Cheers To Comeuppance
Chapter 13

Annika

Long after our first dinner as business partners had already concluded, I found myself lost in a trance and jolted back to the present when I was driving my own car back towards the penthouse. I didn’t even realize I wasn’t with Leon anymore and that he had already dropped me off at my car back at his office. It was as if my body was floating on autopilot while my mind was drifting in the cosmos; the entire drive home, the walk to the elevator, and the ordinarily painstaking wait to reach the top floor flew by in a daze.

Our conversation at dinner kept replaying in my head, and it was like my body had involuntarily chosen a new favorite song I couldn’t forget. The way Leon spoke to me was so attentive and not at all business-like. I had expected him to be more aloof and colder, like most businessmen in the world, but he wasn’t anything like that. He was warm, kind, and slightly flirtatious. I didn’t consider myself qualified enough to determine with certainty if it was geared solely toward me or if this was his usual behavior towards new clients.

I couldn’t really call myself a client, though. This was just a front to get back at those who had hurt us and even took things a step further. It was what we were telling people just in case Jeff was to replace out about my and Leon’s affair. Well, If one could even call what we had an affair, it was more like a partnership that shared a common goal—to absolutely destroy these self-entitled leeches currently ruining our lives. I was still engrossed in my thoughts when I reached the penthouse floor, and I mechanically scanned my RFID for the doors to open. I walked inside, and just as I kicked off my heels, I was startled by someone confronting me without warning.

“ANNIKA! WHERE THE f**k HAVE YOU BEEN!?” I jumped back and held my chest from the near heart attack I had just experienced.

“fg hell! You scared the s*t out of me!” I shouted back at Jeff.

“Don’t give me that tone, Annika. It’s almost 11 o’clock at night! Where the f**k have you been!?” he scolded me. I momentarily averted my gaze, staring at my right hand that was still holding my purse before I viciously gave him the death glare, trying to determine where the hell he found the audacity to question where I’ve been tonight.

“Since when do I have to answer to you, Jeffrey?” I sneered, knowing my response would surely get under his skin.

“What? Are you giving me attitude?”

“So, what if I am? Since when have you actually cared about me? You have some f*g nerve trying to play the caring and aggrieved husband all of a sudden, asking me my whereabouts!” My anger was quickly approaching its boiling point, but I did my best to control my emotions because there was so much at stake, and one misstep could spell the end of my revenge. “Why are you even here? You haven’t been back to the penthouse since I kicked you out of our bedroom. I’ve been coming home to an empty house for almost two months while you’ve been out doing God knows what or who. And yet, the one time I decide to do something for myself, you decide to show your face here and ask me where I’ve been!?” I huffed at Jeffrey’s presumptuous nature.

“What’s with the attitude, Annika!? As your husband, I have every f*g right to know where my wife is this late at night!”

“When was the last time you even acted like my husband, Jeffrey? When was the last time you even fulfilled your duties as my husband?” I countered. “Husband? Psh, you haven’t been my husband for almost a year.”

“You’re one to talk. You’re the one accusing me of cheating without any evidence, kicking me out of our bedroom, and never once have you called to ask how or where I’ve been!” Jeffrey fumed as he pointed out my shortcomings. “You want to talk about being a filial spouse? You never cook, this place is a f*g pigsty, and you’ve never once initiated anything in the last year! So, why should I bother with you?”

“I shouldn’t have to initiate s*x with you! We wouldn’t be having this conversation if you were actually a loyal husband!”

“God, this again! How many times do I have to f*g tell you I’m not cheating!” he yelled.

“You haven’t done anything to prove otherwise! The moment I kicked you out of the room, you left the penthouse! That was almost two months ago! And you expect me to believe that you’re not out having an affair!?”

“What man would want to stay in a house where his wife is constantly accusing him!?”

