“He’s good for small–time stuff, but big things…”
He trailed off, but I knew what he meant.
The only thing Mark had done for the business
was be the face of it. The big deals, it was
always me.
“The contract is on my lap. Check it out.”
I looked at the contract. “Mr. Harrison, could
you hand it to me?”
“I’m driving, I can’t take my hand off the
wheel.”
I coughed uncomfortably. I took the corner of
the contract, and quickly pulled it toward me.
The conditions of the contract were more than
fair.
<
They were too fair, to be honest.
I closed the contract.
“Let’s cut to the chase. You’re giving me very
generous terms. What do I have to do?”
Ben was still looking at the road. “You need to
manage the project yourself.”
I was surprised.
I nodded. “Of course. It’s a major deal, so I will
be the lead.”
Ben pulled out a pen.
I remembered him making me get the contract
myself, and rolled my eyes. I signed my name.
“To celebrate, how about I buy you some
dinner?”
I couldn’t see any reason to refuse.
We had a business deal now, so there was no
need to be standoffish.
Ben parked in front of a hot pot restaurant.
I paused.
Ben, who was behind me asked, “What is it? Don’t you like hot pot?”
“I haven’t had it in four years.”
For four years, Mark didn’t want me eating
spicy food, so I hadn’t gone out for hot pot in
all that time.
Ben tugged on the hood of my sweatshirt and laughed. “Well, we’ll celebrate you getting
divorced. How about that?”
I smiled, and ordered a ton of food.
11:23
We talked about the deal, and enjoyed each
other’s company.
It was getting late when we finished.
Ben insisted on taking me home.
But as soon as we arrived, I saw an unwanted
visitor.
Mark was sitting on my porch. He looked cold
and miserable, but as soon as he saw me his
face lit up.
“Chloe, you’re home!”
- 7.
884
I raised an eyebrow, not knowing what he was
doing there.
“Mark, what are you doing at my house?”
<
11:23
He came running over and grabbed my hand,
rubbing his ice cold hand against mine.
884
“Are you cold? It’s so cold out here, why aren’t
you wearing more layers? You know it makes
me worry about you?”
My stomach started to flip.
I pulled away from him. “What are you doing?”
His eyes started to water. “I’m just so worried.”
“You like to look good, so when you go out you
never wear enough clothes. And I’m worried
that you’ll get sick. If I’m not here, who’s going
to get your coat or warm your hands? How are
you going to take care of yourself?”
“Let’s get back together. I really do love you.”
I looked into his eyes.
It had all been true, once upon a time.
Mark had been sweet, and thoughtful.
I used to think our love was special.
And that man had called me clingy. He had
faked his death to avoid me, and he had
cheated.
“Why should I?”
I looked at Mark and said, “I don’t wear many
layers because I go straight from my door to
the car. It’s not like I’m standing out in the cold
for a long time.”
“You say that you were being sweet, so that’s
why I should let you back in? You disappeared
for three months, and now you want me to be
your wife again? Why should I go along with
it?”
“I used to love you because you were sweet to
me, and you made me feel like you were a
good, kind man. But, now I know you aren’t,”
“You’re just a liar, and a cheater, and you’ll do
anything to get what you want.”
“You went MIA for three months, and everyone
who cared about you was worrying. You weren’t
bothered at all. You’re just a monster. Is that
what you think is ‘loving‘?”
“That’s ridiculous.”
Mark watched me, and shook.
He tried to deny it, but he couldn’t.
“What do you want? If you have nothing else to
say, I’m going home.”
He stood there, silent.
く
I reached out to move him.
He suddenly pulled me into a tight hug.
“Chloe, I know I messed up. Jamie and I, it
meant nothing! I was drunk. I made the mistake
men make.”
“I’ll stay away from her. Please, give me
another chance!”
I was trapped in his hug.
Then I was suddenly pulled back into another
embrace. When I looked up, I saw Ben’s jaw
line.
“Mark, if you bother Chloe again, the Harrison
family will be done with you for good!”
Mark immediately let go of me.
“What’s your issue? Chloe is my wife! I’m your
nephew!”
Ben stood over him.
“Did you forget? You’re not part of the Harrison family anymore.”
Mark started to get violent. I held my arms out,
trying to keep him from Ben, who was looking
at me with wide eyes.
Luckily Mark stopped himself.
“Chloe! Why did you stand in front of me? Are
you crazy?”
Ben looked at me with anger. I gave him a
smile. “I’ll deal with him, then we’ll talk about it,
okay?”
Ben sighed.
I looked at a corner of the yard, “You can come
く
Jamie walked out, tears running down her face.
She looked at Mark, and her eyes were hard.
I said, “Mark, you really think it’s ok to screw
around with the people who care about you? Do
you like seeing people collapse?”
“You get some twisted pleasure out of hurting
people, don’t you?”
“If Jamie hadn’t come looking for me, I wouldn’t
have been concerned if you’d died in the
mountains!”
Mark was in shock. He looked at me.
“She asked you to come? So you didn’t come
out of concern? You came because that slut
asked you to?”
I slapped him, hard.
“You are disgusting!”
“Jamie’s not a nice person, but she really cared
about you. And yet, you talk about her like that?”
I turned to Jamie, “You two can figure it out
yourself. Don’t ever come near me again. You annoy me!”
I dragged Ben back to our hotel.
On the way back, Ben lectured me about
putting myself in danger, and made me
apologize.
Things between Ben and me changed. We
started dating, and on our one–year
anniversary, he asked me to marry him. Then he
started the wedding planning process, and I
didn’t find out until it was time to try on
dresses.
At the wedding, Ben invited Mark and Jamie.
<
That was when I learned what had happened
after I left them in the mountains.
Jamie was sick of Mark’s lies, and she pushed
him down a ravine.
Mark had broken several bones, and now
needed a wheelchair.
Jamie took care of him, and she had no more
life in her.
I was looking at Mark, when Ben grabbed my
face and kissed me hard.
“What are you staring at? I’m jealous!”
I laughed and kissed him back.
“Don’t be, my eyes, heart, and life are only for you!”
(The End)
