“Ten million?” My heart stops dead. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
“I know you can afford it, Noah, I know the gym does well. You are minted.”
“What the fuck do you need that much for?”
“Language. I let it slide once. Not again.”
I squeeze my fist by my side. “What do you need that much for?”
“To get us out of debt and also for us to start again,” she says as if it’s obvious.
“What does that mean?”
“We want to leave.” Her words fill me with hope. “To get out of Vegas, maybe even America.”
“So, you will be leaving the country?”
“Hopefully.”
“So, you wouldn’t ever trouble me or Alex again?”
“This isn’t about you. Don’t be so fucking selfish.”
“Oh right, I’m terribly sorry. So, you would start a new amazing life?”
“That’s the plan yes.”
I gasp a few times, trying to catch my breath, trying to sort my head out. I don’t want to do this, to give Hayley what she wants, she doesn’t deserve a penny of it. We were never married so she didn’t get anything when we split, which is a good thing. She doesn’t deserve any of it. But it will help me to get Alex back. It will also help her to leave and we’ll never have to see her again.
I might not like it, but it gives us a good end result.
“You’re taking too long to answer, Noah, I don’t like that. Do you need time to think? In fact, don’t worry, you can have some time to think. Meet me tonight at eight PM at the address I will send you in a moment. Give me the money and you can have Alex back.”
“Eight PM…” I ask, but it’s too late, she’s already gone.
I spin and punch a wall, causing blood to scrape along my hand. I feel like I’m about to explode with anger, this is the worst thing that could happen, but the worst part of it all is the fact that until I can sort out this money, until eight PM, my poor boy is stuck with his vile, horrible mother.
I hate the image my brain concocts, I need to take action to stop anything bad from happening, I need this to end.
“Fuck!” I scream out in despair, not caring who’s listening to me. “Fuck, fuck, fuck!”
18
Mia
“I honestly can’t come out, Kayleigh, I’m so sorry,” I groan as she tries to pull me towards one of the hippest night clubs in the city. “My body is rebelling. I’m exhausted.”
“But I just met some really nice guys. We should hang out with them, first day of the rest of your life and all that.” She tugs at my hand. “Come on, for one drink? You’ll get a second wind in a moment,”
“I’m sorry, I honestly can’t. I need to rest. Maybe another time. I don’t see any second wind coming.”
Sensing that she really can’t get me to go along with it, she finally frees me and steps towards the guys who I’m pretty sure but have their eyes on her anyway.
She doesn’t need me. I hope she can see how worn out I am too. I’m not trying to be a loser, I just don’t have it in me.
“Okay, well I will call you tomorrow then.” She pouts out her bottom lip at me. “Speak soon.”
“Love you, Kayleigh.” I give her a grateful smile, silently thanking her for freeing me. “Have fun!”