He pushed the pen over to her and pointed out where her signatures were required.She picked up the pen and clicked the end several times while she stared at the signature lines.
“Christa?”
“I’m having a really hard time making myself sign these papers, Jared.I’m not in the right frame of mind to think this through.”
“Tell you what.Go ahead and sign them, I’ll take them with me, but I won’t file them until you give me the go-ahead.That way, when you’re ready to make a move, you won’t have to wait any longer than it takes to serve him.If you decide not to go through with it, I can shred them and no harm done.”
“Okay.”That time, her reply was emphatic and resolute.With one last click of the pen, she signed her marriage away.
She lay in bed that night, flipping through the channels, when a familiar face caught her attention.Aaron’s face filled her screen—tanned, smiling, and happy.On his arm was yet another model undressing him with her eyes.Her perfectly manicured hand slid up his lapel and stopped on his chest.He wrapped his hand around her long, slender fingers and moved her hand, not letting go as their arms simultaneously dropped to his side.
The agony of watching that scene play out in front of millions of viewers was too much, all while the news anchor speculated on his relationship with yet another model.With hot, angry tears rolling over her cheeks, she picked up her phone and fired off a text to Jared.
File the fucking papers.Tomorrow.
Prepare for the Shift
“I’ve had enoughof this.I’m leaving.”Aaron zipped his suitcase and turned to face Lance.“My part of this job is finished.The models have been chosen, and the contract is signed.”
“We haven’t even been here a full two weeks yet.You can stay and enjoy summer in San Diego for a while longer.”
“No, I can’t.On one hand, I’m glad I came with you because it gave me time to clear my head.I’ve had to face some hard facts about myself—and it’s time I change what I don’t like.”
“Interesting.Let’s hear it.”Lance inhaled deeply, drawing up to his full height while puffing his chest out.“I’m all ears.”
“And yet I don’t have time to have this conversation with you because I’m flying back to San Francisco as soon as possible.Then I’m getting my wife back.Which I’ll follow up by selling my half of the business.If you’re interested in buying me out, I’ll be glad to talk to you sometime in the next few weeks.”
“What do you mean ‘getting your wife back,’ exactly?”
“It doesn’t matter how much wealth I’ve acquired or how successful I’ve been.I lost all self-respect and my self-esteem after what happened my sophomore year in college.Ever since then, you’ve told me every move to make, when to make it, how to act, and what to think.It really didn’t hit me how much I’ve depended on you until we were here, just relaxing, and you were still doing it.And I allowed you to.
“But the gut-punch I didn’t see coming was how you completely sabotaged my relationship with Christa—and enjoyed every minute it.Oh, the head injury was all on me.The memory problem wasn’t your fault.But when I called you that Monday morning, freaked out because my memory was gone, you purposely used what happened back in college against me.You made me question everything about my judgment.
“The real reason you were worried had nothing to do with her drugging me and tricking me into marriage.You were worried about yourself.What would happen if I’d screwed up and picked the wrong girl?What would happen if she realized how much money we have and decided she wanted half of it?How badly would it hurt you and the precious agency?I don’t have time to argue, and I wouldn’t even if I had all the time in the world.”
“All I’ve done is try to look out for you.Your best interests.You fucking know that, and I shouldn’t even have to say it.”
“She is my best interest.BecauseI love her.It was my idea to get married, not hers.I know that without a doubt now.You know, I remember everything about her up until the week of the Vegas trip.I know for a fact she is the best person I’ve ever known, and I’ve hurt her in ways I’ll never be able to take back.Christa deserves better than how you and I have treated her.My job now is to make sure she gets exactly what she deserves—and more.Anything and everything she wants.”
With that, Aaron strode out of the hotel and hopped in a taxi to the airport.He saw everything so clearly after shaking the blinders off.Family had a unique ability of making or breaking someone, and his family had been overbearing since the incident years earlier.The wake-up call came when he realized he’d not only allowed it, he’d depended on their intervention and direction.When the time came for him to make decisions for his own life, his own happiness, he took a long, hard look in the mirror, and he didn’t like the reflection.
Taking control of his destiny felt damn good—liberating.Mistakes from the past could no longer haunt him, but making another monumental mistake would rob him of the happiness he’d found.
“One way or another, I’ll win her back.I’ll show her how much I miss her.How much I love her,” he muttered to himself.“And remind her why we’re perfect together.”And hopefully, regain my full memory.
Hours later, he opened the door of his condo, tossed his suitcase inside, and headed straight for his car.He hadn’t seen his wife in weeks, and it was past time to rectify that.He didn’t take time to rehearse any lines or try to figure out how to break the ice.He couldn’t blame her for the thick layer surrounding her heart since he’d been the one who put it there.
Once in the garage, he jogged to his car but stopped abruptly when someone called his name.
“Aaron?Aaron Rivers, is that you?”
Aaron turned to find a man in a suit and tie approaching with a friendly smile covering his face.“Yes.Do I know you?”
The man’s smile broadened into a toothy grin.“Aaron Rivers, consider yourself served.”He slapped the envelope on Aaron’s chest and quickly released it, forcing Aaron to grab it before it fell.
“Hey!Wait a minute.What the hell is this?”
“You should really ask your attorney about that.My job is only to provide proof you received the papers.Have a nice day.”
