Regretful Divorce

All the Men Are Looking at You

MARION

I couldn't believe what this man was saying to me. He was calling me a slut just because someone else liked me. I tried to stay calm by counting to ten and not turning into a total Grinch in the middle of summer just to yell at him.

"If I flirt with someone, it's none of your business," I glared at him, biting my lower lip. "He's handsome, I won't deny it, to be honest, I like him."

"Stop provoking me, Marion," he said through gritted teeth. Oh, what a devil, how much fun I was having with my ex.

"I didn't think it would bother you to see me with other men," I smiled smugly.

"I'm not calling you out because I'm interested in you. It's just that I don't think you'd like men to see you as just another loose woman if it's with Francis Smith."

"Oh, who knows? Maybe, after all, I've taken a liking to casual relationships," I gave him a carefree smirk.

The last thing I saw before Francis sat down in front of us was Bruno throwing the cloth napkin to the floor with a mix of discretion and fury. If he didn't want to hear what he didn't like, then he should stop behaving like a nosy i***t.

"Let's continue with our meeting," the man finally said. "But first, I have a question for you, Marion," Francis said to me. It seemed that Bruno had understood the question was for him.

"Tell me, Francis, I'm listening," I replied, looking him in the face and trying to ignore my ex.

"Are you married? Just curious?" He added when he saw me frown.

"Divorced," I said proudly. Bruno said nothing, just maintained a serious demeanor. I glanced at him sideways.

"Oh, I see. Your ex-husband must be an i***t for letting you go. You're very beautiful and quite intelligent. Lucky is the next man who manages to win your heart."

"Life's ups and downs, Francis," I said proudly. "And yes, I left him because he was a complete i***t," I said, looking directly at Bruno, who slammed his fist on the table, unaware that he had interrupted our conversation.

The meeting with Francis ended an hour later when he politely said goodbye to both of us and left his personal card on the table.

The first thing Bruno did was take the card in front of me and crumple it so I couldn't have it. Ha, he must have been afraid I would arrange another meeting with Francis to renegotiate his terms. How clever.

"What's wrong with you, Bruno?" I immediately stood up from my seat, starting a heated argument to get my piece of paper with Francis's number.

"What's my problem? Let me remind you that I was the one who asked you for a divorce. You didn't leave me," I glared at him, he was right about that and I couldn't deny it. "If it weren't for me, you'd be just another girl in that i***t's bed. I'm saving you the trouble of being associated with him."

What he said left me stunned.

"How little you know me, i***t! Are you taking his personal number away because you think I'm going to sleep with him and not because you consider me a worthy opponent?" I was furious.

I went all out against him to get Francis's personal number. I was about to snatch the business card from Bruno, but he ended up swallowing the paper. Oh my God, I couldn't believe how far he was going.

"I hope that gives you diarrhea and lands you in the hospital, you i***t," I said, grabbing my handbag in anger, accidentally hitting him in the face with it. "I have his secretary's number," I stuck my tongue out at him like a little kid and turned around.

I left the place like a bat out of hell, because he was literally right behind me. Bruno had snagged the client just as I expected, but at least he sweated it out and lost three hours of his life in the fight I had with him. I was becoming a formidable opponent. I managed to catch a taxi before he reached me, losing him from sight.

***

Two weeks have passed since I saw Bruno at that breakfast with Francis Smith. My life had been peaceful since then, and I hoped it would stay that way. I hadn't run into him anywhere, and the resolutions of the cases I had taken to trial were successful.

Selene came up behind me, placing her hands on my shoulders. She had just come out of the courtroom with another success.

"I think you're going to love me for what I just did," Selene said with a huge smile as we walked to the exit.

"Every time you have that...I -just- won- a -prize look on your face, it's because you did something I'm not going to like," I said. I knew her so well.

"Come on, girl, it's nothing bad. You just have to dress up again because tonight we're going to a charity auction organized by Mr. Russell."

I had no idea who the hell Russell was, and maybe that's why Selene got me an invitation. She was so good at networking.

"Let me guess, there will be potential clients."

Selene grinned at me like a kid with a lollipop.

***

It was nine at night when I entered with Selene through the grand entrance of the hall where the auction would be held. I was wearing a champagne-colored Prada dress with a V-shaped open neckline at the chest, short and paired with soft gold-colored heels. My red lips and perfectly styled waves made me look amazing.

My friend Selene was no exception; in that black dress, she was definitely turning heads. She was a very beautiful woman.

"You were right, it's the crème de la crème not just of the city but of the whole country," I said, seeing several important politicians and businessmen in the background.

"I told you, being here is a golden opportunity. Maybe you can land some very important clients. Guillermo would be very pleased," she told me.

"I think you're right," I said simply.

I was surprised when someone hugged me from behind. When I turned around, I saw my friend Gilberto, who apparently had also been invited.

"Gil!" I greeted him with great excitement, we had always been like that.

"Marion, it's only been a short while since we last saw each other. I heard you had the guts to confront Bruno at a breakfast because of Francis Smith. You have to tell me all the details."

