Page 101 of The Call She Made That He Never Answered
Vivian's expression twisted instantly. Her eyes went wide, that elegant mask cracking to reveal the greedy, unhinged reality beneath.
"For work! Lucas, I gave up everything in Europe for Rockefeller Group, spent two entire years with you! I worked late with you, cleaned up your messes, and turned down every personal engagement for you! And what? Now you're abandoning everything you have in Manhattan for that woman, for that cheap caregiver who can't do anything but pop out babies? Are you insane! What spell did she cast on you?"
"Because she's my wife," I said coldly. "And you, you get a hefty salary. This was all your job!"
Then Ella's voice came through the computer.
"Since Ms. Vivian Harrington claims this is all about work," Ella's voice was clear, cold, sharp as a blade, "then why did you recite Lucas's private phone call logs to me in the manor garage? Why did you read me his text messages one by one? Why did you tell me that after you two had sex, you'd lie in bed and laugh at my texts together?"
Vivian froze like she'd been struck by lightning, neck stiff as she turned toward the phone on the desk.
I picked up the phone with a cold laugh, pointing the camera at her ashen face.
"You." Her voice trembled. "Why are you..."
Ella didn't give her a chance to breathe.
"Also, you said that during the two years you were with Lucas, you maintained a sexual relationship, that you had sex everywhere—the office, hotel rooms on business trips." Ella's tone stayed calm. "You described the details in graphic detail. When you said all that, did you think you were just doing your job?"
My blood froze in that instant.
Vivian had said those things to Ella? Those disgusting lies, that deliberate humiliation?
I looked at Vivian. Her lips trembled, face flushed red, like she'd been stripped naked in public.
"I..." She opened her mouth. "I was just..."
I stood abruptly, chair sliding back a meter.
"You actually said that shit?"
I stared at Vivian, seeing stars. "What else did you say to Ella?"
Vivian's face had turned from red to sickly pale. She backed up, hitting the bookshelf.
"I...I was protecting the company." She weakly defended. "I didn't want you dragged down by false emotions..."
"That's my marriage! Not your business to interfere with! And you're a liar. I never did anything with you. Why the hell are you making shit up?" My fists cracked.
I'd never hit a woman, but in that moment, I nearly broke that rule.
"Yes, I did it, so what?" Vivian was like a cornered animal, eyes flashing with viciousness. "If your relationship wasn't already broken, how could a few words from me work? The fact that I succeeded proves she's not fit to be your wife. I dealt with the mess Mr. Rockefeller left you. You should thank me!"
"So, Vivian, you're admitting you've been lying all along, right?" Ella's voice was terrifyingly calm, enunciating each word. "So this time when Lucas came back to Manhattan, you saw him drunk and wanted to pull the same trick. Thought you could send me some bedroom photos and break us up again."
Vivian stared at Ella on the screen, hatred burning in her eyes. I couldn't understand where such intense emotion came from. They'd barely met twice.
"You already left, why did you have to take him too, why?"
Vivian screamed hysterically. She'd torn off the mask, going for total destruction.
"But you know where you messed up this time?" Ella laughed coldly. "You thought I'd just run away like before. You thought I was still that woman who'd crumble at a few words from you."
She paused.
"But I'm not anymore." She said. "I'm carrying Lucas's child now. I'm this baby's mother. I won't be weak like before. So this time, I choose to believe Lucas. I choose to stand by him."
Something caught in my throat.