“A MAN WHO IS FAITHFUL TO HIS WIFE AND WOULD DO ANYTHING TO PROVE HIS INNOCENCE!” I screamed as I charged him, getting right into his face. He stepped back, seeing the sheer amount of anger I had towards him. “You say you’re not cheating. But rather than work on bettering yourself and proving that you’re not stepping out on me, you decided to leave. What do you think that entails from someone else’s perspective, Jeff? Ask any of your fellow lawyers and see what they would do in this situation. I can guarantee none of them would leave the way you did. Your leaving proves only one thing to me—you indeed have a side piece, and I will replace out one way or another.”

“Annika, you’re f*g crazy. Stop this nonsense already!”

“Did you just call me crazy? Ha! You’re right. I am f*ucking crazy. I must have been out of my goddamn mind to have married a jerk like you. My memaw and Auntie were right; I should never have married you. I rarely regret anything I’ve done in my life, but the one thing I regret the most was giving up eleven years of my life for a two-timing, lying son of a b!tch like you, Jeffrey Hollands.”

“Annika!” he gritted his teeth as his jaw visibly tensed.

“GET OUT!” I shouted and pointed towards the doors.

“What?”

“I said get out! I don’t want you in my house anymore. If you want to go out and live away from here, then be my f*g guest! Get your st and GET THE fk OUT OF MY HOUSE!!” I screamed in his face.

“You can’t kick me out!”

“The hell I can’t! My name is on the deed! This is my house!”

“Have you forgotten that we’re married!?”

“No, I haven’t. However, I don’t see that being an issue for much longer.”

“What … what do you mean by that?”

“Let me explain it in terms you will understand; it means that I’ve filed for separation, Jeffrey. You should be getting the papers from Hunter within the next few days. That means I have every legal right to kick you out of my property. So, get the f**k out!” My rage had finally erupted, and I pushed him away from me, thoroughly shocking him in the process. I shot him a look of pure disgust, turned my heel, and stomped my way upstairs to the master bedroom, slamming the door shut behind me. As soon as I sat on the bed in total exasperation, I received a notification on my phone.

Leon VD: Did you make it home?

Me: Yes.

Leon VD: You don’t seem very happy. What’s wrong?

Me: Jeff was waiting for me. We had a few words. Well, more like a few screams at each other. He’s still trying to play as if he’s not cheating on me. What a f*g a*****e! Does he take me for a fool?

Leon VD: Don’t worry too much about it. We’re going to get the evidence we need against him and Sadie. Then, you’ll serve him with the papers before he even knows what hit him.

Me: I already told him that Hunter would be serving him with separation papers.

Leon VD: You filed for legal separation?

Me: Yeah, I did it earlier today before I went to meet with you. Hunter will have the papers ready within 48 hours. I also kicked him out of the penthouse.

Leon VD: Do you think he will leave willingly? He’s a D.A.; he can fight the separation papers easily. You know that, don’t you?

Me: Be that as it may. He won’t. This will give him all the opportunities in the world to be with Sadie day in and day out, thus allowing for more chances to catch them in the act.

Leon VD: Oh, I see what you did there. You’re giving him an inch, hoping that he will take a mile and become complacent.

Me: Exactly. Jeffrey’s trying to sabotage me. He wants my penthouse and my practice because of the real estate value in both. I will never let him have either. My family’s name is on the penthouse, so he can’t have it either way. But he doesn’t need to know that. And the practice, I’ve already signed over half my shares to Kenzie. She owns the majority, so Jeff won’t be able to touch the practice without taking her to court. And trust me, he won’t be able to. Hunter’s brother is a commercial real estate attorney and has agreed to go up against Jeff if he tries to take the practice.

Leon VD: Well, well, well, it seems that I have underestimated you, Ms. Silverton.

Me: Just because I’m a doctor, it doesn’t mean I don’t know how to play dirty. Jeff betrayed me in the worst way possible, and it’s only fitting that I take everything from him and give him his comeuppance.

