Page 34 of Due Process
STELLA
Felix remained on his knees, eyes glaring at the door as if the devil himself was going to waltz through to claim his soul.Not yet... I want to destroy it a bit more first.
I preened, basking in the chaotic atmosphere, breathing in his desperation. After weeks of uncertainty and hurt, I felt weirdly detached and fully in control.
When I had laid down each photo, each scathing truth, I was immediately infused with a hit of vindication and justice.
Felix was completely breaking apart at the seams, and I was giddy at him finally getting a taste of the pain I’d had to live with since I learnt of his betrayal.
“Come in,” I called, voice cheery and sickly sweet, ignoring my soon-to-be ex-husband’s crippling face.
“I got your coffee, Stel—”
Heather’s statement cut off when she cleared the opening door and processed the scene in front of her.
And here comes the finale, baby.
“Shut the door behind you, Hilary, and take a seat,” I said, motioning to the opposite side of Felix so the two lovers could have a clear view of one another. Which was going to be difficult since he had internally shut down, his eyes going vacant the further she came into the room.
Heather stalled for half a second when she caught the graphic images splayed everywhere. Then, a metamorphosis seemed to take her over.
She straightened her spine, a cocky smirk coating her features as she strutted forward and sat in the vacant seat—a declaration of war.Oh, this will be fun.
Without hesitation, I pushed a fresh contract before her. Felix flinched, staring at the papers, entirely silent and absent.
Heather and I ignored him as we sized each other up.
“What’s this, then?” she asked with fake confidence.Yeah, honey, I can hear that little quiver wanting to break through.
“Your instant dismissal due to serious misconduct.”
A beat of friction buzzed between us, then she scoffed. “Does he lose his job?” she asked, referring to the glitching android at my feet.
“No.”He’s going to lose everything.
Felix remained so completely frozen that if he weren’t visibly breathing, I’d have been worried.Hmm, probably not even then.
I collected my favourite pen from my briefcase—the one I reserved for special occasions, a beautifully crafted graduation gift from Felix so many years earlier.
“Here,” I said, holding the fragile offering out to Heather. “Use this. It’s one of a kind,special, just like you.”
She ripped it out of my hand and broke the pen in half before chucking the pieces at Felix, who was shaking from my reusing his words for the cheap display they were.
But that was not what held his attention. His stare soon caught on Heather’s finger, which happened to house the same exact ring on my own—the platinum band he had generously gifted me on our ten-year anniversary.
I removed mine and lifted it in the air, letting the overhead lights reflect off the glowing jewellery before I let it go, the useless trinket rolling to a stop before Felix’s knees.
“One of a kind,” I repeated.
A painful groan seemed to rumble from his chest as his eyes lapsed shut to hide the agony warring within.
I tsked, pivoting my attention back on the threat that was still functioning. “Sign the papers, Hilary, before you lose more than your job.”
“What!?” she screeched. “I lose my job just because you can’t keep your man?! Getting rid of me isn’t going to help, Stella. Felix stepped out on you once, and he’ll do it again. He doesn’t want you!”
Her tirade lost its impact when I chuckled. “Oh,honey, look at where we are. You think I want a man like that? A cheat, an absent father? Someone who can’t commit or keep his vows?You poor, delusional child. It’s not that I want to keep him. The question iswhy do you?”
Heather was stunned, her words grating out like sandpaper. “If you don’t care, why dismiss me?”
