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It’s Ursula’s turn to laugh, and the sound of it makes my skin crawl.
“Do you think he’d still be proud if he knew he was sleeping with a married woman?” she questions.
“I’m divorced. I’ve been divorced for two years. You’re going to have to do better than that,” I scoff.
“Do you honestly think I would let some piece of trash insert herself into my only son’s life and not do my homework? I thought you were supposed to be brilliant.” She sneers.
“What the hell are you talking about?”
My voice comes out shaky even though I’m trying so fucking hard to remain strong and in control.
“You know one of the perks of being the head of the board for the county? You have access to all sorts of files and legal documents,” she muses. “Your divorce paperwork was never filed correctly. Imagine that, another issue with you and paperwork. You signed it and did what you were supposed to, but it seems like your ex . . . I mean, your husband . . . never did his part. Such a shame, really. In the eyes of the law, you’re still married.”
All I hear is a whooshing sound in my ears as the blood rushes to my head, making me dizzy. I feel like I might tip over and off this chair at any moment.
Is that why Sebastian has been calling me and texting me, saying we needed to talk? Did he know about this? Jesus Christ, I’ve been paying that piece of shit alimony all this time. How in the hell does a mistake like this even happen?
I’m so busy trying not to pass out and thinking about all the way I’m going to slowly and painfully murder Sebastian that I don’t realize Ursula has moved from her chair to the one Eric vacated. She’s right next to me, leaning in close. I swallow nervously.
“I will not allow my son’s name, my family’s name to be tarnished by a whore who will never, ever be good enough for him. I will also not allow you to ruin his life and his business when word gets out that he’s been having an affair with a married woman. So, it’s time to decide, Ariel. What’s more important to you? This business of yours, or my son’s happiness and reputation?” she asks quietly.
This isn’t happening right now. Please, God, tell me this isn’t happening.
“I can change my ruling about this club of yours. You and your friends show up at the board meeting next week. I make sure it’s put at the top of the docket, you plead your case even though it will just be a formality at that point, and I vote in favor of reversing the denial, stating that a mistake was made. By this time next week, you will have the business license you need to continue working in this county,” she tells me.
“Let me guess. There’s a catch?” I whisper.
“Of course there is. This is business after all. You don’t get something like this for free. I reverse the denial at the board meeting where everyone will agree with me, and you stay the hell away from my son. He should be with someone like Vanessa. Someone cultured, with a college degree, who shares his Greek heritage and is worthy of a man like him. You stay with him, and you’ll bring him nothing but pain and embarrassment until he finally gets his head on straight and leaves you. And then where will you be? Alone and broke. Make the smart choice, Ariel.”
Do you hear that? That’s the sound of the combat boot flying off my foot and kicking me right in the gut.
Chapter 25: Tomorrow Is Going to Suck
On the drive back to the boat docks after brunch, I felt like a caged animal wanting to claw at the leather seats of Eric’s SUV and Hulk smash my way out of the window. I was so angry. And the worst part about it was, I couldn’t even tell Eric. How do you tell a man his mother is a lying, manipulative, conniving bitch who called you a whore and is trying to blackmail you? It’s obvious they don’t have the closest relationship, but she’s still his mother. The woman who gave birth to him, and took care of him (with the help of a nanny), and provided for him. It would break his heart.
So, I pasted a smile on my face and brushed off his continued apologies about how rude she was, and how he couldn’t believe she invited Vanessa over and tried to play matchmaker right in front of me. I laughed and told him it was ridiculous and didn’t matter. I told him I was a strong woman who didn’t intimidate easily and wouldn’t let his mother run me off. I told him I knew I was good enough for him and her opinion didn’t bother me.
