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THIRTY-FIVE
Merritt took a little more time applying her makeup the next morning. She had spent most of the night thinking about their lunch today, trying to decide if she should tell Gus how she felt about him or not. Of course, it would depend on whatever had been bothering him, which she hoped he would reveal.
When noon rolled around, she climbed into her car and entered the address of the restaurant into her phone. She wasn’t sure where he was taking her since he hadn’t given her the name. The thought that he might want to surprise her filled her with excitement.
But when she arrived, confusion clouded all other emotions at the sight of an office building. An office building she had been to once before.
Merritt tried to stay optimistic, but she was filled with dread as she entered the building and found Gus waiting for her in the lobby.
“I thought we were going to lunch,” she said. “Do you have some business to take care of first?”
He motioned for her to walk down the hallway before him, leading her with a soft touch to her lower back.
She looked over at him, hoping he could read the fear and confusion on her face.
Gus opened the door at the end of the hallway, and the receptionist ushered them into the office of attorney Rex Redman straight away.
“So nice to see you again, Ms. Christianson,” Rex said.
Merritt looked at her husband. “Gus?”
“Mr. Schultz has requested a disillusion of the marriage and the original agreement, effective immediately.”
“What?” Her stomach dropped as her eyes darted to Gus’s. “What did you do?”
“Just fixing a mistake.”
Her brow furrowed. “What are you saying?”
He took two steps and stopped before her, taking hold of her arms. “I’m saying you’re free. You don’t have to play house with me anymore.”
Tears burned her eyes, and she tried very hard to keep them from falling. “I don’t … why are you doing this?” She swallowed the lump in her throat.
He looked pained when he stepped away. “I’ve already transferred the remainder of the money you were promised for the year into your account. It’s yours.”
“I don’t understand. What did I do?” Her chin quivered.
“You didn’t do anything.” His eyes met hers. “You were perfect.”
“What if this isn’t what I want?”
“I know it is. You don’t have to pretend with me, Mer.”
“I’m …” She wasn’t sure anything she said would convince him to change his mind. “I thought we were—”
“You can remain in the house until arrangements are made to move you back to your apartment in Santa Monica,” Rex interrupted, “and you’ll have to attend a meeting with a judge.”
“I’ll be gone to London for a few days for work,” she mumbled. “I’ll just go back to my place when I get home.”
“That’s fine,” Rex replied.
Gus stood quietly to the side.
Merritt turned to look at him. “Why would you do this? You didn’t even ask me if I wanted to end things early.”
“It was getting too complicated.”
“For who? For you?” Her voice cracked as she fought back a sob. “Why didn’t you talk to me first?”