Page 25 of The Call She Made That He Never Answered
I'd hit her where it hurt most. Her whole face twisted. Then she jumped out of the car—slammed the door, hit the lock. Like she'd rehearsed it a thousand times.
Click. All the locks engaged with a crisp sound.
I realized too late what was happening. Dizzy and nauseous, I grabbed for the door handle. It wouldn't budge.
"Sit there and think about what you've done!" She looked at me like I was a rat, then walked away.
"Open the door!" I pounded on the window, but this bulletproof custom luxury car had soundproofing that made me want to scream. I could yell myself hoarse. No one outside would hear.
I watched Vivian sprint toward the elevator. Damn it! She was definitely going to tattle to Lucas.
Lucas—the man who was my husband in name only. I couldn't even call him for help. He wouldn't answer.
Two years. Always the same. He ignored me when I hadn't done anything wrong. Now that I'd cursed out the woman he loved, I wasn't even sure he wouldn't get violent.
My stomach churned until I thought I'd throw up.
Just when despair nearly drove me insane, click, the locks released. I looked up in shock. At the far end by the elevator, Vivian was waving the car keys at me triumphantly, like a trophy.
I suspected a trap, but I shoved the door open anyway. Whatever happened, I couldn't gamble with my safety. Especially not when pregnant.
I ran forward a few steps. The elevator doors slid shut in front of me. Vivian stood in the bright elevator car, wearing a victor's smile.
What was she planning?
I didn't know. But I wouldn't just sit and wait. The elevator display showed the second floor. I spun toward the stairs and ran like hell. My heart felt like it would burst from my chest. My stomach roiled.
Things had gone too far. My relationship with Lucas was beyond repair—I knew that, of course I did. But I couldn't accept it!
I'd done nothing to wrong him. I'd worked so hard at this unequal marriage. For him, I'd given up the caregiving work I loved, left my beloved sister Maya. I'd given this love everything I had, but I still didn't meet his standards for a wife... Fine. He didn't love me. I didn't blame him. He wanted to marry someone else. I had divorce papers ready.
But I absolutely would not let Vivian, the woman who destroyed my marriage, go to him and trash me! If I was going to lose this marriage, at least let me say my piece first!
On the third-floor landing, I heard Vivian crying. I remembered Lucas saying he had a conference call. The closer I got to the study, the clearer the crying became.
I shoved the study door open.
The whole world stopped.
Lucas and Vivian were locked in an embrace.
Chapter Eight
Lucas
"Lucas, about the VitaGen board restructuring plan..."
On the computer screen, a dozen major shareholders were online for the video conference. I led the meeting while keeping my brain in overdrive. The acquisition had closed, but the battle raged on. Out of the original seven board seats, I needed four to lock in Rockefeller Group's total control.
A loud bang. The door slammed open.
No knock. Just crashed right in. I hit mute instinctively and looked up. Vivian. I was about to snap at her to get out when Mrs. Hughes cried from the hallway:
"Ella, what's wrong?"
Footsteps pounded closer.
My gut twisted.
