Road To Revovery

Chapter 5 Dinner Time

Avery's POV

I sit in the emergency exit stairway of my work building, wondering about my life.. It is not at all what I wanted or even expected.. No wonder everyone hated me, because I hate me now too.. What am I going to do about this? Is there anything I can do about this?

I hear the door burst open as Stevie comes to my side quickly. "Hey I convinced him on a better deal so you don't have to sleep with him and we won't lose the money!" She exclaims to me as I send a small smile her way.

"Thank you for fixing that.. That's great." I say to her unenthusiasticly looking away. "Hey did you maybe want to go out to dinner to get your mind off of everything?" Stevie asks me as I glance her way before nodding sadly. "I don't have a car because mine is totaled though." I inform her causing her to scoff at that before replying, "That doesn't matter I have one.. and for you being so genuinely nice to me, I want to buy.. let's go." She says wrapping her arm around mine, helping me up as we take the stairs down to the next floor before taking the elevator the rest of the way to the bottom.

The parking garage is dark with it being night time now, so I just hold onto her and hope she is not here to murder me in a secluded dark area. "You're not going to murder me down here because no one would miss me and you have all the reasons in the world to do so right?!" I ask with humor in my voice as she laughs shaking her head at me.

"No I would never do that.. I could hire someone to do that." She says playfully back to me as I smile and laugh.. This is nice, this is the first time that I have laughed since I was with Elijah.. I needed that.

She leads us to her car as she unlocks it for us to get in. I willingly get in as she turns it on and driving out of the tight fitted, dark underground parking lot.

"So what do you think will happen with you, once you get your memories back? Do you think you will go back to the same person you were before?" She asks me as she turns the steering wheel just glancing back at me every now and then. I think just trying to gage my reaction to her inquiry.

"I don't want to be that person anymore." I say softly as she looks at me then responding. "Man.. you really have changed.. I'm sorry, it's just crazy for me to see, I have been with you 5 years and never would have imagined this day would come.." She gets nervous at her honesty, clears her throats as she asks. "So who do you want to be then?".. Oh man.. That really is a tough question because I really don't know.

"That is the question to ask isn't it? I actually have no idea.. I have only had a glimpse into my old life and all I know is that I hate the woman I had become, probably more than the people around me.. and part of that, is that I now know I don't want this.. But what do I do? Just quit? And go to what? I don't even know what I'm good at to even think about a career change.. But I guess it's not like I know this job right now anyways.. " I just spat to myself more of.

"Well you can't just quit.. You own a 3rd of the company and it's worth over a half a million dollars.." Stevie informs as I groan out pinching thr bridge of my nose. "So what would you do if you were me and wanted a whole lifestyle change?" I ask her as we pull into the restaurant parking lot, she turns off the engine as she looks at me.

"A divorce first and foremost, you don't need that toxicity in your life if you're really trying to get better.. So a new place then, to get away from him.. But are you sure you don't want to be in this job anymore? You don't want to wait until you get your memories back before you make a drastic decision like that?" She asks me as I shake my head.

"I don't want any of this.. I don't know how I got so money hungry that nothing else mattered, but that's not the person I want to be.. and a really great person once told me that if I don't like who I am now, that it's not permanent and I always have time to change it if I want." I say to her as she smiles at me.

"Well that person sounds like the kind of person you need in your life right now.. But maybe if you really are that serious.. You could get someone to buy your shares so you don't lose out on the money." She says to me as she opens the door getting out.

She is right about one thing, I do need someone like him in my life right now because obviously the people I had chose myself weren't good for me.

I get out following behind her as we enter this nice looking restaurant.. when I hear. "Oh Mrs.Swan it is so good to see you again.. I'm so happy you decided to come back after that misunderstanding with your food the last time.. But rest assured, that we won't let them bring out the nuts on top of your salad, but on the side." The manager says to me bowing his head out of respect, as he grabs my hand kissing the back of it.

"Oh ok, thank you.. I'm sorry to have worried you about that.. I swear I'm not mad.. I probably won't even get a salad.. I'm starving.. thank you for your consideration though." I say empathetically to him as he gives me the same look that I'm starting to get use to, about my attitude change.

"Well thank you so much for being so considerate for us as well, we appriciate to have your business after everything.. so tonight's dinner is on me." He says bowing again as he quickly goes to the waitress behind him and whispers into her ear as she looks back at us and nodding. "Yes sir I will be sure to bring their check to you when they're done." She states then coming to our side. "If you ladies will follow me, we will take you to the private section." She states as she gestures for us to follow her so we do without hesitation.

"Was I really that bad?!" I turn whispering to Stevie as she looks sad and hesitant as if she doesn't want to say.. Which answers my question right there.

I nod getting sad as we get to the nice corner booth, I squeeze in with Stevie right behind.

