My husband’s other wedding

Chapter4

I had spent the last two days curled up in a hotel. I ignored all messages and calls, I needed more time to think carefully.

I wasn’t going to spend the rest of my life crying over Micheal.

I was going to divorce him.

I was going to protect everything that I had worked for, every property I had legal claim to and the little life growing inside me.

There were a few things I needed to take care of at our company.

My office was one of them.

I helped Micheal build the company to what it was today. I wasn’t just his wife. I had investments and responsibilities of my own.

I wasn’t going to let a failed marriage rewrite my professional life as if it never existed.

I put on a cream blouse, black tailored trousers and the heels Micheal had once said made me look too intimidating.

From the moment I stepped into the company, I knew something was wrong.

Two men were carrying a framed photograph towards the lift. It was my photograph.

It was a picture of me and Micheal at the company’s fourth year anniversary. His arms were wrapped around my waist and I was smiling at the camera with the kind of happiness that made me want to slap myself for being so ignorant.

The signs were always there but I brushed them aside.

“Excuse me,” I called.

The men stopped.

“Where are you taking that?”

“We were instructed to clear the executive floor.”

I stared at them blankly.

“By whom?”

They hesitated.

“Mr Brown.”

I walked towards the lift without another word.

By the time I reached the last floor, anger had replaced my sadness.

The corridor outside my office was crowded with employees that avoided eye contact and mumbled greetings.

A woman from administration stood beside a cardboard box with books, framed photographs and my personal belongings.

Inside my office, two men were dismantling the shelves I spent months arranging. My awards were stacked carelessly on the floor and the framed certificates on my wall had been taken down.

A young woman stood beside the big table with a notepad in her hand while she dished out instructions.

“Careful with that. The new desk is going to go here.”

I stepped inside.

“What is going on?”

Everyone stopped.

The young woman turned to face me. “Hello ma’am. Mr Brown requested that the office be cleared”

I shook my head in disbelief. “For whom?”

Before she could answer, a familiar voice came from behind me.

“For Anita.”

I turned.

Micheal was at the door, a smug expression on his face.

Anita was beside him.

She wore a fitted dress and carried a designer handbag. It was the same bag Micheal gave me for Christmas. I wondered how long she had been studying me for, how long she wanted my life.

I curled my fist. It took so much restraint to not land a hot slap across Michael's face.

Amara smiled when our eyes met.

“You can’t be serious, Micheal.”

“What is the problem?”

“You’re clearing out my office!”

“It’s a business decision. You would have known that if you bothered to read the messages I sent you.”

“I’m not one of your employees.”

It seemed like Michael's brain was failing. I built this company from scratch, I brought our first million dollar client. Everytime he messed up, I had to clean it.

His jaw tightened.

“Your position is being restructured. It’s nothing personal.”

“Huh?”

“Anita would be taking over your responsibilities.”

The room went silent.

Anita lowered her head, pretending to be uncomfortable. Her smile gave her away.

“I told Micheal this might be awkward,” she murmured. “The company needs someone that can commit fully.”

“What do you mean?”

She gave me a small, apologetic smile.

“You have a lot going on in your personal life right now. I’m sure you understand.”

I looked at her for a long moment.

“You’re very right, Anita. I do have a lot going on right now. For example, I’m trying to understand how the woman who used to bring me tea in this office has somehow become qualified to replace me.”

Her face flushed.

Micheal stepped forward.

“Enough!”

“No! You don’t get to bring your mistress into my office and have her explain why I’m being removed from my position.”

“What your mouth.”

“Or what?”

“You should be grateful I’m handling this privately,” he said through clenched teeth.

I glanced at the employees watching us.

“Privacy is the least of your worries. Our employees are watching. The blogs are running around with different versions of stories.”

“Anita is qualified for the role.”

“Maybe I should ask the board why a major executive position has been handed to someone else without announcement or consultation.”

His expression changed subtly.

“Don’t threaten me, Amara.”

“I’m only reminding you that this is a company not your playground.”

“Everything you’ve had here is because of me.”

His words struck me.

I looked around my office. Had Micheal really convinced himself that none of the sacrifices I made for the company mattered?

In the first two years of our marriage, Micheal convinced me to not try for a child. He wanted us to focus on growing the company. I had no problem with it.

“Is that what you want to believe?” I asked quietly. “That I have nothing because you gave me everything? Oh Micheal, you’ve clearly mistaken my silence for stupidity”

He looked bored.

“I’m trying to make this transition easy for everyone. The lawyers would reach out and we’ll settle you with a nice sum of money.”

I looked at Anita.

She had moved closer to the desk, already inspecting the space as if she was planning where to put her belongings.

Something about that sight made my stomach turn.

I hadn’t eaten anything all morning. I placed my hand on my tummy, feeling sorry for my baby and the stress I had put it through.

I turned to the woman holding the notepad.

“Please make sure every single item belonging to me is carefully packed. I want an inventory before anything leaves this floor.”

“Yes ma’am.” She nodded.

“And nobody touches my files or anything bearing my signature without my permission.”

Micheal laughed. “You think you can give orders here?”

“I just did.”

His face reddened.

Anita reached for his arm.

“Baby, it’s not worth arguing.”

He pulled his arm away.

“No. She is going to learn that she can’t come here and make demands just because she’s upset about our marriage. It’s not my fault she’s barren.”

I felt my pulse quicken.

I never thought Micheal would stoop so low to call me barren.

My eyes filled with tears almost immediately.

I was carrying his child and he couldn’t even tell.

He had grown so accustomed to my silence and submission that he thought it meant I was weak. He was about to learn otherwise.

I picked up my handbag and stormed out.

Once I was inside my car, I finally let myself cry.

There was one person I could call.

I pulled out the card he gave me.

He answered on the first ring.

“Let’s talk about your offer.”