“Listen. Just go ahead and tell me the lies you have prepared before hand. There's no need to place lunch before me.”
“Babe, please, just eat the food. Let's not start with this, I've not been at home but I'm very concerned about you.”
“That's sweet of you but not anymore. When I heard Grace moan your name over the phone when I had a sick son who needed his father's attention, my world slowed to a stop. Now, you have gotten her pregnant, obviously, Liam isn't important. Noah, did you…”
“Can you stop accusing me please? It hurts me that you of all people don't believe me. I know it's ridiculous but I didn't do it. Give me another chance, please, babe, I beg you.”
“Another chance? When another woman is carrying your child? Gosh! You are unbelievable. Just sign the papers, that's all I want from you. Nothing but that!”
“I asked for six months and we haven't even gone one month. Is that how much you want me gone?” Noah asked.
“Yes, and please, leave my office.”
“Sorry?” Noah' asked, unable to believe that she was asking him to leave.
“Get out now!” she yelled, tears running freely down her face.
Noah went closer to her and held her.
“It's okay, there's no need to scream. Don't stress yourself. I'll leave if you don't want me to stay. But I only need you to give it a rethink. Give me only one last chance,” Noah pleaded, gave her a light kiss on her cheeks and left the office.
As soon as the door closed behind him, Emily slumped on her seat and cried like a baby. She still loves Noah but she couldn't stay with him. He cheated on her with Grace! And she was carrying his baby. She would find it difficult to live in the same house with him, look him in the face and express her love for him, knowing fully well that there's another woman with a child out there. Of course, she knew that Noah would not like to have an illegitimate child, invariably, he would either marry her or make her his mistress. Emily knew one thing though, she loved Noah and didn't want to share him. It was best she left that share him. She wanted his undivided attention, his love, his touch, care, and everything about him. He was the first person who ever loved her more than she imagined.
Noah stood still by the window in his office, looking at nothing in particular. He was thinking about what happened earlier that afternoon at his wife's office. It hurt him so much to hurt her but this was not entirely his fault. He didn't know she called and Grace denied ever answering his calls. Could it be that Grace pretended to be having sex with him when his wife called? Perfect! That was the only answer. She's such a devil!
He didn't get a chance to explain this to her because there was no way on earth the explanation would seem sensible. Who would believe that someone else answered his calls and was moaning over the phone? Emily would definitely tag it one of his regular lies. Grace had carried out her laid down plans so well that he was left in a tight corner. All his explanations to his wife for her past actions now seemed like a lie from the pit of hell. The picture alone was enough to make everything that happened in the past weeks true and valid.
Now, his wife didn't want anything to do with him. She was claiming he was cheated and had been fooling her. He asked her for six months but now, she was complaining that six months was eternity and she would send the divorce papers right away. She was making him look like a bad person who didn't want to give her the space she so requested. If she insisted on a divorce, he would give her even though he knew he did nothing wrong to her. He didn't want to hurt her further. His phone rang again, and this time, it was his friend and Lawyer, Jones. Noah even had plans of calling him so they could finalise the divorce process.
“Hello boss! How are you?” Jones enthusiastic voice rang out.
“Fine. You?”
“Harper? Why do you sound so down? Is anything the matter?”
“Yes. I was actually about calling you for something. I need your services as my lawyer.”
“Okay. For what? Anyways, I called because I'm in the United States so I thought of coming to see you. You know it's been a long time since we met. Just tell me where you are and I'll be there. We can discuss why you need my services in detail, is that okay with you?”
“Sure. That's not a problem. I'm at the office, I'll text you the address.”
“Okay. I'll be there in a jiffy. See you…”
“Wait wait, Jones. Don't hang up yet!”
“I'm here. What's the matter?” Jones asked again.
“Can you get me a very strong wine on your way here? I need to cool my head. I don't know much about strong drinks like you do, so please, help me.”
“I got you covered, don't worry. It's quite unlike you to request a very strong wine to cool your head. Anyways, you better hang on and be fine until I come, else, I'm going to knock your teeth off!”
Noah smiled sadly and dropped his phone. He continued standing by the window, looking at the beautiful flowers behind his window but his mind wasn't there at all. He was in the position for almost an hour before his friend came in.
“The one and only Noah Harper! How are you doing man!” Jones greeted.
“I'm fine. And you?”
“Great too. Hey! Look at your eyes, still white. When you said you needed a strong wine to cool your head, I thought I would find you on the floor, crying like a baby!” Jones teased.
“It's enough that you still call me Harper and not my name, Noah. Why do I have friends like you who have sworn never to call me by my first name? Now, you're mocking me. I'm not fine, man and is this what you have to say?”
“But, I just asked how you were a few seconds ago and the answer was fine. Was it a different you or your spirit that answered?”
“I'll get the wine glasses. I'm too pained to laugh today, Jones. Don't make me forget what's bothering me, and what I have to worry about, please.”
“Yes sir!”
Noah smiled and went to get the wine glasses from the tables beside him. As Jones poured the wine, he asked.
“What's the problem? I'm all ears.”
“I'm getting a divorce.”
“You? Noah Harper? Getting a divorce? Tell me you are kidding!”
“I'm not. I wish it were a joke too.”
“Common Noah. This has to be a joke. I could swear on anything and vouch for you and your wife that forever is the goal! What happened? Did you cheat on her?”
Noah didn't need to answer. He stared at him as though he was an idiot and that was all the answers he needed.
“Don't give me that look. That's the only thing I can think of. Well, if you didn't cheat, what did you do? What else can wreck your happy marriage? Men! I envied you for goodness sake. Tell me the problem, we have to fix it. You can't divorce!”
Noah took out his phone and searched for the photo Emily sent him some days ago. He held his phone out to Jones.
“Here, look at this. That's the reason.”
Jones took the phone and looked at the picture .
“This? What are you doing with another woman? Wait, you cheated and she found out? Talk to me!”
“I didn't cheat. Grace set me up. She spiked my drink and sent that to my wife.”
“This isn't adding up. Which Grace? The one I know?”
“How many do you know, you silly goose?”
“Someone still has the nerves to joke. Noah! Is it Grace Shields?”
“It's like this. You know the recent project on deep harbor, we are working with Swiss group and Grace was selected to be my assistant. I don't know what she has on my father and the members of Swiss group but they forced her down my throat. My dad even said I still loved her and would not zip up around her that's why I didn't eat her as my assistant. I gave in because I am not one to be thought of wrongly and she started acting up. She sent me a text and somehow sent this picture to my wife saying we were making out in the hotel!”
Jones burst into laughter, making Logan join involuntarily.
“I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't be laughing, but damn! This is funny. You got home and your wife showed you this picture, saying you were with your ex? Wow! Sorry I laughed, continue please. I promise not to laugh again.” Jones was a very simple fellow who laughed even in serious situations. Most times, his laughter held a spell or charm that made it impossible for the victim to get offended. This spell worked again and Noah continued his story.
“You haven't stopped laughing at the wrongest times,” Noah complained and sipped his wine.
“But you laughed too. It helped to ease your mind too. Continue please.”
“There's nothing more to tell you, Jones. Prepare me a formal divorce agreement.”