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Author's Notes:

Thanks everyone for reading and voting. Hope you like the new chapter. Please vote and comment.

I am dedicating this chapter to ,

A new reader who has voted for the book. Thank you..

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I pass out as soon as we leave the parking lot. I stay about an hour and an half away from Bay area where Ethan's office and house is located. After I left Ethan's, I was wasting away my savings in hotel rooms near our home, hoping to run into him or hoping to find out what went wrong. Then I moved away so I could afford the rent. Ones the divorce was settled, I had no clue where I should go. My mom had ditched me as soon as she knew that Ethan was not going to pay me a penny. I didn't have anyone in New York and the very thought of going back made me sick. So I moved away far away from the city where the rent was affordable and I could find a job. I had this fantasy that one day Ethan would come looking for me and I had to stay close enough for him. He did come for me finally. I don't know how to feel about this.

I feel someone touch me. I jolt out of sleep and push away to the other side, terrified

"Sorry, Ms. Green. I didn't mean to scare you", The chauffeur says quickly. He looks worried at my reaction.

"Sorry.... Just a bad dream", I say trying to lighten the mood. He nods and points to the multistorey building to my left.

"We are here, Miss".

I ask him to give me a second while I straighten my clothes and step out of the car. I look at my reflection in the window. Its a disaster. My hair is a birds nest. All the makeup gone. I look like I just got out of bed, which is technically true. But I can't go meet Ethan looking like this. Though I always want to look pretty for him, today its more than feeling beautiful. I need to look decent to hide everything else that's going on. I might be a basket case inside, but I don't want him to know that. I have a strong need to hide behind something, anything so he doesn't see me for what I am right now, and makeup is the only option I can think of.

As the chauffeur escorts me into the office building, I ask him if I can freshen up. He takes me down the hall to the women's restroom. I step in front of the mirror and try to make myself presentable. When I apply my lipstick, few ladies walk in. I recognize one of them. I think I teamed up with her while playing a game during the company's annual day event when Ethan and I were married. I don't remember her name but I smile. She looks stunned and takes a minute to recollect. I know she recognize me but she looks away ignoring me and hustles everyone out. I am taken aback. I have spent so many hours in this office. I knew many who worked here then. I did not expect friendly hellos or chats. I expected an awkward smile or a slight nod but this don't avoidance makes me nervous.

I slip out the restroom and,

the chauffeur, escorts me to the elevator. I can feel many eyes on me. I feel like their scrutiny and feel uneasy. I feel like they can see my bruises and shame. I pull the Cardigan and hug myself as I rush behind him. I breathe free as we ride to the 30th floor of the building where Ethan's office located. To calm myself down I talk to the chauffeur. He introduced himself as James, the head of security and not a chauffeur. I apologize for thinking he is a chauffeur but he says it's fine.

When we step out of the elevator, we turn left which leads to Ethan's office. James walks me to Elizabeth's desk which is outside Ethan's office. Elizabeth has been Ethan's Personal Assistant from the initiation of the company. Ethan first introduced me to her in New York when we first started dating. We had become quick friends. She had been my pillar when I moved here. Even when we were preparing for the wedding, she helped me find my wedding dress, gashing over how pretty I looked in it.

When we were newly married, Elizabeth had to take a few weeks off since there was some complication in her pregnancy. I had filled in for her. Ethan had brought the desk in so I could work in his office. We came to work together and spent all the time together. He had so many office fantasies and made sure to take care of each and every one of it. I suspected most of the office knew what we were upto since it was impossible to remain quiet when he did things that drove me crazy. After work we would go to dinner or walk in the park, once we even had a sleepover in the helipad watching stars. Those memories assualt me as I approach Ethan's office. Back in those days I never imagined we will ever separate or become strangers like we are now.

As we near Elizabeth's desk she looks up. Elizabeth is a plump women with an expectional organization skills. I am worried how she will react. So, I wait for her to greet me. Just like I thought she avoids my eyes and thanks James. James hoovers for a few seconds like he doesn't want to leave. Like he wants to hold my hand and give me his support. I feel a little stronger seeing I have someone on my side even if I knew nothing about him. I give him a reassuring smile, telling him I will be fine.

