"Why are you still standing there? Did you post the clarification? If you did, then hurry up and apologize to Vivian!"
Watching their little love show, I felt like I was the other woman in this story. The laughable third wheel.
But I hadn't done anything wrong. Why should I apologize to her?
"Stewart, what if I say no?"
He stared at me with that look, as though he had me all figured out, and let out a single contemptuous scoff.
"You're clinging on and refusing to leave because you want money. Just say it."
He pulled out a checkbook, scrawled a few strokes with a flourish, and slapped it on the desk.
"You were with me for years, so I'll be generous. A hundred thousand should cover it. Now go stand in front of the entire company and clarify that Vivian is not the other woman."
Employees had crowded around the office doorway, craning their necks for the show.
Feeling every last one of those contemptuous stares boring into me, I laughed. For real this time.
So that was all I was worth. A hundred thousand dollars.
"What's so funny? Think it's not enough? Every meal you ate, every thing you used these past years came out of my pocket."