Awakened (The Fighter Series Book 3)

by TC Matson

  “Well, I don’t love you. Sign the fucking papers!” I whisper-scream, jamming my finger on the “End Call” button.

  “Ugh! He aggravates the hell out of me!” I drop my head on the desk. “No proof. He wants to work things out. He loves me. No signing. I want out!”

  “You need to call your lawyer. Surely, he can help you move this further.”

  I pick my head up. “Not without an arm and a leg. Contested divorces are insanely costly.”

  “So we plan a girls’ weekend, go to your old hometown and track down these skanks. Have them sign an affidavit and then you use that and get everything you want.”

  I stare at her, pondering the thought. “Eh. I don’t want to go back there and even though I know he cheated on me, I personally don’t want to know all of the stories.”

  She taps her lips with her pointer finger. “Good point.”

  “I need to call my lawyer and see what more we can do to force him.”

  “Has he ever seen your balls?” Emily asks. “The mad ex-wife balls?”

  I cock my head to the side. “Do what?”

  “You heard me. You grew some after leaving him. Your claws are sharpened and you’re ready for war. It’ll scare him.

  “Nothing scares the arrogant asshole.”

  “Losing you does…” Emily shrugs.

  “It’s the control he fears losing,” I tell her.

  “Put it in his face that he no longer has it. Sure he’ll probably melt down and go psycho for a bit, but maybe he’ll buckle. Play his game with him.”

  “I’m not lowering myself to his level,” I say sharply.

  “You’re a smart woman. You can beat him. We just have to figure out his weakness.” She straightens out her pink pencil skirt and white button up as she flashes me a smile. “I’ve got to go, but I’ll keep my mind on it. Together we can think up something.”

  Chapter 16

  Slap! “Stupid alarm,” I groan.

  As I stretch, Adam winds his hand between my breast and pulls me into him. “Too early. Go back to bed.”

  I snicker. “Work. Some of us don’t have the luxury like you do.”

  “Ouch,” he mumbles against the back of my head.

  I roll to face him. His eyes are still closed, his face still holding the resemblance of his peaceful slumber. “You’re welcome to stay and sleep in.”

  A whisper of a smile tugs at his lips and he opens one eye. “Can’t. Have some plans.”

  I kiss him on the nose and reluctantly slide out of the bed, away from his grip, and head to my closet to get ready for work. This makes two nights in a row he’s stayed with me, awarding me with his sexy smile every morning.

  I settle on a black pant suit with a light pink blouse and black heels. Nothing too important going on today. Some days I think I could go in with yoga pants on and no one would care, but got to look par for the job.

  I head to the bathroom to do my hair and makeup. Since I threw out the idea of a shower this morning, my hair will be up in a loose ponytail. It’s my go-to hair style. Simple. Sweet.

  I’m babbling about hair…I need coffee.

  Adam licks his lips when I emerge into the living room raking his eyes over me, head to toe. “Professionally gorgeous.” He holds out a travel mug of coffee for me.

  I grin and stretch to kiss him. “Thank you.”

  “I’m bringing you lunch today,” he says.

  “You don’t have to.”

  “Didn’t say you were making me.”

  His coffee hasn’t hit his brain yet.

  I kiss him softly and then he walks me to my car without words. Again, another kiss and a goodbye and he shuts the door. I watch him stride to his Tahoe and share one last glance with him before starting my car and heading into work.

  I don’t like leaving him.

  Dave, my boss, is a busy man. He travels around to the many branches we have, which is a blessing since I don’t have someone watching over me. That requires a lot of trust from him. When I first started here a year ago, filling in a huge role, I proved to him that I was a self-starter and very career driven. I take pride in my work ethics because frankly, it was all I had for many years pushing me forward. And if I ever want to own my own firm, well, I need to prove to myself as well that I’m pretty trustworthy.

  The only time I see Dave is normally in meetings. Rarely he’ll stick his head in, unless he has a question or has screwed something up. I think he has a severe case of ADHD because the man talks so fast and will change the subject fourteen times in a mere five-minute conversation.

