“Great job today, everyone!” He leaned back in the judge’s chair. “We’ll go over your presentations later this week and email you the scores next Thursday.” He banged his gavel. “Court adjourned.”
The interns filed out of the room and Aubrey looked over her shoulder one last time, shooting me an angry look.
I shot one right back, grateful that I had a date tonight so I could f**k her and her stupid questions out of my mind.
Seven o’clock can’t get here soon enough…
I waited a few minutes before heading to the elevator and attempted to remember my schedule for the rest of the day. I had two consultations with small business owners this afternoon, and I needed to make a Starbucks run before Aubrey could bring me my next cup of coffee.
I unlocked the door to my office and hit the lights, prepared to call for Jessica, but Ava was standing in front of my bookshelf.
“Is the homeless shelter not open today?” I asked.
“I came here to finally give you what you asked for.”
“It’s a little too early to jump off a bridge.”
“I’m being serious.”
“As am I.” I walked past her and sent a quick text on my phone. “If you jump before noon, the news crew won’t be able to run the story during primetime.”
She stepped in front of my desk and set down a manila folder. “I won’t drag your name through the courts anymore, I won’t file anymore stays or injunctions, and I won’t make any false claims about your character either…I’m done lying now.”
“I’m sure.” I picked up the papers. “In other words, there’s a new guy you’re anxious to f**k over. Does he know the real you?”
“Seriously? You’re getting your precious divorce. Why do you even care?”
“I don’t.” I put on my reading glasses and looked over the documents. “No alimony requests, abuse claims, or demands for property? Am I missing a page?”
“I’m telling you. I’m done lying.”
I didn’t believe her for one second, but I picked up my phone and called the notary, telling her it was an emergency.
“You know…” Ava leaned against my desk. “I remember the cake you bought me for our wedding anniversary. It was white and light blue, and it had all these pretty little NYC decorations on it. It had flavored layers, too. One for every year that we were together. Do you remember that?”
“I remember you f**king my best friend.”
“We can’t have one nice moment before we end things for good?”
“You and I ended a long time ago, Ava.” I tried to keep my voice flat, monotonous. “When something is over, the final words—good or bad, don’t make much of a f**king difference.”
She sighed and I noticed how terrible she looked today. Her eyes were bloodshot, her hair was frizzy and tied into a loose ponytail, and even though the blue dress she was wearing fit perfectly, she hadn’t made an attempt to iron it.
“What’s this so called emergency you have, Mr. Hamilton?” The notary walked into the room, smiling. “Are you requesting that we purchase another thousand dollar coffee maker?” She stopped talking once she saw Ava.
“Miss Kannan, this is Ava Sanchez, my soon to be ex-wife. I need you to witness the signing of the divorce papers and make three copies—sealing one of them for mailing purposes.”
She nodded and pulled a stamper out of her pocket.
“Did you notice that I willingly gave up our condo on the West End to you?” Ava asked.
“The condo that I bought?” I signed my name. “How generous.”
“We made a lot of memories in that house.”
“Signing papers doesn’t require conversation,” I said.
She snatched the pen away from me and placed her signature above mine—taking extra time to add a double swirl to the last letter.