3.
The next morning, I got to the office early.
I'd barely stepped into the break room when Lucille came over, all smiles.
“Vanessa, things got a little tense last night. Let me pour you a cup as a peace offering.”
“After all, from now on we'll both be working hard for Craig's company.”
Smiling, she lifted the cup toward me.
Just then a coworker passed by.
“Lucy knows how it's done. First day and already toasting her boss.”
“Vanessa, your junior's offering it to you. Be a shame not to drink up.”
I frowned and reached to take it.
But before my hand touched the cup, Lucille let go.
Scalding coffee poured straight down the front of my blouse.
The burn spread across my skin.
I looked at her, cold.
“You did that on purpose?”
That was the moment Craig walked in.
Lucille put on a wounded face.
“Vanessa, if you have a problem with me, just tell me and I'll fix it.”
“But you shouldn't hurt yourself just to make trouble for me.”
“I know you don't want me near Craig. Fine, from now on I'll keep my distance.”
Hearing that, Craig flew into a rage.
“Vanessa, it isn't enough giving me those looks at home?!”
“Now you come to the office and pick on Lucy too? Do you even want to keep your job?!”
I looked at him.
“She let go on purpose. She scalded me.”
He wouldn't hear a word of it.
“Don't you slander an innocent person. Lucy would never do something like that!”
“Get back to your desk. If I catch you going after her again, don't blame me for being harsh with you!”
I'd just turned away when I heard Lucille switch to French.
“Craig, Vanessa really seems to have it in for me. Maybe I should just go back to France?”
Craig answered her in French.
“All right. If you don't want to stay here, I'll go back with you. I'll book tomorrow's tickets in a bit.”
“But what about Vanessa? You two are husband and wife, after all…”
“I stopped loving her a long time ago. If it weren't for her English, I'd have divorced her already.”
The disappointment ran all the way down.
In that moment, the last thread of feeling I had for Craig was gone.
I sent Nathan a message.
“Notify Craig. Shareholders' meeting tomorrow.”
“Have legal get the evidence ready and be there with me. I want him to see exactly how foolish he's been.”