  Today has been exceptionally quiet as I’ve watched the time stop dead in its seconds. It’s close to lunch time and my excitement is through the roof. It’s been a long while since I’ve felt this much elation just to see someone.

  Adam pops his head around the frame of the door and I just about leap out of my chair, startled by the floating head.

  Bearing a grin and holding a bag, he steps in shutting the door behind him quietly.

  I scrunch my face. “You went all the way home and changed?

  “And showered. It’s not that far. Plus, there’s a deli just down the street from me. Best turkey sandwiches around. Got you one.”

  “You didn’t have to,” I tell him.

  He pulls out a water bottle and hands me a soda. “I know. How’s your day been?”

  “Alright.” I unwrap the sandwich. It feels weird trying to hide my giddiness. I want to leap into his arms and kiss him all over, but I don’t want to seem clingy.

  Am I being clingy? Do new relationships always feel this good? The only one I have to go by is Nick’s and I was young then.

  “You weren’t lying,” I say with a mouthful. I’m not too keen on sandwiches but this…this is good.

  “I never lie about food.”

  Even without the seriousness in his tone, the fact of the matter is, I know. Adam loves food and expresses it enough to make me wonder if he’s obsessed with it.

  There’s a light tap on my door just before it swings open. In busts the five-eleven, brown-haired, shit-color eyed Prick.

  I leap to my feet. “What the hell are you doing here?”

  Nick glowers at Adam and then smiles smugly at me. “Hello to you too. Am I interrupting something?”

  “Get the hell out of my office,” I bark.

  Adam slams to his feet with his hands balled into fists at his side. Nick strides right up beside him and gives him a once over. “Explains why I haven’t seen you lately. You’ve been out of town fucking my wife.”

  I’m assuming the commotion made it to Emily’s ears because just then she barges in and slides into Adam’s side. “You’re quick to make speculations. Is your guilty conscious extensive? He’s with me.”

  Rage is firing behind Adam’s eyes. “This is the ex-douchebag you were telling me about?

  “I see I’m still your favorite subject,” Nick says to Adam and then slowly turns to me.

  “You’re far from anything favorite,” Adam spits back.

  “You two know each other?” The words drag slowly out. I’m unsure I even want to know this answer.

  “I—”

  “We go way back,” Nick cuts in with Adam glowering at him. “Everyone needs a good mechanic.”

  I watch in disgust as Nick’s eyes travel the length of Emily’s legs.

  Adam’s jaw sets.

  “So you’re eating lunch with Kel, but with her? Man old habits die hard, huh?” Nick smarts off.

  Emily’s eyes widen and tugs Adam’s arm. “I had a phone call.”

  Although shorter than Adam, Nick steps about six inches from Adam’s face and stares him directly in the eyes. “Let me catch that lie.”

  “Is that a threat?” Adam grounds out audaciously.

  Nick is far from Adam’s size. He’s lacking at least thirty pounds or more and definitely not in shape like Adam. All the years I’ve known Nick, he’s only been in a handful of scuffles, most ending before t
hey even started. Fighting isn’t in his blood, or at least so I thought. So you can imagine my surprise when Nick puffs up his little chest.

  “For her it is.” Nick points to me.

  “What the hell are you doing here, Nick?” I repeat my question. “Unless you’ve got signed divorce papers in your hands, you better fucking leave.”

  A sinister smile spreads across his lips. “You’re sexy as hell when you’re pissed. How come I’ve never seen this side of you?”

  “Probably scared you’d smack her around,” Emily says under her breath, but it was loud enough for the whole room to hear.

  My stomach drops.

  “Do what?” Adam growls, yanking his arm away from Emily.

  Nick’s eyes harden on me, the same vicious stare he’d give me moments before he’d smack me across the face in the past. A shiver runs down my spine, but this time instead of cowering like a scared girl, I pull my shoulders back.

