Page 36 of The Perfect Divorce

“I’d never let anything happen to her.” She pauses her dishwashing and shoots me a look. “And besides, the foundation has a hundred percent success rate of non-recidivism.”

“It only takes one to drop that percentage.” I press my lips firmly together.

“Everyone deserves a second chance.”

“Oh yeah. What about you and me? Where’s my second chance, Sarah?”

“You’ll have your second chance with your next wife, Bob.” She doesn’t look at me when she says it; instead she pulls the plug from the drain and dries her hands with a towel.

I let out a single sarcastichaand take another step toward her. “When did you know?”

“When did I know what?” She squints.

“When did you know you were going to divorce me?”

“The second I found out you fucked another woman.”

“You knew before that,” I challenge, lifting my chin.

Sarah simply scoffs and goes back to tidying. She’s treating me like this kitchen, like I’m just another mess she has to clean up.

“I know you hired her,” I say.

“Hired who?”

“Stacy.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She wipes down the countertop, busying herself to make it clear this conversation isn’t worth her full attention.

“Why the fuck is Stacy on your company’s payroll?”

Sarah tilts her head in confusion but doesn’t say a word.

“Yeah, that’s right. I took your advice, and I looked into her. Stacy was hired as an event model or cocktail waitress or whatever it was for a gala your foundation put on six months ago.” I cross my arms over my chest, thinking,Checkmate, bitch. I’m onto you.

Maybe I should have held my cards close, but I have other cards that are snug up against me. I need Sarah to know that I’m fully aware of what she’s doing, so maybe she’ll realize none of it’s going to work, and she’ll stop.

“Are you telling me how you meet other women, Bob?”

Always with the clever remarks.

“No!” I say, clenching my jaw. “I’m telling you that you and Stacy are connected. I’d call it a coincidence, but it’s never a coincidence with you.”

She pauses her cleaning to meet my gaze, staring intently at me. “Do you really think I hire the fucking cocktail waitresses? I’m the founder and CEO of the company. Anne and her assistant take care of things like that.”

“Like Anne makes any decisions without your blessing...”

“Yes, she does. That’s why companies have employees.”

“You’re not fooling anyone, Sarah,” I say, shaking my head. “I know you hired Stacy to sleep with me.”

She tosses the dishrag into the sink. “My God. You have lost your mind.”

“No, you’re the one who’s lost their fucking mind. Why’d you do it? Why’d you set me up? Did I piss you off? Did you decide you don’t need me anymore? Did you stop loving me?” My voice gets louder with each question, and I can feel a vein start to throb in my neck as the anger inside of me flourishes. “Is there someone else? Or maybe it’s because you couldn’t stand me taking your partner position? Is that it? Did I make you feelsmall?”

Sarah doesn’t respond. She just stands there, calm as can be, with a look of pity on her face. That’s the last thing I need from her.

“Which is it?” I shout. “Why’d you decide to destroy our family?”

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