One night stand with the new intern

Florence’s pov The air in the penthouse was thick enough to choke on. It was vibrating with the kind of silence that usually comes before a disaster. I looked at Benedict—the man I had spent thirteen years building a life with. All I felt was a cold sharp desire to set it all on fire. “I'm done with this Benedict. I'm so done with this marriage," I said, my voice shaking, not with sadness but with pure rage that tasted like copper in my mouth. “I just can't do this anymore. I can't keep pretending that this thing we're doing is anything than a slow-motion car crash.” Benedict stood by the windows looking pathetic in his super expensive suit. "Florence, please. You're overreacting. How was I supposed to know you were going to walk into my office at that time? Who does that?" I felt my eyes get wide, a crazy laugh bubbling up in my throat. I looked at him like he had grown a second head… one even stupider than the first. “Are you being serious now? Are you actually trying to make me think I'm crazy about the timing of my entrance? To your assistant on her knees sucking your f*****g d**k?! I am your wife! I can get in whenever I want.” "It was a private meeting…" “A private meeting?” I stepped into his space, the smell of his custom made cologne making me want to gag. “You went there and cheated on me with your assistant. Again. In our bed, in your car and yeah on that desk you're so proud of. I didn't just 'happen' to walk in Benedict. I planned it. I tracked your movements and I paid your security to tell me when next you were going to be alone with your assistant for more than five minutes. I caught you in the act because I wanted to see the look on your face when your world ended.” "Florence, honey look…" “Don't call me 'honey'. I find you cheating on me with a girl who's not even old enough to rent a car and you're telling me this nonsense? About how I should have knocked? About how it’s a private meeting? You must be out of your damn mind thinking I’m going to let it slide this time.” I felt the heat rising in my neck. “I'm leaving. I'm taking Ivy with me. Benedict's face went pale, his sense of entitlement finally fading. "You can't just take her. She's my daughter too." “She's a twelve year old girl who doesn't need to grow up thinking it's okay for her father to be a total cheat! " I snapped. I turned toward the hallway as he lunged forward grabbing my arm. "Florence, wait! Think about this. Think about the families! Think of what people will say if you decide to take my daughter away from me.” I looked down at his hand on my silk sleeve then back up at him. My vision got blurry and red. I didn’t know when I lost control of my hand as I smacked him across the cheek, his face snapping to the side with the sound of my palm against his cheek echoing through the marble foyer. I didn't wait for him to recover before I let loose my anger. “Never. Touch me. Like that. Again," I hissed, my voice a low deadly whisper. Benedict clutched his face, his eyes turning dark. The hurt husband act was gone, replaced by the billionaire I’d grown to hate. "You think you can just walk out? Both our families are the wealthiest in this country, Florence! Do you have any idea what the press will do with this? The stocks will plummet. Your father’s empire, my father’s legacy... It’ll be chaos. You’ll break the economy before you even get to the gates." “I don't care if it breaks the world in two!” I screamed, the tears finally stinging my eyes. “I wanted one thing from you Benedict. One. Thing. A loving marriage. That's it! When our parents decided we were getting married do you remember how I looked at you?” He went quiet, his chest heaving. “I was happy," I whispered, the bitterness coating every word. “My parents are billionaires, your parents are billionaires—it was the 'Union of the Century.' I actually liked you. We met, we fell in love, and we had a child. I thought we were the exception to the rule. But no. You just had to go and cheat on me with the desperate assistant.” "She’s more than—" “Don't," I cut him off, raising a finger to his face. “Don't you dare tell me what she has that I don't. Does she have spreadsheets for multibillion dollar projects? Is she the mother of you child? Is her youth more refreshing than a wife who actually knows your soul? Don’t talk. Just... Don't.” “Florence, please, we can fix this thing. A retreat to an island, a payout, anything. Name how many millions you want. I’ll