  “You denied my request to have dinner with me, so I’m here to have lunch. We need to talk. Reconcile our differences, just like I said we would.”

  “Irreconcilable differences,” I remind him through gritted teeth.

  “Could you two leave so I can talk to my wife?” he says with his intimidating eyes set on me.

  “Ex!” I scathe.

  “I drove over an hour to discuss some things with you.”

  “Do you have a hearing problem?” Adam says from behind Nick.

  A shit-eating grin appears on Nick’s lips. “How long have you been fucking him?” he whispers loudly.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I watch Adam bounce his head from shoulder to shoulder.

  “Heard he likes a lot of strange,” Nick says. “Worse than my rumors.”

  Adam starts toward him, but before he can do whatever he planned on doing, I reach out and smack the hell out of Nick. And instead of fleeing from the predator, I stare the sonofabitch directly in his eyes. “Don’t you dare come into my place of work and disrespect the people around me,” I seethe through gritted teeth. “It’s time for you to leave.”

  “Not without ten minutes of your time,” he growls.

  “You’ve wasted more than that already.”

  “I’m asking for ten more. We need to talk,” Nick repeats.

  I glance to Adam. He’s sporting a pissed look I’ve never seen on him before. Emily has her hand in his, tugging him with pleading eyes.

  “Ten minutes,” Adam grits between his teeth and storms out of the room, dragging Emily out the door behind him.

  I grab Adam’s sandwich and wrap it back up as Nick sits in the very seat Adam was occupying moments prior.

  “You’ve got some nerve,” I say abrasively.

  “You grew some,” he responds languidly. “How’d you meet Adam?”

  “Through Emily,” I lie…well, sort of. “You’re going to waste your time asking about her flings?” I almost puked that.

  He folds his hands, leaning back. “I don’t want a divorce.”

  “I do.”

  “I realize what I’ve done wrong.”

  “I have too. That’s why I want a divorce,” I answer bitterly.

  “You can’t blame me for being young, Kel.”

  “Is that an admission of adultery?”

  He smirks. “No proof,” he states.

  “Nick, I don’t want to be with you. I don’t want to be married any longer. Please. Just sign the damn divorce papers. It’s done. We’re done. The damage is done.”

  He cocks his head to the side. “You’re willing to walk away from eight years?”

  I bite a smile. “Every one of them.”

  He scratches the side of his face.

  “Explain to me why you’d want to remain married to someone who doesn’t want to be with you. You’re wasting everyone’s time. You could move on. I could move on. All this—”

  “Because I love you,” he interrupts.

  “I don’t love you, Nick.”

  “You did. I can make that happen again.”

  “No.” I shake my head. “No you can’t. I’m not blind and naive anymore.” I lean my elbows on the desk. “I’ll give all of my part. The house, the car, the furniture…everything. Please, don’t contest this any further.”

  Something switches in his eyes. “You’ll need to call your lawyer. I won’t sign the papers without new ones drafted.”

  “If I call him right now and have them fixed, you’ll quit arguing about it?”

  He stares at me without saying a word.

  “No changing your mind, Nick. No fake promises. Be real. Dammit for the first fucking time, be truthful to me!” Hostility begins dripping from my tone.

  He still doesn’t say a word.

  “If I motion the courts, the judge can determine what he deems to be fair and equitable and you can lose a lot of what I’m willing to give up. He could order you to pay all of my part.”

  His jaw clenches. “Call your fucking lawyer,” he barks.

  I jump to the phone without hesitation, nearly tripping over my seated ass to dial the numbers.

  Please be in. Please be in, I pray while the phone rings. And when the receptionist answers, I exhale relieved.

  “Hello, Ms. Stratton. What can I do for you?” he answers.

  “I’ve spoken with Nick. Actually, he’s here with me. He’s agreed that if I give him my part of the house, our car, and not contest the rest, he’s willing to sign the papers, but they need to be rewritten before he does so.”

  “Ms. Stratton, you know I’m going to advise against this. You’re entitled to—”

  “I understand my losses, Mr. Prescott. But after the months of arguing, I’m standing down. I just want the papers signed. He said he’s willing to speak with you if need be.”

