting—” But she was already out of my earshot as I walked over to the elevator.
Going up to his office floor, I stormed out the doors and caught the attention of a man stepping out of a conference room down the hall. He was speaking on the phone, but as his eyes lifted to meet mine, his face paled .
“I’m going to have to call you back…” he muttered as I marched toward him.
“Rosenna—” he began, but I cut him off.
“Where the hell is he, Brent?!” I seethed.
He seemed almost frozen, like he didn’t know how to open his fucking mouth. Though I wouldn’t have blamed him. I probably looked enraged and bat-shit crazy. But I didn’t care about any of that.
“He’s in a meeting,” he said after a moment.
I crossed my arms. “Then pull him out of it. I need to talk to him.Now.”
Brent ran his hand through his hair, stressing as he averted his eyes from me for a split second before he let out a sigh. “Rosenna, he’s busy. Wait for him in his office, and I’ll tell him you’re here—”
“Don’t bother. I’ll tell him myself,” I raged, and I pushed past him, walking down the hall toward the room he stepped out of. Pushing the door open angrily, the entire room turned toward me, and at the head of the table, I locked eyes with Gavin, who went silent as his jaw clenched.
“I need to talk to you. Now,” I fumed.
The entire conference room was silent as Gavin’s eyes narrowed on me, annoyed. After a few seconds, he stood up and excused himself as I marched over to his office, pushing past Brent, who seemed a bit on edge himself.
Walking into his office, I crossed my arms, standing in the middle as Gavin stepped in with Brent behind him. I would’ve forced him out had I been in a less bitchy mood, but I didn’t care.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” I screamed.
“Rosenna, calm down. You’re making a scene,” Gavin warned.
I scoffed. “You think I care about making a scene? Where the hell do you get off inviting my parents to lunch?”
“I didn’t think it’d be a problem given the fact that they’re my in-laws.” I looked at him in complete repulsion as he stepped closer to me. “And you, Rosenna, seem to keep forgetting that you’re still my wife.”
“Still you’re wife?” I sneered. “Gavin, in what world do you think it’s okay to ambush me with our parents after everything that’s happened?”
“I don’t see it as an ambush. I see it as a husband putting in the effort to spend more time with his wife’s family. Sure, we’re going through a rough patch, but I’m willing to work to salvage what we have, what we’ve built together. Sort of forgot that you were in a rush to throw it all away.”