"Hey Avery?!" I hear as I roll my eyes because I don't know a lot about my life right now, but I found out real quick who he was.

My husband, the man who doesn't give an actual flying f*#k about me, like everyone else in this city I guess.

"Perfect you were the man I was just talking about." I say to him as his eyebrows raise. "Oh really what about? Did you remember something amazing about me?" He asks slinking up to the table as I roll my eyes, retorting, "No not at all.. But I want a divorce.. thanks." I say to him as his eyes go wide.

"What am I suppose to do to survive without you? I can't get a job because of my disability and you put me on a prenuptial agreement." He says to me as I shrug my shoulders. "I don't care what you do.. But by the way you were f*#king that girl in our house earlier, it looked like you could move just fine, so we are getting a divorce." I inform him making sure he knows there is no room for negotiation.

"What the hell? I came and saw you at the hospital.. I can't believe you would do this to me, when I was just sleeping with other women because you told me to!" He squeaks out like a spoiled brat getting cut off.

"I don't care what I told you.. I don't want that life anymore and that means starting over without you.. You need to do something for yourself like I will be doing.. I'll be getting the papers soon enough." I say to him as Stevie pipes up playing on her phone. "They were just sent to your email sir.. So sign them and send them back to me, you have 2 days to do so." She says as I smirk looking back at him. He rolls his eyes as he storms away flipping me off.

"Mrs.Swan.. is that man bothering you?" The manager asks as I smirk and say, "Yes he is.. that's my husband and soon to be ex-husband, that I found cheating on me and now he won't stop harassing me." I say to him as he looks over as my husband who throws his water towards us. "We will get rid of that cheating assh*le for you."

I smile in victory as I state. "Thank you, you don't know what that means to me... Chang." I say looking at his name tag smiling at him. "Anything to make sure you have a pleasant night Mrs.Swan." He turns and leaves getting security and making my Ex leave... Luckily for me, my status actually means something here.

"So Stevie.. you seem to love the company and the best interests for it.. So why don't you buy my share?" I ask her as she chokes on her water replying. "I can't afford that.. My husband and I just found out we will be having a baby, so the only extra money we have, is preparing us for the baby to come."

"Really Congratulations! You don't even look pregnant." I say encouragingly to her as she smiles at me. "Well that's because I'm not pregnant." She says to me as my eyebrows scrunch, not understanding obviously. She notices this so she clarifies for me. "I can't have babies of my own, so we have been trying to adopt and we finally got accepted.. So all of our money is going to the kid we are adopting and the supplies we need for her.. or I would buy your shares."

"Oh ok I understand well Congratulations anyways.. That's amazing for the both of you. I bet he is excited!" I reply shortly just trying to be encouraging for her even though there is a part of me that's jealous.. But I can't be mad because she has been one of the only people who is being genuinely nice to me.. Even when I was so mean to her, for years apparently.. I couldn't be more grateful for that, because that shows how beautiful of a person she is inside and out.. She will be a fantastic mother.

We enjoy each other's company for the rest of dinner.. Just joking around and talking mostly about what-ifs.. and brainstorming ideas for careers.. Drinking probably a little too much, but I haven't drank for a while, so what's it going to hurt if I do it just to let a little loose. I need a pick me up anyways.

We are leaving the restaurant, stumbling around to get her a taxi, because I'm not letting her drive after all we drank. We help hold each other up giggling like little school girls. I finally get the attention of a taxi for her. It slows pulling over, until it comes to a complete stop.. So I open the door for her.

"Thanks for helping and inviting me out Stevie.. you don't know what that means to me, especially now.. and even after I was a b*tch to you.. You're a beautiful person and I hope I can remotely be like you in this transition.. I'm so sorry for how I treated you for years. I can't say that enough." I say to her as she gives me an unexpected hug.

"Thank you for saying that.. You're doing a great job at your transition so far and I'll be sure to help you the rest of the way if you would like? You know, like friends do." She says smiling at me.

"I would really like that.. Because I hear I need a friend.. Some type of positive influence on my life am I right?" I say playfully as she smiles and hugs me again. "Yes this dinner was filled with positive influence. I think we had one bottle too many, of positive influence." She says making me burst out laughing.

"You have my number call me if you need me. You sure you don't want to get a ride back to your house with me?" She asks trying to give me room next to her.

"No thanks though, I'm just going to get a hotel room and they are all around us.. I have enough money right?" I ask her curiously because that's a legitimate question and she knows that information.

"Hun, you have enough to buy the whole hotel at least." She responds as I let out a deep breath. "That's good to know.. but I don't have a cell phone yet."

"Yeah you do it's in your purse I have it set up, with a case and everything.. just snuck it in.. You're welcome.. call me if you need anything boss! Thanks for joining me and have a good night." She says shutting the door as the car drives away into the night.