  He sighs. “Are you sure he’ll sign these papers?”

  “One can only hope.”

  “Let me speak with him, please.”

  I hand the phone to Nick. His eyes are solemn, lost in a world of unexplained hurt. The same ones I saw when I walked away, but this time…this time it doesn’t hurt me as badly.

  “This is Nick,” he states.

  I hold up a finger with pleading eyes as Adam opens the door, silently begging for just a few more minutes. He looks to Nick then back to me with an annoyed anger but retreats.

  Nick hands me back the phone. “He said he’d be in contact with you in the next few days.”

  “Good,” I sigh.

  Nick stands and straightens his orange polo shirt. “I don’t want this.”

  “You should’ve thought about that long ago,” I state.

  “I—”

  Adam interrupts, bounding back in with Emily in tow. “I’m done fucking waiting.”

  “Everything is fine,” I try calming him.

  Nick looks at Emily and Adam and back to me with the most awful malicious smirk. “Even after I sign them, there’s a thirty day waiting period.”

  I smile widely and tilt my head. “No proof.”

  Anger flashes in Nick’s expression.

  I raise my brow. “Doesn’t feel good being smacked with your own words, now does it?” I say trying not to laugh.

  “Be careful what you wish for,” he says turning to leave.

  Unfortunately, Adam is right there and Nick bumps into him. A devilish smile launches across Adam’s lips. “You like to play with fire, Nick?”

  “Unless you think I’m stupid, I’d drop the act. Last I remember, she doesn’t fare well with cheaters or threesomes.”

  “Shows just how fucking stupid you are,” Adam stands his ground.

  “See you around.” Nick walks around him and exits.

  I drop to my chair, relieved the bastard is gone. Adam’s eyes slide from the door to me and he drops Emily’s hand.

  “Thank goodness! I thought for sure you were going to squeeze my damn hand off!” She massages it.

  He slams his knuckles down on my desk, towering above me. Oh, he’s really mad. “I’v
e been in some pretty fucked up cluster fucks, but this…this fucking tops them all.”

  “How was I supposed to know he was coming?” I ask.

  “Your dickhead, douchebag soon-to-be ex-husband is Nick Lawrence? A bastard like that?”

  I squint. “Speaking of, how do you know him?”

  He sets his jaw and doesn’t answer me.

  Suspicion grows deep in my soul the longer he leers at me and then my heart sinks. “He set me up, didn’t he?”

  It’s like I verbally smacked him. Adam flinches back and slaps the water bottle. “You think that low of me? You think I’d work alongside that fucking sleazebag?”

  “Kind of odd how neither of you are telling me a thing.”

  He pulls his shoulders back and glances around my office. “I’ll talk to you after you get off work.”

  “No, I want to know now.” I stand.

  “I’m not doing this here.”

  “Why?” I plea.

  “I’ll talk to you later.”

  Five expressionless words and he disappears without even glancing back. Gone. Out the door, leaving me with a putrid and a hurtful emptiness. Soon it turns to anger, though. I want to know what the hell is going on.

  I shoot off an email to Dave, lying about not feeling very well, toss the leftover food in the trash, yank my purse off the floor and stomp out the door, slapping the light off.

  I pause for just a beat when I approach Emily’s door. She’s leaned against her desk, looking down at her hand, still rubbing it. “I’m leaving for the day.”

  Just as he did me, I leave her with five worthless words and don’t give her a chance to say anything back.

  Chapter 17

  “No fucking way!” Levi laughs. “You’re kidding, right?”

  “I wish the fuck I was.” I grip my steering wheel tighter, thundering down the road.

  “What the hell did you do to piss off Karma?”

  A laugh rumbles from deep within my chest. “You tell me.”

  My phone beeps alerting me to another call. I glance quickly, seeing that it’s Kelsie.

  “Kelsie’s calling,” I tell Levi. “I’ll hit you up later.”