CHAPTER SEVEN

RHEA’S POV

It had been a month since the divorce, a month since my access to the accounts was restricted, I barely had money in my personal account… I was broke, every morning waking up to a new ceiling design and wall arts was a reminder that I had no place of my own but simply a squatter in Arizona’s guest room.

I hadn’t heard from Leonard since the day he served me a paper, I was expecting to see him in the numerous meetings my mom arranged concerning the divorce, but he was a no show.

My mom had refused to let things go, she had gone as far as threatening to sue the Klein’s, but when she realized we had no case, the prenuptial agreement was clear and consensually signed by Leonard and I, she was forced to accept the family’s offer of compensating me with a hundred thousand dollars which I rejected, now I was left with my car as the only valuable asset I left the marriage with.

Mom had asked that I moved in with her, but my relationship with Selina was best kept distant,

Arizona was my only option.

“Rhea, please come out, I made lunch.” Arizona called from outside the guest room as I hissed and rolled face down on the bed.

I had tried not leading with my feelings these past weeks, even when I moved to Arizona’s house, I warned myself not to sulk and have her walk on eggshells because of my emotions… I did great the first week, but after realizing that Leonard wasn’t affected by our separation and didn’t care enough to show up for the meetings, all the emotions I had tried concealing came rushing back. I felt humiliated having to seat discussing a marriage I shared with a man who didn’t seem affected by my absence.

I rolled off the bed, slid my feet into my slippers and headed to the sitting room, Arizona was seated facing the flat screened tv with a bowl of pasta on her lap and another bowl left cooling off steam on the center table.

I slumped on the couch and crossed my legs, I could feel her gaze on me but I pretended not to notice.

“Please eat, you’re losing a lot of weight, Rhea.” Arizona urged, I kept mute staring blankly at

the tv. “I still don’t understand why you rejected a hundred thousand dollars.” She added, clearly pushing to start the conversation I have been avoiding.

I grabbed my bowl of pasta and started stuffing it into my mouth.

“I found a reliable real estate agent, he has affordable properties you would like.” She said and I turned to her my brows raised hopefully, she handed me her phone as I scrolled through the

house listing. “How much do you have left?”

“I have 30 thousand dollars left in my account, a clear contrast to the houses on this list, the cheapest house here costs a million dollars, how am I going to get such money?” I mumbled as I gave her phone back to her.

“You could buy an apartment like me, it’s way cheaper and also easy to sell or rent out when you get a better place.” Arizona suggested and grabbed a glass of water. “You still have your wedding

ring, a 5 carat tiffany solitaire diamond, you could sell it for a start.” I frowned, instinctively hiding my left hand behind me.

“Ari! That’s a horrible suggestion! This ring represents a huge part of my life, I can’t sell it.”

“I don’t get why you still wear it though, you’re divorced, you have no money, make the ring useful, Rhea.” She pointed sternly, I opened my mouth to defend, but closed it and turned to the tv. “I still hope you had a good reason for rejecting the compensation money.”

“Compensation… That exactly is the reason, why do I have to be compensated for a marriage I got into willingly out of love, the money was offered out of pity, it was humiliating and I refuse to be a charity case ever again. I will figure things out myself.” My eyes clouded with tears as my gaze locked with Ari’s, she stood from her couch and sat next to me on mine as she pulled me into her arms soothingly.

“You’re not a charity case, Rhea. You will be fine.” She whispered assuredly as I hugged her waist, sobbing lightly on her shoulder. “We will start house hunting to keep you busy, you don’t have to sell the ring, we will get you a nice apartment for rent.”

Arizona had gone to work, and I was done sulking on my bed, the person I was sulking over was possibly in a tropical island somewhere with someone new.

I took a hot bath, changed into blue jeans and plain black top that I last wore in my early twenties. I hadn’t worn an outfit this casual throughout my three years of marriage, luckily,

pilates and diet eating kept me in good shape to still fit into my old clothes. I turned to the mirror and smiled at my reflection, I still had swollen eye bags which I fixed with concealer, I applied lipgloss, slipped my feet into my Hermes slippers, grabbed my bag and headed out.

I decided to walk, I also didn’t have a reason to do that during my marriage. Three blocks farther from Arizona’s home and I had already picked up different street snacks.

My account was a couple of dollars short of 30 thousand dollars, I didn’t panic, I entered a

grocery store.

“Mrs Klein?” I didn’t turn. I wasn’t Mrs Klein anymore.

As I walked through the aisles with my shopping cart, I noticed a few gazes at me, but I ignored and continued picking out groceries.

Once I was done, I pushed toward the cashier, a text from Arizona popped up.

“I think I found a nice place for you, meet me at Mc’s.” The text read, I slipped the phone into my back pocket and turned to the cashier who was clearly trying her best not to stare too hard.

“$284, Ma’am.” I nodded and handed my card over.

After paying, I carried the bags and headed to the restaurant Arizona mentioned, she was seated by the window, her eyes engrossed on her phone screen.

“You went grocery shopping alone?” She uttered once she noticed me, I slumped on the chair opposite her, leaving the shopping bags on the floor.

“It was nice being normal again.” I muttered as she signaled to a waiter. “People still call me Mrs Klein, I feel like a fraud” I said as Arizona laughed.

“Maybe because you’re still wearing the wedding band?” She pointed and I stared at my finger, the large rock glinting at me, I hissed and gently pulled the ring off throwing it into my bag.

“Good day, Ma’am’s. What would you like to have?” The waiter asked politely. “I need strawberry daiquiri please.” I quickly ordered as he wrote it down.

“Yeah, get two of that and your brunch special.” Arizona added, the waiter jotted and left.

“It feels weird not having my wedding ring on, but today made me realize that I could really rock this single-hood.” I admitted with a shy smile avoiding Ari’s knowing look.

“Don’t get too comfortable mi lady, you will be going on dates soon, you need to experience new male genitalia.” I frowned at her as she laughed with a shrug.

“Here you go… Strawberry Daiquiris, our brunch specials will be served shortly.” The waiter gently placed the cocktails on the table and left.

“Is it just me or is Desmond McCraig here and staring at you?” Arizona leaned in with a whisper. “Who?” I curiously raised my brows and followed her gaze.

He was standing at the extreme beside a “staff only” signed door, one hand in his pocket and the other holding a stick of cigar between his fingers, his eyes fixated on me without blinking and his lips holding a subtle smirk. I recognized him immediately and acknowledged him with a single nod, he leaned out of the wall, my heart started pounding… A month ago, he had helped save my face from embarrassment by paying for my room and I left early the next morning without saying a proper thank you or goodbye. He was probably coming to call me out on my bullshit.

“Wait… You know him?” Arizona questioned and I shrugged, subtly looking away from him. “Kinda…”

“He’s a catch! His family runs half this city, they own this restaurant too.” Arizona whisper yelled.

I had expected him to approach me, but his hand went to the door knob behind him, he turned and walked through the door. I heaved a sigh of relief.

The waiter came again with a tray full of food and dessert, I adjusted my daiquiri as he served

the food, I noticed a piece of paper on my waffles soaked in the serum, I picked and unfolded it.

“You owe me a proper thank you, little rebel. Tomorrow, here at five.” The note read.