Page 8 of Maddox

“Please do because I’m feeling some heat from above,” Jerry admitted.

“What do you mean heat?”

“As in the pressure to cut costs.”

“What?” I jerked my head up, fisting my hand. “Are you saying you’re going to fire me?”

“No, but without a decent story, you could be relegated to local news instead of international.”

He was threatening to demote me. Could my life get any worse? I opened my mouth four times to say something nasty, but curtailed the bullish spirit I had. My caustic mouth usually got me into trouble.

“I’ll find something but be prepared to send the camera crew.”

“We’ll see, Char. Incidentally, isn’t your divorce almost final?”

I glared at the paperwork sitting right next to my list of ideas. There was no reason for me not to sign the documents. None. I’d felt vindicated the nightmare was about over when the paperwork had been couriered over by my attorney, but they’d remained in the same place for almost two weeks.

Another blip and I glanced at my computer screen. Yep. Just as I’d expected. Brian had sent me two emails that morning demanding I sign the documents. And why? Because he was engaged to be married and being legally hitched to someone else didn’t put him in the best light since he was seeking a partnership in his law firm.

Fuck him.

“Yep. I just need to sign the paperwork,” I admitted begrudgingly.

“Take a piece of advice from an old friend. Your head hasn’t been in the game since you found out about Brian’s infidelities. Sign the papers. End that chapter of your life. Then get back to penning intense, incredible articles.”

It felt like being called out by my father.

I scooted my tennis shoe across the hardwood floor. “I hear you. Just put a little faith in me. Something will drop in my lap.”

He laughed. “It usually does. Take care, Char. I care about you and want you to succeed.”

“Yeah, I’ll call you in a couple days.” After ending the call, I tossed the phone and leaned over my desk, staring at the ideas. Maybe the truth was that nothing excited me. I needed something gritty even if disguised as a fluff piece. Oh, my God. I was stooping very low. Hmmm… What could I report on? Maybe a little covert action in some third world country. I’d done that before. I was tough. I could do anything.

The pep talk was ongoing as my doorbell rang. I didn’t like unexpected visitors. Groaning, I raked my hand through my messy hair. I hadn’t washed it in days and was wearing myfavorite sweatpants and Chicago Bulls sweatshirt. Comfy wear. If it was a salesman, I was in the mood to tell them off.

Chuckling to myself, I took long strides to the door, throwing it open with flair.

And standing directly in front of me was my ex in a glorious ten-thousand-dollar suit. His eyebrows immediately shot up and as he’d done a million times before, he sneered as he gazed down to my shoes.

“I see you’re doing well,” he barked.

“What do you want?” Sure, the new version of me was gorgeous. She was likely never caught dead in anything but designer clothes, including going to the mailbox. Perfect makeup. Perfect hair. Well, fuck her. I had my own style. I planted one hand on my hip, jutting it forward.

“I think you know exactly what I want, Char. I can’t imagine you’ve been too busy to accomplish a single task.” He purposely glanced around me at the mess I’d created.

I hated when he used the condescending tone on me.

“Actually, I have been. I didn’t know you were in such a rush. Oh, that’s right. You want to marry that bimbo you fucked while still married to me. Silly girl.” I gave him just as much attitude as he gave me even though my stomach was churning. Every interaction whether on the phone or in person left me with cramps.

Was it possible I could hate him any more than I did?

Nope. I popped the ‘p’ in my mind and even gave myself a mental high five.

He certainly didn’t need to know how many nights I’d spent crying over the loss of our marriage. He just didn’t care and certainly didn’t deserve to know even if we’d grown apart, his infidelity had wrecked me.

Not any longer.

“You were always such a bitch,” he spouted off.

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