On her desk were the papers, Daniel wanted her to sign. Cora held her pen in her hand, but hesitated. Was this really what she wanted. Was she giving in? There was a knock on her door, Tayler popped her head around the corner.
"Mum, dad is asking for you."
"Why doesn't he come up himself?" Cora sighed annoyed. She turned the papers around and walked downstairs. Daniel was waiting in the hallway. "Yes!" She said. Tayler fled to her room, she didn't want to be a witness.
"I need you to sign the papers today!" He said brisk.
Cora just looked at him and crossed her arms before her chest.
"Come on Cora, stop this. You can't tie me down. Why are you holding me back?"
"Why am I holding you back? Why did you hold me back for the last 17 years?" Cora asked. "Yes, I know." she held up her arms. "You had your reasons, you told me them over and over." Cora walked back upstairs, got the papers and went back down again. "Here you go!" She signed them right in front of him. "I don't want to be your wife! I will finally start living my own life. Good luck with Michelle, does she know you don't have a lot of money now? Does she know you were living from my inheritance?"
Daniel's eyes grew.
"Did you read the papers yourself? Or was your only interest in the part where you can marry again?"
"Darling, there is no need for this." Daniel tried.
"Don't darling me, I am not your darling anymore." Cora turned around and walked into the kitchen. Two pair of eyes were staring at her. Tayler and Victoria were in the kitchen and heard everything.
"Are you alright?" Tayler asked.
"Mum?" Victoria said "Is that true? Does papa not have money, he is working right?"
Cora brushed Victoria's shoulder. "He does have a job, but our good life is not because of him. My father had some money when he sold his company. When grandpapa and later grandmamma died, the money went to Harold and me."
"And you are not giving some to papa?" Victoria asked.
Cora looked at her in disbelieve. "Victoria, you must be kidding me. Your dad cheated on me for 17 years. I don't owe him anything. He lived a pretty comfortable life with my money already."
"What are we going to do now?" Tayler asked. "Do we need to move?"
"No, darling." Cora took Tayler's hand. "This is my home, papa will move out, but you can stay if you want. What do you want for dinner?"
Robert entered his office. It was a rainy day outside. "When will we see the sun again?" He complained to John.
John looked up from his desk. "We live in the wrong country sir." He said smiling. "I left some papers on your desk. You should look at them today."
"Thank you. I will do that first."
Robert closed his door and sat down. He worked through the pile of papers on his desk. He inherited the company from his father. The accountancy was a big firm, well known all over the country and in Europe. His door opened and a red headed woman was standing in the doorway. "I knew you would forget!"
"I didn't forget, I don't want to go. The only reason you are asking me, is because there will be single women. And you know I don't want to be in a relationship."
"You cannot stay single your whole life, my darling brother."
"Just wait and see." He winked.
Of course, he went with Rosamund to the party. He didn't make any effort, but nonetheless women were surrounding him. "You are the most wanted single in this city." Rosamund joked.
Robert just sighed and talked with the women who wanted his attention. After a few hours he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around and saw John with a glass of Whiskey in his hands. "I think you are in need of this."
Robert was relieved to his friend John. He met John years ago in college and they had stayed friends. John stopped his study early on, because he needed to take care of his sick mother. When Robert offered him a job as his assistant, John was hesitant at first, but needed the money.
"Bates, I know you are a proud man, but even proud man need money to feed themselves."He had said.
"Thank you so much for saving me." Robert said while walking away with John. Leaving the woman behind with pouting faces.
"Your sister wants you to be happy." John started.
"I know, but I am happy. There isn't anything a woman can do to my life, that will make it better."
"You just haven't met the right woman yet." John said.
Oh, but I have, Robert thought. It was years ago, but he had met a wonderful woman. Unfortunately, it didn't work out. Since that day, he didn't find anyone like her.
"John, how is Anna?" Robert changed the subject.
"She is so big!" John said with a twinkle in his eyes. "I am a lucky guy, Robert, I truly am. Never expected I would become a dad."
"You two had some troubles! So(,) this is well deserved. How long before her due date?"
"Two more weeks." John said with a smile from ear to ear.
"What are you doing here then? You should be with her. What if she goes in labour early?"
John started laughing. "Anna send me away. I work on her nerves she says."
"Women!" Robert said smiling and took a sip of his whiskey.
