Divorce: A Gateway to a New Future

I connected the former executives at the company.

For the next few weeks, I sat down with them one by one and synced up with our lawyers.

I started making my presence felt at the office again.

Elara was aware of my moves, but she just sneered, thinking after years under her command, she was the only game in town.

Big mistake. I might have been out of sight, but I was never out of the game. I was the puppet master, and the veterans knew it. They saw through many of Elara's half-baked schemes that lacked foresight.

At our annual company bash, Elara decided to parade her new flame.

"Mr. Blake, look who it is."

Leonard strutted up, hand outstretched, "Let's make this official. I'm Leonard Mosby."

I glanced at his hand and bypassed the handshake, "Excuse me, got to run!"

I tried to leave.

But Leonard blocked my path, eyebrow cocked, "Mr. Blake, heard you're not on board over this divorce thing?"

I stopped.

He leaned in, "Why the masochism?"

"You're cool with your wife stepping out?"

"Man, you're one patient saint!"

"If it were me? I'd have been out the door yesterday, no looking back."

"By the way, she's a firecracker, huh, Mr. Blake?"

His digs felt like child's play.

What does this kid know about life's real grit?

I shot him a look, then turned away, without saying another word.

Yet, he wasn't finished.

At the party's halfway mark, he swaggered over, wine in hand, "Mr. Blake, you're a saint. Mind if I pour the wine over your head and test your halo?"

Then, with a grin, he dumped his wine over my head in front of the whole crowd.

A collective gasp filled the room.

I wiped my face, looked him square in the eye, "Feeling proud?"

Unruffled by my calm, he shrugged, "You're one of a kind, I'll give you that!"

Smirking, he walked away, victor in his own mind.

Some colleagues came over, concerned.

I waved it off, "Nothing."

This? It's peanuts compared to startup days.

No way I was going to let Elara walk away from her mess without a fight!

As the evening was about to wrap up, Elara led Leonard to the stage and made an announcement, "With our new direction, I'm promoting a bold spirit to VP of Marketing. Please welcome Leonard Mosby!"

CLAPS!

The applause thundered.

Leonard beamed, as if he had just climbed Everest.

He was ready to speak.

I stood up, voice steady, "I object!"

That got me all the attention ,and silence enveloped the room.

Elara's smile vanished, she snapped, "Adrian, you've been MIA forever. What gives you the right to object!"

I turned and walked out, leaving the silence behind.

Then, one by one, the seasoned execs stood.

"I object!"

"I do too!"

"Why promote someone so green? I'm opposed too!"

"Mrs. Blake, you can't just play favorites. I object as well!"

"The kid's got no chops, and I object!"

The core management backed me up.

Elara was stunned.

She hadn't seen it coming—the loyalty I still commanded.

Not long after I got home, Elara stormed in after me.

I was in the shower when I heard her crash through the door.

SPLOSH!

She burst into the bathroom, rage in her voice, "Adrian! You think you scare me? I've got this company in my hands. Your allies? They're gone soon!"

I caught a glimpse of her in the mirror and turned away, leaving her fuming at the doorway.

My birthday rolled around, and I threw a bash with friends.

We were having a blast until Elara showed up with Leonard, clearly to provoke me. She thought she could irritate me.

The atmosphere nosedived.

Only Elara and Leonard were grinning, playing up their lovey-dovey act for all to see.

The room fell awkwardly quiet until Leonard tried to break the ice, "Come on, lighten up! It's Adrian's birthday, let's enjoy it!"

Then he turned to Elara, "Shall we toast to better vibes?"

"Absolutely."

Elara didn't hesitate.

Under the stunned stares of everyone, they shared a toast right in front of me.

The silence was deafening.

Leonard wore a smug grin, clearly enjoying the drama.

Especially Elara, who had thrown all caution to the wind.

Faced with this heart-wrenching scene, I didn't flip the table or storm out. Instead, I smiled and clapped, "Is it heating up in here? How about another kiss?"