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Vivian’s nose scrunched. “Yeah, I was out of town.”
“So I heard. I hope you had a nice vacation?”
“Can’t complain.”It sure beat being back here, she thought. “So this is it?” she asked, flipping to the next page. “After I finish signing these papers, it’s done?”
“That’s it. I’ll get them filed with the court, and then you’re free and clear.”
“That’s the best news I’ve heard in a long time.”
She’d just reached the last page when the phone rang. “Yes, Mary?” Martin answered, picking up the receiver, Vivian assumed, to keep the call confidential. “Tell him—I see,” he said with displeasure and hung up the phone.
Vivian lifted her head, her fingers pressing against the expensive ballpoint pen.
“Your husband is here.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, there was a tap on the door, and it opened, admitting the jerk in question.
“Am I too late?”
“You’re like a mosquito,” Vivian said by way of greeting. The man just kept buzzing around. She wanted to slap him.
Andrew looked down at her sitting in the chair across from her lawyer, pen in her hand, and then at the papers on the desk. “Vivian, let’s talk.”
“I already told you, the time for talking is over.”
“Would you like me to call security?” Martin offered.
“If you just give me ten minutes, I know I can change your mind.”
Vivian held up her hand to the lawyer, holding him off as she addressed Andrew. “My mind is already made up, Andrew,” she said, twisting the pen closed. “It’s done. The papers are signed.”
He looked stricken. “So that’s it? Just like that? You won’t even try to hear me out.”
“Nope.”
“Is it that hillbilly? Is he the reason for all this…change?”
“If you mean is he the reason I’ve finally grown a backbone,” Vivian rebutted, “no. The credit, surprisingly, goes to you. If you hadn’t shown me what a scumbag you really are, I never would have learned to stand up for myself. So, if you’re looking for thanks, that’s the only one you’re going to get.”
She stood and reached across the desk to shake Martin’s hand. “It’s been a pleasure doing business with you. I hope you don’t take offense, but I hope this is the last time we work together.”
“I’ll get these filed tomorrow, Ms. Parish.” His gaze flickered on Andrew. “Would you like an escort to your car?”
Vivian shook her head. “No, but thank you.” She wasn’t afraid of Andrew. He may puff his feathers and act tough, but beneath it all, he was soft.
Martin tipped his head. “Good luck moving forward.”
Andrew followed on her heels as Vivian made her way out of the office and back to her car. Thankfully, she’d had to park on the street beside a meter. If Andrew wanted to attack her, he’d have to do it in full public view, and she just didn’t see him tarnishing his good name with a criminal record.
He remained at her side all the way down to the lobby and out onto the sidewalk. “Vivian, be reasonable. We had a good relationship, didn’t we?”
“For the little we had, it wasn’t terrible,” she admitted, “but come on, Andrew, I don’t think either one of us truly ever loved each other. We were just trying to please other people.”
“I loved you,” he insisted.
Vivian stopped in the middle of the sidewalk in front of her car and turned to him. “You never loved me. You loved yourself and your job.”
“How can you say that?”
