Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele

Chapter 13 [Cordelia]

When choosing what to wear this morning, I wanted something that could make me feel confident and strong.

I ended up wearing large sunglasses and a designer dress-my armor to hide the fact that I had spent the night crying and I still feel sick to my stomach with anger and sadness.

Atlas is ready and waiting at the office when I arrive, looking as freshly pressed as always. Sydney is standing just behind him, her head down, holding a briefcase and her coat. She is also immaculately dressed, her pink Chanel suit a perfect complement to his darker attire.

Both sets of lawyers stand framing a large oval table. On that table are several stacks of paper arranged in order of what needs to be signed and by whom.

Divorce is never simple, but a divorce with billions of dollars on the line is always a mess requiring many hands. Our marriage was more than just a marriage, it was a contract that combined our family fortunes and businesses. Now all of that hard work of combining would need to be undone.

My lawyer had spent the last two weeks working on these documents, starting the night I walked out of his house for good. Now his lawyers look it over, making sure that nothing is amiss.

"We see here, Mrs. Steele, that you are waiving your right to alimony. Due to the length of your marriage, you are entitled to an annual allowance of..."

"I don't want it," I Interject, causing his lawyer to bristle at the interruption. "I want nothing from him."

Sydney tries and fails to hide a gasp. Atlas remains completely still. Other than a small twitch above his eyebrow, his face is devoid of emotion.

Atlas is the first one to sign. He never looks up, never notices me watching as he carefully signs his name on the required paperwork.

When my lawyer hands me the pen, I take a moment to center myself.

I'm sorry, Angelica. I tried. I gave it my very best effort.

This is not the way I had wanted things to end.

I give Atlas one last look as I take the pen. Our eyes meet for a moment before he blinks away, breaking. contact. Seeing him standing there, stoic, still as handsome as ever, I remember the night we married and how I sat there next to him shy, afraid, and ignored. Goodbye, Atlas. I wish you had let me love you.

With a flourish, I sign my name. It is done. Five years of marriage ended with a single stroke of my pen.

I stand outside my lawyer's office watching Atlas help Sydney into the car. As he drives away, I can't help but think about how perfectly matched they seem to be

Turning away, I barely make it to my car when my phone begins to ring. It is my mother. I don't want to

talk to her right now, I don't want to talk to anyone, but I answer anyway.

"Hello, Mother," I sigh. "Now really isn't a good time I

"Your father is in the hospital and it is all your fault!!" she screams before I have a chance to finish my sentence. "He had a massive heart attack. The doctors aren't sure if he is going to live.." her words dissolve into tears becoming unintelligible. "Mother, please, calm down," I beg, holding the phone to my ear.

"What did you do to Atlas!" she continues to screech. "He sent paperwork to us this morning dissolving our relationship with Steele Industries! He also removed us from the Steele Industries accounts. We have no way to pay our employees this month! You did this! Fix it! Ru

"I can't mother," I declare in the strongest voice I can manage. "It's done. We're done. We....are divorced." The other end of the phone goes silent. For a moment I think it has gone dead except that I can hear her ragged breathing on the other end of the line.

"Just come, immediately, my mother's voice is as calm as the eye of a storm. "Your father's life could depend on it."

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VictoryAnne Vice Author

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