do it for you.” I scoffed. This man must have lost his damn mind thinking he could buy me like that. "I'm taking Ivy to my mansion. We will be staying there until the divorce papers are drafted. And trust me Benedict I am going for blood." “Divorce? Papers?” He gasped. “Come on babe. It hasn’t gotten to that extent.” “Oh it has. I’m done with you. When I leave you, you can go ahead and sleep with whoever you want. I don’t care.” I turned my back on him, walking into the living room where my suitcases were already lined up. Ivy was standing by the door, her small face streaked with tears clutching her stuffed rabbit. My heart broke for the first time that hour. "Baby come on," I said, my voice softening as I reached for Ivy's hand. "We are going." "Daddy?" Ivy sobbed, looking back at Benedict. Benedict was on his knees, now a broken king in a dark castle. "Florence, do not do this to our Ivy!" "You already did it Benedict," I said, not looking. "Let us go, baby." We walked out of the penthouse, the heavy oak doors thudding shut behind us. Downstairs the silver Bentley was idling. The driver, a man who had worked for my father for twenty years before transitioning to working for me, did not ask any questions. He just opened the door, his eyes full of respect. I nodded then entered as he slammed the door while putting our things in. Soon we were on the drive to my private estate. The moment we got into the estate, twenty people, all bowing in unison, lined up as the car came to a halt. It was a display of wealth that usually made me roll my eyes. Tonight it felt like a fortress. We stepped out, the cool night air hitting my face. Ivy looked up at the towering stone facade of my mansion, her voice small. "Is this going to be our life, Mommy? Are we never going back to daddy?" I knelt down, brushing a hair from Ivy's forehead. I hated Benedict for making me lie and making me sugarcoat the wreckage. "It is not a bad life, baby. But it is a better version of the old one. Do not cry. Do not even bother with tears for that house. I’ll make sure you have all you want here." "I miss my room,” she whispered. "I know. Hey,” I forced a smile tucking Ivy under my arm. "Tonight we will have a midnight ice cream date? Whatever you want. Triple chocolate? Sprinkles?" Ivy's eyes brightened a bit, a tiny watery smile forming. "With the fudge?" "The extra fudge. I promise." That was all it took to make my daughter fall in love with my idea. We started up the staircase, my heels clicking against the marble. As we reached the landing, the sharp trill of my phone shattered the moment. I pulled it out of my clutch. It was my father. I rolled my eyes so hard it hurt. "Great.” I slid the icon to answer. "Dad, I really do not have the time for this right now." "Florence," my fathers voice boomed, cutting through my exhaustion. It was not his warm tone; it was the voice he used when he was about to liquidate a competitor. "I heard what that pathetic excuse for a man did. I heard about the office. I heard about the Bentley leaving the penthouse." "Word travels fast in the billionaires club," I muttered, leaning against the banister. "Look, I am tired. We will talk tomorrow." "No. We will not," he snapped. "We are having a meeting. Now." "Dad, no. I just got Ivy settled. I am not going anywhere." "You need to come to the estate. Bring Ivy with you. This is not about your marriage anymore Florence. This is about the merger the families promised to have years ago. There are complications you're not aware of." My stomach dropped. "What kind of complications are we talking about? Benedict said the families would be mad. I did not think it was this serious." "Benedict is not very smart. His father is a very tough man. He has already made his move. If you are not here in twenty minutes you will lose a lot more than your husband." With that, he cut the call as I stared at the screen, my grip on the phone getting tighter and tighter until my knuckles turned white. I looked at Ivy, who was watching me with scared eyes. "Mommy… is something wrong? " I felt a rush of cold fear. The marriage was not real. The love was not real. Now it seemed my way out was not real either. "We have a slight change of plans baby, " I said, my voice sounding rough. "We are not going to bed yet." "Where are we going, Mommy?" "We are going to see your grandfather, " I said, thinking about all the papers I signed more than ten years ago. Did I not read the papers well? What did I miss?