Page 55 of Designing Love
He leans forward, tone turning patronizingly gentle. “Soph, come on. I know you’re angry, but let’s be realistic… we were good business partners. We can still be even if we couldn’t make our marriage work.”
A sudden sharp knock at the door interrupts his attempt at condescension, making us all jump slightly. An intern peers nervously inside, clutching a stack of papers. “Sorry, Mr. Green, your signature?”
Sam smiles patiently, nodding. “Be right there, thanks.”
Daniel sighs irritably. “What’s with the interruption? That’s no way to run a business. This would not happen at my firm.”
Sam rolls his eyes before glancing between us. “If you two set another pen on fire like you did yesterday, billable hours triple.” He pauses, eyes twinkling.
As the door clicks shut behind him, tension fills the room, thickening uncomfortably. Daniel taps his pen against the glossy table, eyeing me intently. “Our VC backers will sue both of us if you gut the firm.”
“Then you’d better warn them to join the queue, Daniel — because once this agreement is signed, every liability still sitting on the books has your name on it, not mine. I’m taking the assets I built; you can keep the skeletons you hid in the closet.”
He scoffs.
“So, it’s really this Ethan guy?”
My stomach tightens, but I manage to keep my voice neutral. “I’m not having this conversation.”
He smiles, the edges brittle. “That’s a yes.”
“That’s a ‘none of your business.’”
His eyebrows shoot upward, momentarily startled before settling back into arrogant indifference. “Funny, I never saw you as the small-town romance type.”
“And I never thought you’d stoop to sabotaging a small-town renovation project,” I fire back, eyes narrowing.
He leans forward, voice low and sharp. “I had to get your attention somehow.”
“Congratulations. You have it. But you’re not getting anything else.”
“Sophia…”
“No, Daniel.” My voice remains steady, and my confidence is surprising even to me. “No more negotiating, no more waiting. Take the settlement.”
He hesitates, frustration evident. “You really think paying me off fixes everything?”
“Of course not. But it fixes you. I’m buying you out of my life.”
The words echo powerfully between us, reverberating through the silence. Daniel’s jaw twitches, pride visibly bruised. He exhales slowly, running a tense hand through his carefully styled hair.
Before he can reply, Sam returns, slipping quickly back into his chair and shuffling papers. “All right, folks. Any progress? Or should I have lunch delivered?”
I lean back, not breaking eye contact with Daniel. “Ask Daniel if he’s ready to accept the offer.”
Daniel sighs dramatically, shaking his head as if in defeat. “You know, Sophia, you’re making a huge mistake.”
“Maybe. But at least it’s mine. Not yours.”
He pauses, clearly assessing me with frustration. Finally, he sighs, shoulders slumping fractionally. “Fine. Increase my payout by another 10% and I’ll accept.”
Relief floods through me so powerfully that I nearly sag in my chair.
Sam gives me a side look. I nod, indicating that I’m accepting Daniel’s terms.
“Give me 15 minutes to print a new version.” Sam gets up and leaves the office.
I sneak a peek at my phone.17 missed texts from Ethan, two from Claire.
