Chapter 2

2.

The next afternoon, I put on that emerald green cashmere coat―the one Declan said made me look too aggressive.

Good. Today, I intend to be aggressive.

The offices of Vance & Associates were in the Loop, on the 27th floor of a glass-walled skyscraper.

The receptionist looked stunned to see me. "Elena... you're here to see Declan?"

"Yes."

"He's in a meeting―"

"I know. I'll let myself in."

I walked through the open workspace. A few employees recognized me, their eyes filled with subtle pity.

The whole company probably knew the boss and his "first love" Sienna were transferring to Chicago together.

As for the boss's wife?

Who cares.

I knocked on Declan's office door.

"Come in."

Declan sat behind his massive mahogany desk, staring at three computer monitors. Hearing the door, he looked up. Seeing it was me, he frowned slightly.

"Elena? Why are you here?" His tone held a trace of impatience. "Didn't Marcus tell you? Whatever you want, just tell him and―"

"I want the old auto repair shop," I interrupted, placing the file on his desk. "The one your grandfather owned in Pilsen. It's closed, but the land has value. I can redevelop it."

Declan paused, then sighed in relief.

"That's it?" He almost eagerly pulled the file toward him. "You should have said so. It's just a run-down garage."

He didn't even read it. He flipped directly to the last page, the signature block.

"Anything else?" he asked while signing. "The dividends from the Lincoln Park project just came in. You want a new car? A new house? Jewelry? Just tell Marcus―"

"No need." I took the signed document back and carefully placed it in my bag.

Declan looked to be in a good mood, probably thinking this "crisis" had been easily resolved.

"Seriously, Elena," he leaned back in his chair, his tone bordering on lecturing. "The things you've received in these eight years are more than most people get in a lifetime. You should be grateful."

"I am grateful," I smiled.

"Alright, I have a conference call." He waved his hand. "You go home. I might be late tonight. Sienna still has some paperwork to finish."

"Okay."

I turned and left his office.

I walked into the elevator and watched the doors slowly close, shutting out that space filled with hypocrisy.

Declan didn't know that from page 15 of the document he just signed, it was our divorce application.

He also didn't remember that when we got married, he gave me 99 gifts and said the 100th gift would be growing old together.

Now, my 100th "gift" has arrived.

It is freedom.