"And you have no idea how intense it got," Selene added. "I'll leave you two for a moment," she said as she walked away.

***

BRUNO

I received an invitation to the auction. I was one of the main guests of the night, and I went with David and my sister Lorna, I didn't feel like arriving with anyone else. That night I had donated a piece of art to be auctioned, and the money would go to public charity. Though truthfully, I was attending more to maintain my social connections. I couldn't miss it.

Mr. Russell approached me with a huge smile as soon as he saw me enter.

"Hey Storm, I'm so glad you came to the auction," said Russell.

"Russell, my sister Lorna and my associate David," I introduced my companions.

"A pleasure to have you here," Russell replied.

Lorna and David greeted politely. Lorna excused herself for a moment when she saw a friend in the distance and went to meet her.

"Tonight will be big, all the most important people in the country are gathered here," Russell began to comment.

A waiter passed by with a tray of champagne glasses, so David and I took one. It was rude not to pay attention to the conversation, as something was catching my attention again in the distance. It couldn't be. There she was again, Marion, flirtatious and smiling with the same person she was chatting with at the senator's birthday. Damn it, when would she stop showing up.

"I see that even you have fallen for Miss López's charms," Russell's voice brought me back to my senses.

"What? No, impossible, it's just that I didn't expect to see her in a place like this," I said plainly. It was the truth.

"It can't be denied that she's quite beautiful and has been excelling in business due to her intelligence despite how young she is," continued Russell. David remained silent. "There are many rumors about her, but no one really knows about her past."

"What do they say about her?" I asked out of curiosity. No one knew she had been my wife.

"Many say she's an orphan, others that her parents live abroad. The only thing known for sure is that her ex-husband was a delinquent, a drug addict, and a good-for-nothing. She had to flee her country to rebuild her life."

What the hell? Who in their right mind would say that her ex-husband was a drug-addict, good-for-nothing delinquent? I am Bruno Storm and I'm far from being a drug-addict, good-for-nothing, much less a delinquent.

"Who said that?" I asked.

"Rumors," said David suddenly.

"Boss, you might want to think about hiring her."

"She would be a great addition to your law office. I've heard she hasn't lost a single case," said Russell. "I'll leave you for a bit, Storm," Russell excused himself and left.

"What do you think, boss?" David insisted again.

"The decision is yours," I gave him full freedom. "Although as soon as she knows you work for me, it's 100% certain she'll reject you."

"I'll do my best to get Miss López to work with us," he said somewhat incredulously, as I had never given him that kind of freedom in decision-making.

I remained silent for a moment. I was surprised to see that Marion made such a good impression on people. I had always known she was intelligent, but I had never seen her in action. My thoughts paused for a moment when I saw that Marion was so close to that guy that they were practically about to kiss?

***

MARION

"So is that why they think my ex-husband is a drug addict?" I laughed so hard my stomach hurt, leaning on Gil's shoulder. My friend and I were very close to each other while he continued telling me the rest of the rumors.

I saw how the people around glared at me for my laughter. At that moment, Gil grabbed two glasses of champagne from a tray a waiter was carrying.

"Let's find a quieter spot where you can laugh freely."

We headed to one of the terraces where it was practically just the two of us. Gilberto and I were classmates and had always been very good friends. Even when I was Mrs. Storm, he would visit me.

"Do you think there will be problems with your ex's family in the future?" Gil suddenly asked me.

I remained silent for a moment.

"I don't know. I had a little run-in with Lorna, but that's it," I said. In reality, I did know my life is separate from them now. "I'm Marion López; I stopped being Marion Storm. I couldn't care less what they think."

I shrugged nonchalantly.

"That's my girl," he said to me.

Suddenly, a chill ran through my body, like a sixth sense telling me to turn around. I followed my hunch, turning around and meeting those stormy eyes.

"It seems like you're always seen together," he said simply.

I raised an eyebrow, not understanding his presence there.

"You don't belong here. I can spend the party and the night with whoever I want," I said bluntly. "Get a grip, Bruno."

I noticed Gil's shoulder muscles were tense, and he decided to remain silent for a moment.

"Aren't you embarrassed to dress so provocatively? All the men are more interested in taking you to bed than taking you seriously," Bruno asked me, looking at my neckline discreetly.

"I don't see anything wrong with it though, I feel beautiful, powerful, and sensual."

"The truth is, we all think Marion has exquisite taste in fashion," Gil suddenly intervened. "She's a very beautiful woman, and even if she dressed like a grandmother, she'd still catch everyone's eye. I'd even dare to say women too. It's not her fault; it's her nature."

"And who are you?"

"Someone who keeps idiots at bay," I widened my eyes at Gil's words. He was really out there. I saw Bruno smile sarcastically; he truly looked angry.

"So you're just the friend," Bruno said mockingly.

"Well, actually, he is… " I hesitated for a moment whether to say the crazy thing that was on my mind, but I really wanted him to leave. "My boyfriend," I told Bruno, taking Gil's hand.