Page 17 of Carnal Wagers

Maeve

By the way, your brother’s best man…

Alizé

Erel?

Maeve

Think you could get me his number?

Alizé

Seriously? Him?

Maeve

What? Serious and broody is my type.

All that pent-up energy, and the size of those arms, yum.

Have you seen those fingers?

Just think what he could do with them.

Alizé

What have you done with my Maeve?

Year Six of Marriage

Judiciary Tribunal of Lyon

République Française

Lyon, October 4th

Mrs. Alizé O’Leary, born De Villier,

Following the review of your request for the annulment of your marriage to Mr. Cillian Donal O’Leary, per article 146 of the civil code, we regret to inform you that your grievance has been denied following the receipt of a non-cohabitation agreement signed by both parties. With the deadline for annulments capped at five years, any further requests will automatically be denied without review.

Please accept our sincerest regards.

Signed,

The Public Prosecutor

Email from: Alizé De Villier – CEO of Maison DV Parfums

Email to: Cillian O’Leary

Subject: Annulment

Listen, asshole. I’m not the kind of woman you can just walk all over or ignore. I’ve tried being nice. I’ve tried being patient. Now I’m done.

An annulment was the cleanest cut we could have had. A piece of paper is all that separates us from being nothing at all to each other. As you have made perfectly clear, you have no wish to be associated with me in any way, shape, or form. You had no right to intervene in my request for the annulment.

Consider this me demanding that you get your head out of your ass. I wonder if I will finally hear from you when you realize your spousal donation this month is a tenth of what was agreed upon.