Chapter 50
Ryan
The rain is finally letting up as I cross the street. I avoid the streetlamps as to stay out of sight, my hoodie up and concealing my face.
Once I finally reach the building, I hit the button like I was told. A few seconds pass before a loud beep sounds, unlocking the door.
Truth be told, I never intended for my marriage to end up this way. But now, there’s a much more important thing at stake: money.
“Took you long enough,” the cold voice sneers, her high heels clicking on the ground as she retreats into the apartment.
“I’m here, aren’t I?”
The model rolls her eyes at me as if I’m an idiot. Natalie Winter is as beautiful as she is wicked, her words slithering out of her like a snake shedding its skin.
“Let’s get down to it,” she instructs, arms crossed over her red blouse. “You want your money, and I want my revenge.”
“Sounds like we’re plotting a murder,” I reply thickly.
“It’s the murder of two characters,” she throws back. “Look, all we want right now is simple. If Esme loses her case, you get your money.”
“And if Derek is accused of any inappropriate relationships, he’ll be fired and his reputation destroyed,” I add, narrowing my eyes at her. Natalie’s tan skin shimmers under the single light in the apartment. Her brows are furrowed so tight, I swear they could pop off her forehead.
She’s holding tension in every muscle of her body.
What does she have to be so angry about?
“I don’t even know what she sees in him,” I complain like a middle-schooler. “Cheating on me with her boss like it’s some type of game.”
“They’ve kissed, I watched it happen at the pool.” There’s something behind her eyes that I can’t quite name.
However, her sentence shocks my system. “I fucking knew she was a liar.”
“Then our plan is straightforward?”
I speak up. “What about Melinda and the baby?”
“Who?”
Is she serious?
I roll my eyes back at the supermodel. “The woman that has replaced my wife is pregnant with my kid.”
“What does any of that have to do with me?” She deadpans, looking bored already with our conversation. “All I care about is ruining reputations.”
“We want that money for the baby, not to mention Esme’s been fucking me over our entire marriage.”
Natalie flips her dark hair away from her face. “I don’t give a shit about what you do once our plans are complete, so long as you do your part the way we discuss.”
“I’ve seen her go into his apartment. I’ve seen her laughing with him.”
“Now who sounds like a villain?” Natalie shoots back.
“Listen here,” I snap, pointing my finger at her. “You found me, remember? I was doing plenty fine on my own.”
Natalie’s laugh sounds heavy from within her chest. “All you were doing was breaking the law.”
Now I raise an eyebrow.
“Oh, please, I know all about her restraining order against you.”
“If you can’t serve the order, it can’t be carried out.”
“So, you’re gonna continue running from the law? What happens when you go into the courtroom to fight for the money? You’ll be served before you have a second to breathe.”
I open my mouth to reply, but I don’t have a word. My mouth stays agape as I slowly put together that there is no answer.
“Hadn’t thought of that,” I murmur.
“Clearly.”
“Do you want my help or not?”
Maybe I should have brought Melinda with me. She’s better in these types of situations. I’ve just been seeing red for weeks now.
All because Esme was a shitty wife to me.
“What’s the plan, then?” I ask, moving on.
“I have plenty of friends in high to reach places,” she starts. “That’s how I found out about you/ And her.”
“So what, you going to get her fired?”
Natalie’s white teeth and wicked smile return. “No, not just fired. I’m going to ruin her reputation. Same with Derek.”
“So what am I doing?”
“Collect the evidence. Gather the data. Prove to the court you should have the money. Once her relationship with Derek comes out, it’ll destroy her credibility.”
I’m starting to wonder if Natalie is secretly a sociopath or a psychopath. She’s thought of multiple places to hurt the two of them. But she’s right.
“How’re you getting the two of them caught? Not like we can do anything in person.”
“Remember the friends in high places? I know HR and several of Derek’s bosses. One tip from them and Esme is fired, and Derek is humiliated.”
“Ruining her chance to beat us in court and his life.”
“Seems like you’ve never devised a significant downfall,” Natalie states, taking her glass of what looks to be wine off the counter and taking a sip.
“Maybe not a downfall. But Esme deserves everything she’s got coming to her.”
“You want to win this settlement? Then do exactly as I say. Their company will be receiving a phone call and information that will help our case.”
“How do you know?” I can’t help but be curious.
“The kiss by the pool. It might not have been on work time or in the building. But his special treatment of her still brings plenty into question.”
“You’ve been sitting on this for a long time.”
She sneers. “Bitch, I’m Natalie Winter. No one fucks with me and what I want.”
“This will put you back in Derek’s arms?”
“He doesn’t need to know who called his bosses. I’ve got enough credibility—and money—to make those fancy men in suits do my bidding.”
I smirk now. “Lose the job, lose the case, lose the money.”
“And the guy,” Natalie adds.
“So I’m just gathering evidence?”
“Oh no. You’re going to get further proof of their relationship.”
“And that is going to happen how? She has the order.”
She shrugs. “Avoid it. Or better yet, go get the court order yourself. Find out the law, and then, stay as far away from her as the paper says.”
“How will that help?”
Natalie once again rolls those hazel eyes. “You have to keep up. Take pictures! Take video!”
“Doesn’t that just prove I’m stalking her in the eyes of the court?”
She shakes her head. “The only people that need those videos are me and Derek’s bosses. My word, your proof, their downfall.”
“Do I include Melinda in this? She’s part of this as much as I am.”
“Witnesses,” she states. “Don’t tell anyone. This is us versus them.”
I nod. “As long as we win the settlement money, then that’s all I care about>”
“You don’t even want to humiliate her?” Natalie’s cold voice returns.
“Her family is already humiliated. She left our place and moved in next door to her boss. She’s making plenty of mistakes and ruining her reputation fast enough.”
“Fine.”
Natalie holds out her hand. “Normally, I don’t shake hands with people. But once we start, you’re not backing out.”
I don’t hesitate to shake her hand. “You have a deal.”
She nods, pulling her hand away quickly.
“Then let’s ruin some lives.”
