I put the evidence away, a cold void settling in my chest.
The betrayal was a done deal. What came next was the reckoning.
After I was discharged from the hospital, I printed out a divorce agreement and headed to the CEO's office at the company.
But when I opened the door, I walked in on her and Gabriel in an intimate embrace.
He had his arms wrapped around her, their clothes half-undone, hands roaming over each other.
Even though my heart was already dead, the sight still sent a surge of fury through me.
I forced it back down.
They both jumped when they saw me. Eve scrambled off him, smoothing her clothes as she blurted out an explanation.
"Lowell, don't get the wrong idea. We were just discussing a client issue."
I let out a cold laugh. "Eve, do you think I'm stupid?"
"Or blind?"
Gabriel rushed to smooth things over.
"Lowell, buddy, don't overthink it. We really were just talking business. Eve twisted her ankle, and I happen to know a massage technique, so I was helping her with the pain."
As he said this, a smirk flickered across his lips.
I ignored him and handed the printed divorce agreement directly to Eve.
The moment she saw it, irritation flashed across her face. She snatched the papers and tore them to shreds.
"Lowell, don't think I can't see right through you. You're doing this because you're jealous of how well I treat Gabriel!"
"Fine, you've got my attention now. Happy? Now get back to work before I dock next month's pay too!"
I stared at the shredded agreement in silence, then turned and printed another copy.
But before I could find Eve again, Gabriel sauntered over to me, looking pleased with himself.
There was an ID badge hanging from his neck now.
It read: Sales Director.
He tilted his chin up with a grin. "Bet you didn't see that coming, Lowell. I'm your boss now."
"Though it's not quite the outcome I was hoping for. Looks like Eve still can't bring herself to divorce you. Guess I'll just have to turn up the heat."
He reached into his pocket and pulled something out.
I looked closer. It was a jade bracelet.
I recognized it instantly. It was my mother's. The one she'd left for me, telling me it was only to be given to my future wife.
I had given it to Eve and told her to keep it safe. I never imagined she'd handed it over to Gabriel.
The thought barely had time to form.
In the next instant, he opened his fingers. The bracelet slipped from his hand, hit the floor, and shattered into pieces.
Something inside me shattered with it.
"You broke it. You're dead."
My fist connected with his face.
He went down with the punch, crumpling to the ground in a heap that looked far too deliberate.
And of course, that was the exact moment Eve came rushing in.
She ran straight to Gabriel's side, her voice thick with concern.
"Gabriel, are you okay?!"
He looked up at her, the picture of wounded innocence.
"Eve, I remember you said this was Lowell's mother's keepsake. I just wanted to return the bracelet so he could have something to remember her by. But he accused me of stealing it and tried to beat me to death."
"He even printed out another divorce agreement. He said if I ever come near you again, he'll divorce you!"
"Maybe I should just resign. I don't want him coming after me."
Eve's face flushed with anger. She whipped around to face me.
"Lowell, I've had it with you!"
"I just gave the bracelet to Gabriel for safekeeping. He was kind enough to return it so you could remember your mother, and this is how you repay him? By slandering him?"
"You really don't know what's good for you, do you? I've decided. You can forget about your salary for the entire year!"
She snatched the divorce agreement from my hands.
"What is this act you're putting on? You keep shoving these divorce papers in my face to threaten me. You're just banking on the fact that I won't sign!"
"You want a divorce? Fine. You've got one!"
She snatched the divorce papers out of my hands and scrawled her signature across them.
Then she hurled the document at my chest.
"Don't forget, Lowell. You work at my company. Without the title of 'my husband,' you're nothing. Less than nothing."
Her voice dropped to ice. "And another thing. You just hit Gabriel. I want you on your knees, groveling for his forgiveness. Otherwise, you're not walking out that door."
I didn't respond. Didn't even look at her. I just bent down, picked up the divorce agreement, and checked her signature.
From this moment forward, Eve Pruitt and I had nothing to do with each other.
And since that was settled, it was time to settle some other debts.
I tucked the papers away, looked at the two of them, and let a faint smile cross my face.
"Oh, I'm not leaving. Now that the personal matter is resolved, I think it's time we discussed your unauthorized use of company funds."
I pulled out my phone and dialed. "Send the corporate legal team over. I have some accounts to settle with Eve Pruitt."