Ones James leaves, I set aside my pride and say 'Hey'. She ignores it and points to take a seat while she informs Ethan. It hurts. Elizabeth had been on her maternity leave when Ethan and I separated. I thought she must be busy with the newborn and so didn't respond to my calls or texts. But I now know everyone hates me. They probably know what I did wrong. If not anything I just want to know the reason. Whatever this proposition is, I now need to know why.

Elizabeth tells me I can go in now. I take a deep breath and tell myself to be strong. I have been feeling hatred from the moment I set foot in this office but that is nothing compared to what I am about to step in. Ethan hatred runs deep and it has power to destroy me. I trace the scar in my wrist, an example of how far it can push me. Elizabeth looks annoyed since I am wasting her precious time. I conjure every ounce of energy that's left after everything that has happened and walk in.

Ethan's office is all dark now. When we were married, his office was in apple green and black color scheme. Now its all black and white. There is no other color. Its different, he had it renovated.

Ethan is standing near the wall to ceiling glass window, looking out at the city. The view from up here has always been beautiful. There was many time I would look out from up here, lost in the beauty of the bay area and suddenly feel Ethan's arm wrapped around me peppering kisses down my neck. Ethan's stans is stiff with his hand inside his designer suit's pant pocket. I can see only his back but notice his shoulders are broader. He looks muscular. I want him to turn. I want to look in his eyes and see softness there. I know it's just a hopeless thought, but I silently pray for an ounce of fondness. I wait for him to acknowledge me not sure what to say.

After several minutes he turns and my breath gets stuck in my throat. I remember the first time I saw him at the reception of the high end hotel where i worked. It took all my self control to not stare at him and act professionally while I helped him check in. I didn't want him to feel uncomfortable. But the few glances I stole while he filled in the form, made me realize that he was the most handsome man I have ever seen. He still looked as handsome as always, but now he looks more mature. The rough stumble on this face adds a new dimension to his square jaws which commands attention. This brown eyes bore into me with even more hatred than the last time I saw him. There is no softness just red hot rage simmering. The feeling of hopelessness like I have never felt before fills me up.

Why does he hate me so much? I have tried to find the answer for the question. Jogged through ever memory, trying to find a clue. Only possibility I can think of is it has something to do with my mom. Only a few days after my mom found me, we separated. Everything else was fine. Even on the last day we were together, Ethan kissed me and left to office with a promise to come home early and take me out for dinner. He didnt come home that night or the next. There was no text or call, I was so worried that something happened to him. I had called his temporary assistant so many times. She had only one reply. Ethan is gone somewhere to clear his head and he will be back soon. On the third day he returned with the papers, never asked me a question or told me why. Just told me to pack and leave.

"Hey", I whisper trying to break the ice. But he ignores and asks me to take a seat. I had told myself to expect this. The coldness. It shouldn't hurt me this much since I knew what was coming. But it still does. I move to the desk and take a seat. He walks to the bookshelf behind his chair and lean his hips on it, his legs crossed in the front and his folded around his chest. He looks out the window avoiding my eyes like he can't stand looking at me.

With the morning sun falling on him, he looks like a Greek God. I remember how I looked in the car reflection and what I am hiding under my clothes. It hits me hard that I am no match for him. Even back then, I never felt good enough for him. He was too handsome, too successful, too charming. But he loved me. He liked something in me. Now, I have nothing, literally and figuratively. I feel so inferior in front of him like a homeless person. May be that's why he is not looking at me. Maybe he is ashamed of me. The realization makes me feel like I am covered in something disgusting. I feel it all over my body. I want to scrub my body off ones again free off whatever that is crawling on me. I am not ready for whatever this is. This is too soon. I should leave.

"Sorry.. I.. Shouldn't.. Have come", I stammer and raise to leave. I don't look at him. I can't look at him. I am ashamed, mortified and filthy.

"Listen to me before you leave", he says. The fury in his voice stops me dead on track.

"What did you expect? Hugs and kisses. That we will get back together like everything will be okay. Get one thing straight Amy. That is never going to happen. We are over.", he says with such aggression that even the thought of getting back with me, would burn him.

"I have an offer which will be benefit both of us", he continues talking while it takes everything in me to compose myself with all the dark thoughts in my head and the hatred in front of me. But I pull myself together and I walk back to the seat with shaking legs and look at my feet as I listen to him.