Leon VD: [insert clapping emoji] Well done, Ms. Silverton. Let me know once he’s left the penthouse, and I’ll have Jorge and his apprentice tail him.

Me: I will. Goodnight, Mr. Von Doren.

Leon VD: What will it take for you to address me by my name?

Me: Time.

Leon VD: Fine. Goodnight, Annika.

After his final text message came through, I threw the phone onto the bed and walked into the shower. Tomorrow was Sunday, and I had nothing planned except a small shopping spree with Kenzie. She had suggested we take some time to pamper ourselves with everything going on, and our girls’ day out always consisted of shopping, good eats, and a spa night.

After feeling like I had successfully scrubbed away all the bullshit from earlier, I concluded my shower, wrapped myself in a towel, and went back into the bedroom. As soon as I did, I heard the front door slam shut, and I waited for a few minutes but never heard the door open again. I walked out of my room and over to the guest room, and sure enough, Jeff had packed up his belongings and left.

“Good riddance,” I told myself and returned to my bedroom. Since Jeff had decided to actually leave, I figured he was probably on his way to his office or somewhere else to meet up with that skank of his. I quickly texted Leon to let him know that Jeff had left and subsequently called Hunter.

“Annika, do you realize what time it is?” he asked with a groggy voice.

“God, I’m sorry. I didn’t see the time. I’ll make this quick.”

“What’s up?”

“Jeff’s left the penthouse, and I kicked him out. Since I’m going to serve him with separation papers, can I change the locks on the penthouse to keep him from coming back in?”

“Yeah, you can. Since your name is on the deed, and you’re going to be legally separated, plus he left on his own accord, you have every right to change the locks and RFID on the penthouse.”

“Perfect. That’s all I needed to know. Thanks.”

“Uh-huh. Goodnight.”

“Night.”

I hung up and wasted no time sending an email to my dad to have him contact the penthouse’s HOA and security department to disable Jeff’s RFID card, his parking decal, and his fingerprints. I didn’t expect him to reply immediately.

Annika,

What is going on? Why are you disabling everything against Jeff? Did something happen? Whatever it is, you can tell me, princess. I’m worried, my darling daughter.

Call me.

Love,

Daddy.

I smiled and shook my head. Leave it to my dad to immediately sense that something was off. My doing something negative against Jeff means that hell has frozen over in my parents’ eyes. They knew better than anyone that I had been head over heels in love with him for many years. So, the fact that I was disabling him from entering the penthouse only means that something has indeed happened. And my darling father wanted to know about it right away. I wasn’t going to hide anything from him, but I wasn’t going to tell him anything either. I didn’t want them to get involved unless absolutely necessary, so I sent him a quick text.

Me: Hi, Daddy. Yes, something has happened. And I will tell you and mom all about it when the time is right. I need to handle this on my own first. Once everything is dealt with, I promise I will spare no details and tell you guys everything. Just trust me. I love you, Daddy. Mwah!

Daddy Bear: I don’t like you doing things on your sweetheart. You know I will move mountains for you. You just say the word, and Daddy will do anything and everything you want and need.

Me: I know, Daddy. I promise I will tell you if I need you. I’m okay. I promise. I just need you to do as I asked as soon as possible.

Daddy Bear: It’s already done. Call your mother when you have time. She misses hearing from you.

Me: I’ll call her tomorrow morning. Love you, Daddy Bear.

Daddy Bear: I love you too, my darling princess.

I put my phone on the charger and changed into my silk negligee. I lay down and snuggled against my goose-down pillows and inhaled the fresh laundry scent.

“Hm, I guess the housekeeper came by and cleaned the linen,” I mumbled to myself. And Jeff had the nerve to say the house looked like a pigsty. That fucker was as blind as a bat. “Just you wait, Jeff. You’re going to be kicking yourself when you replace out who you betrayed. It won’t end with the divorce. I will make you wish you were never born when I’m through with you.”