“Well, that’s him. I’m different.”
“Did something happen last night? You’re acting a little crazy.”
Amandine gestured Brooke to come closer. Then in a low voice she said, “Gavin’s handing off almost all of the funds he’s managing to his associates.”
“It’s about time.”
Amandine stared at her in the mirror. Why doesn’t anyone else understand the importance of this?
Brooke shrugged. “He’s made twenty billion already. How much more does he need?”
“But…” Amandine sputtered. “Work is his life.”
“Maybe he’s going to work on spending the money he’s already made then.” Brooke leaned back. “You know what people say. You can’t take it with you.”
The makeup artist appeared, holding a brush. He was heroin-addict thin, but his complexion glowed. Either he was healthy despite his gauntness or he used something really good on his face. “So. What are you aiming for?” he asked.
“She’s wants to knock ’em dead,” Brooke answered.
He pursed his lips, looking at Amandine from various angles. “We can arrange that.”
Some minutes later, he was finished. “Ta-da.”
Amandine stared at herself in the mirror. “Wow.” She looked totally the same but different. Her eyes were bigger, her cheekbones more prominent without looking overly angular, her mouth fuller and more kissable. “You’re amazing.”
“Don’t I know it.” He beamed. “Better hurry, sweetie. Didn’t you say you have an appointment? It’s already ten thirty.”
“Yikes!” Amandine jumped out of her seat. Brooke was already rushing out, car keys ready.
Thankfully the traffic to Samantha’s office wasn’t too bad. “Are you trying to make Gavin regret agreeing to divorce you?” Brooke asked.
“I don’t want to look like a pathetic, rejected wife.”
“That’s the spirit.” Brooke nodded. “I thought you were getting depressed or something. Pregnancy can turn any woman insane.”
“It’s not that bad.”
“It so is that bad. Just ask my sister and her husband. She denies she was bad, but he has video evidence.”
“He filmed it?”
“Not on purpose, exactly. It just happened that way.”
“Does he ever use it to prove a point?”
“Hah! No. He knows what’s good for him.”
“And they’re still married.” Amandine put a hand over her belly. The baby was still small, but she felt like she’d failed it already. If she hadn’t told Gavin she’d fight him for the divorce, they might not be meeting at Samantha’s office again. They might have worked out their issues and been a happy, united family already.
Brooke parked in the underground garage in Samantha’s office building an
d ushered Amandine to the elevator. They were five minutes late. Amandine fidgeted. Gavin and Craig had to have arrived by now.
The receptionist greeted them and took them to the conference room where Amandine had faced off with Gavin all those weeks ago. She took a deep fortifying breath.
“You can do this,” Brooke said, squeezing her hand. “I’ll be right here when you’re done.”
The door opened, and Amandine stepped forward. Inside were Samantha and Craig, but there was no sign of Gavin.