Chasing the Shrew

Divorce

Amelia helped the staff prepare dinner. She never ate with Dustin before but over the year and a half of her stay here, she learned everything she could about him for occasions such as this.

She was giggling and bumbling around, the kitchen staff couldn’t help but smile at her antics. Finally, they pushed her out of the kitchen so they could finish the dinner preparation.

Amelia laughed and swiped an apple on her way out. Munching on the sweet treat she greeted the staff as she made her way up to her room to freshen up.

She took a nice long shower before she put on her new lingerie and a conservative and elegant dress. She dabbed on light makeup and had just finished putting her hair up in a neat bun when she heard Dustin’s car pulling up.

Amelia did one last go-over and gave herself a wink in the mirror before rushing down to greet him. By the time she got to the stairway, he was already inside handing his jacket to the butler.

Dustin glanced up and saw Amelia, her small face broke into a huge smile when their eyes met. He felt a clench in his chest; he didn’t know why but he felt sad. Dustin looked her over and noticed how she dressed up from her normal casual attire. He usually just came unannounced to relieve himself of his s****l desires. Even though this marriage was not his intention, he was loyal to his vows and would never do anything to shame his wife, whomever that may be. He gave notice of his visit this time only because he had to ensure she was around. Not that she ever left, but he didn’t have the time to keep coming over for trivial matters.

Amelia walked up to Dustin and smiled, “Good evening, Mr. Roger. Would you like dinner first or a bath?”

Dustin’s face remained impassive, “Neither, I came for something else. Follow me into the study.”

Amelia’s face fell. The air around Dustin seemed unusually cold, far more distant than his normal nonchalance. She hesitated briefly before she followed him into the study.

Dustin glanced behind and noticed she was a few paces behind him and dragging her feet. The sheer happiness from earlier was replaced with a look of sadness. He noted some moisture in her eyes so he turned away quickly. He could have given her the papers in front of the staff but he wanted to save her from the embarrassment.

When they both entered the study, he closed the door behind them and motioned for her to sit down on the sofa.

“What’s going on?”

Dustin pulled a large envelope from his briefcase and handed it to her.

Amelia opened it and slid the paper out the bold two letters burned into her amber eyes.

DIVORCE AGREEMENT

She looked up at him, eyes wide with shock, her little mouth making an “o” shape. She looked back down and back up at him again.

“Is this a joke? This has got to be a joke, right? I mean, today is our anniversary for crying out loud. Why would you serve me a divorce agreement on our wedding anniversary?” She started to ramble, tears spilling down her cheeks.

Dustin felt the clench in his chest again. s**t, was that today? He never committed these meaningless dates to memory as he found no reason to. His secretary normally reminded him of birthdays and such but she never reminded him of his anniversary. The first year too, it only came to mind when his parents celebrated their anniversary that he realized he didn’t celebrate his own. Since Amelia didn’t raise a stink, he thought that she forgot too or didn't care about it.

“Was that today?”, he voiced his thoughts and immediately regretted it.

Amelia looked at him in disappointment. Her lips pursed in a line. She looked down into her lap and blinked a few times. Composing herself, she straightened her back and took a deep breath before continuing, “So let’s hear it. What is the reason for the divorce?”

Dustin cleared his throat, “We got married because you had my child. My parents never liked you but they went with it so the child would not be illegitimate but you lost the child due to your negligence. My mother has been pushing me to marry a woman of,” he paused not sure how to say it without being overly hurtful.

“Your social standing? Not a poor orphan wench who got in your pants and did some dirty lap dance and got pregnant?”, Amelia quipped using the words she heard her mother-in-law mutter, “I see. I knew your mother never liked me but to force the old out so the new could come in is a b***h move.”

“And you,” she looked him up and down as if it was the first time she’d seen him, “you did nothing to save our marriage? Was I that bad of a wife to you? Why didn’t you ever communicate with me if something was wrong? We could have worked on our marriage together! Instead, you stuffed me here out of sight only to come every once in a while for s*x. I gave up my career for you!”

Dustin’s face was blank but he was boiling with rage. His voice came out low and harsh, “You will not speak ill of my mother. As for our marriage, one that is not blessed by the family is bound to fail. Rather than hold on to something useless, it’s better to let go and start over. As for the recompense of your career, I have given you a hefty alimony of $50 million to accommodate a lavish lifestyle if you invest it properly. You can continue to live here, this villa is yours. The property taxes, upkeep costs, and worker's compensation for the next 10 years have been calculated and adjusted for inflation; this is in addition to the $50 million alimony. Just sign here and we can both be on our way.”

Amelia looked into his eyes searching for a fragment of love, “Is this truly what you want, Dustin?”

Dustin neither affirmed nor denied.

Amelia threw her head back and blinked her tears back. This son of a b***h deserves nothing else from her, not her heart, not her tears. She decided not to tell him of their child. Why would she? What’s to stop him from kicking her out of her child’s life and marrying someone of his standing? This was HER baby that she carried for 12 weeks and for once she was glad she didn’t go to the hospital for a checkup. Had she done so, the Roger family would have gotten wind of her pregnancy. With $50 million she could easily make a good life with her children.

Eyes burning with resolve she looked down at the agreement and held her hand out to Dustin.

He looked at her rough hand. It was the hand of a worker, not like the ones he’s used to seeing growing up with the socialites. But those calloused hands felt warm and comfortable when they caressed his body.

Amelia was still reading the agreement and didn’t notice Dustin was lost in his world. When she was ready to sign, she found her hand still empty. Frowning she looked up at Dustin.

“Give me a pen.”

Dustin jolted out of his reverie, grabbed a pen off his desk, and handed it to her. Amelia signed both copies and gave him the pen; after he signed she took a copy and held it tight.

“Have your lawyer contact me when the legal documents are ready for signature. I will make myself available. I suppose you are too busy and won’t be joining us for dinner.”

Dustin frowned, “Us?”

Amelia answered without a hitch, “Me and the staff. We eat together since it’s lonely to eat alone.”

Dustin said nothing. Dining with the staff was not something he would do; another stark reminder of their difference.

“I do have work to do…”

“Excellent,” Amelia cut him off, “I’ll have Stephen see you out. I am starving since I have been waiting to eat for a while now.”

She stood up and walked to the door. The previous docile doe was gone and now a vengeful shrew has emerged.

“STEPHEN!? Please see our guest out!”

Her shrill voice penetrated the night air effectively destroying the festive mood just as Dustin had decimated her heart.