Part 5 (1/2)
”We'll deal with that last,” Ted rushed on. ”You'll notice here that the doc.u.ment covers all conditions to be met by yourself. The main issues include your not speaking to any member of the press with regard to this matter. This is non-negotiable, I'm afraid. This condition remains in force until your death. Do you fully understand the requirement, Ms Thomas? Under no circ.u.mstances may you talk to any member of the press regarding Mr Ferris in any way while you're alive.”
”So I can talk to them after I die?” I asked with a weak little laugh. Ted was getting on my nerves. I guess I hadn't gotten enough sleep after all.
Ted showed me his teeth. They weren't quite as impressive as Adrian's. ”This is a very serious matter, Ms Thomas.”
”Ev,” I said. ”My name is Ev and I do realize the seriousness of this issue, Ted. I apologize for being flippant. But if we could get back to the part about the settlement? I'm a little confused.”
”Very well.” Ted looked down his nose at me and tapped a thick, gold pen on the paperwork in front of me. ”As I said, Mr Ferris has been very generous.”
”No,” I said, not looking at the papers. ”You don't understand.”
Ted cleared his throat and looked down at me over the top of his gla.s.ses. ”It would be unwise of you to try and press for more given the circ.u.mstances, Ms Thomas. A six-hour marriage in Las Vegas entered into while you were both heavily under the influence of alcohol? Textbook grounds for annulment.”
Ted's cronies t.i.ttered and I felt my face fire up. My need to accidentally kick the p.r.i.c.k under the table grew and grew.
”My client will not be making another offer.”
”I don't want him to make another offer,” I said, my voice rising.
”The annulment will go ahead, Ms Thomas,” said Ted. ”There is no question of that. There will be no reconciliation.”
”No, that's not what I meant.”
Ted sighed. ”We need to finalize this today, Ms Thomas.”
”I'm not trying to hold anything up, Ted.”
The other two lawyers watched me with distaste, backing up Ted with sleazy, knowing smiles. Nothing p.i.s.sed me off faster than a bunch of people trying to intimidate someone. Bullies had made my life h.e.l.l back in high school. And really, that's all these people were.
Adrian gave me a big-toothed, faux-fatherly grin. ”I'm sure Ev can see how kind David's being. There are not going to be any delays here, are there?”
These people, they blew my mind. Speaking of which, I had to wonder where my darling husband was. Too busy banging bikini models to turn up to his own divorce, the poor guy. I pushed back my fringe, trying to figure out the right thing to say. Trying to get my anger managed. ”Wait-”
”We all just want what's best for you given the unfortunate situation,” Adrian continued, obviously lying through his big, bright teeth.
”Great,” I said, fingers fidgeting beneath the table. ”That's ... that's really great of you.”
”Please, Ms Thomas.” Ted tapped his pen imperiously alongside a figure on the paperwork and I dutifully looked, though I didn't want to. There were lots of zeroes. I mean, really a lot. It was insane. In two lifetimes I couldn't earn that kind of money. David must have wanted me gone something fierce. My stomach rumbled nervously but my puking days were over. The whole scene felt horrific, like something out of a bad B-grade movie or soap opera. Girl from the wrong side of the tracks hijacks hot, rich guy and tricks him into marriage. Now all that was left was for him to use his people to chase me off into the sunset.
Well, he won.
”This was all just a mistake,” said Adrian. ”I'm sure Ev is every bit as keen to put it behind her as David is. And with this generous financial settlement she can move forward to a bright future.”
”You'll also never attempt to make contact with Mr Ferris ever again, in any manner. Any attempt on your part to do so will see you in breach of contract.” Ted withdrew his pen, sitting back in his seat with a false smile and his hands crossed over his belly. ”Is that clear?”
”No,” I said, scrubbing my face with my hands. They actually thought I'd fall over myself to get at that money. Money I'd done nothing to earn, no matter how tempting accepting it was. Of course, they also thought I'd sell my story to the press and hara.s.s David every spare moment I got for the rest of my life. They thought I was cheap, trashy sc.u.m. ”I think I can honestly say that nothing about this is clear.”
”Ev, please.” Adrian gave me a disappointed look. ”Let's be reasonable.”
”I'll tell you what ...” I stood and retrieved the ring from my jeans pocket, throwing it onto the sea of paperwork. ”You give this back to David and tell him I don't want any of it. None of this.” I gestured at them, the table, the papers, and the entire d.a.m.n house. The lawyers looked nervously among themselves as if they'd need more paperwork before they could allow me to go waving my arms about in such a disorderly fas.h.i.+on.
”Ev ...”
”I don't want to sell his story, or stalk him, or whatever else you have buried in subclause 98.2. I don't want his money.”
Adrian coughed out a laugh. f.u.c.k him. The phony b.a.s.t.a.r.d could think what he liked.
Ted frowned at my big sparkly ring lying innocently among the mess. ”Mr Ferris didn't mention a ring.”
”No? Well. Why don't you tell Mr Ferris he can shove it wherever he feels it might best fit, Ted.”
”Ms Thomas!” Ted stood, his puffy face outraged. ”That is unnecessary.”
”Going to have to disagree with you there, Ted.” I bolted out of the dining room of death and made straight for the front door as fast as my feet could carry me. Immediate escape was the only answer. If I could just get the h.e.l.l away from them long enough to catch my breath I could come up with a new plan to deal with this ridiculous situation. I'd be fine.
A brand new black Jeep pulled up as I tore down the front steps.
The window lowered to show my guide from last night, Mal, sitting in the driver's seat. He smirked from behind black sungla.s.ses. ”Hey there, child bride.”
I flipped him the finger and jogged down the long, winding driveway toward the front gates. Toward liberty and freedom and my old life, or whatever remained of it. If only I'd never gone to Vegas. If only I'd tried harder to convince Lauren that a party at home would be fine, none of this would have happened. G.o.d, I was such an idiot. Why had I drunk so much?
”Ev. Hold up.” Mal pulled up alongside me in his Jeep. ”What's wrong? Where're you going?”
I didn't answer. I was done with all of them. That and I had the worst feeling I was about to cry, d.a.m.n it. My eyes felt hot, horrible.
”Stop.” He pulled the brake and climbed out of the Jeep, running after me. ”Hey, I'm sorry.”
I said nothing. I had nothing to say to any of them.
His hand wrapped around my arm gently, but I didn't care. I swung at him. I'd never hit anyone in my life. Apparently, I wasn't about to start now. He dodged my flying fist with ease.
”Whoa! Okay.” Mal danced back a step, giving me a wary look over the top of his shades. ”You're mad. I get it.”
Hands on hips, he looked back toward the house. Ted and Adrian stood on the front steps, staring after us. Even from this distance the dynamic duo did not appear happy. Evil b.a.s.t.a.r.ds.
Mal hissed out a breath. ”You're f.u.c.king joking. He sicced that ball-sucker Ted onto you?”
I nodded, blinking, trying to get myself under control.
”Did you have anyone with you?” he asked.
”No.”
He c.o.c.ked his head. ”Are you going to cry?”
”No!”