Page 16 of Emergence and Ascendance

"It's interesting how much I know you and how little you know me. This just further proves you never fucking cared because if you did, you would have been smarter and less careless."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"You wanted to fuck me over so badly that you didn't consider that I wanted the same. You thought I was so desperate to find a way out of the bullshit you put me in the middle of that I would blindly accept your demands."

"You did."

"In a sense, yes, but not without protecting myself." I angled my head to the side and delivered the final nail to the theoretical coffin where my marriage resided. "Single…not in any intimate, romantic, sexual relationships with either a male or female."

"What?" I could see her pulse quicken via the pulsating vein in her neck.

"That's the definition of single listed at the end of the divorce decree, which I know for certain you did not read based on your behavior over the past six months."

"That wasn't…there's no way…you're lying."

"Call your lawyer."

Her expression twisted in confusion and I decided to assist so we could move this along. Again, I hated this woman. I wouldrather have teeth pulled with no anesthesia than spend time with my ex-wife.

I reached for my cellphone and made a call, which I placed on speakerphone. "You've reached the law offices of Yates and Long, how may I direct your call?"

"Raaj Arman, please. Tell him it’s Christian Devereaux."

"Yes, Sir. Hold please."

"Did you pay off my lawyer?" she asked at the mention of Raaj who had represented Aja after she insisted on securing her own lawyer.

"No, but I would have. You need to be glad, Raaj is more ethical than me."

"Then why are you calling-"

"Christian, how can I help you?" Raaj's voice cut Aja off.

"I'm at my office with Aja and she seems confused about the terms of our divorce. Since you represent her, I decided to give you a call to see if you could help provide some clarity."

"I'll try but she was very clear on the terms. I asked multiple times and she-"

"You never clarified Christian's definition ofsingle," Aja rushed out and I was highly fucking amused, already knowing of how this would end.

"Mrs. Devereaux…"

"Ms.Malo," she hissed. "I'm not married to him anymore."

Another term I insisted on. She was no longer allowed to carry my name. She didn't fucking deserve to have or utilize the privilege attached to being a Devereaux.

"Ms. Malo, I advised that you read the definitions. They were simple but very relevant to the terms of the divorce. When I asked if you followed my advice, you assured me you read them and thoroughly understood each one as listed in the document thatyoulater signed."

"You're the legal professional. You should have gone over them with me."

"The eight definitions in the back were simple, had any of them expressed legal ambiguity I would have thoroughly explained them to you, but again, I asked multiple times if you understood the definitions."

"Thanks, Raaj. I think we're done here but I would guess you can expect a visit from Aja. She's going to have more questions."

"Tell her to make an appointment and I'll be more than happy to sit down with her but she needs to be advised of my hourly rate."

A thousand dollars an hour which she could no longer afford…

"Will do."

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