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Mrs. Orlov’s face lines with anger as words are spat from her hard-lined mouth. “I’m not going anywhere.” Her eyes are back on me, narrowed and glaring. “Unlike you.”
Another tense stretch of silence passes before Fyodor breaks it. “I was requested this afternoon to organize you a severance package.”
My eyes widen to the size of saucers. “By wh-whom?”
He continues as if I didn’t speak. “The package is extremely generous. You will receive full wages for the term of your contract and an additional twenty-five percent for any leave you may have accrued during your contract period.”
Before I can get over my shock that I’m being offered two years’ worth of salary for two weeks’ worth of work, Mrs. Orlov’s whispered snarl steals my focus. “Veronika suggested he fuck her out of his system, not pay for the disservice. This is absurd.”
I agree with her, but Val will never allow personal feelings to enter a business discussion. “As Mara previously stated, any association between her and Mr. Orlov wasafterher employment contract with Chrysler Holdings had ended. If her new contract did not include a nonfraternization policy, she is well within her rights to refuse the severance package onoffer and seek legal counsel before progressing further with negotiations.”
“I don’t want Ark’s money,” I add on, “so I deny the offer of s-severance.”
“Regretfully,” Fyodor starts, his tone more respectful, “your contract had a nonfraternization policy for both you and your employer.”
“Then she retains her right to seek legal guidance for a breach in contract bybothparties.”
Val flashes me an apologetic grin when Mrs. Orlov takes her wave of the white flag in the wrong manner. “I knew it. You don’t want my son. You want his money!”
I shake my head, but she surges forward with her plans to derail me with a viciousness everyone is shocked about.
She slaps me.
“Nora!” Fyodor shouts when she gets up in my face and screams, “If it isn’t true, if you truly care for him, sign the severance package, then leave without causing a scene. Let him live his life how he wants!”
As I nurse my stinging cheek, I say, “This isn’t the life he wants. He told me so only yesterday.”
My fight loses steam when the last person I thought would go against my relationship with Ark sides with the opposition. “It’s what he wants, Mara.” Rafael enters the living room, looking tired and withdrawn. “He told me so himself this morning.”
My heart is breaking, but I try to save face. “Then he will have no trouble tellingmethe s-same.”
After removing the knife Nora stabbed into my stomach by ordering for her to be removed from Ark’s apartment, he twists it back in deep. “He doesn’t want to see you.” His eyes plead with me to listen as he steps closer, blocking out the frantic thrusts of Ark’s mother as she tries to free herself from the security guard’sgrip with his broad frame. “Sign the contract. Don’t let pride prevent you from providing the life your daughter deserves.”
“N-no. I refuse.”
“Please,” he pleads, his words barely a whisper. “He won’t survive this without knowing you’re okay, Mara. He needsyouto do this for him. He needs you tosavehim.”
His words make no sense. How can pushing me away help Ark? But the sheer actuality he delivers them with spears an arrow into my heart so effectively I nod before I fully understand what I am doing.
“Okay. I’ll sign it.”
38
MARA
Seconds after I scribble my name across a document terminating my contract with Orlov & Associates, I’m handed a printout of the ridiculous amount of money Ark paid to get rid of me.
It burns a hole in my purse when I shove it inside, too embarrassed to look at it.
I sold my soul to the devil only hours after encouraging Ark to do the opposite.
I’ve never felt more ashamed.
As Fyodor stores my severance paperwork into a leather briefcase, Rafael helps me to my feet. “I’ll show you out.”
“It’s fine. I know the w-way.”
“Mara,” he pleads when I pull away from him, the thought of being touched after being so perversely violated too sickening to ignore.