Seduced By The Hero

Dionne finished her tea and put down her mug. “Great, fantastic, couldn’t be better.”

“I know the last few weeks have been tough on you, what with your in-laws bad-mouthing you to the press and the construction delays at the Seattle and LA offices, but I’m here for you, Dionne. You don’t have to deal with those issues alone.”

“Thanks, Sharleen, but I’m fine, really.”

“I don’t believe you...”

What do you want me to say? “My whole world is falling apart, and if I didn’t have Pathways to keep me going, I’d probably have a nervous breakdown”?

“It isn’t healthy to keep things bottled up.” Sharleen sounded wise, like a therapist counseling a distraught client. Her expression was filled with concern. “We’re a team, and I have your back. No matter what. You can count on me.”

Dionne shifted around on her chair and fiddled with the diamond tennis bracelet on her wrist. Every day, without fail, Sharleen asked how she was feeling, and every day, without fail, Dionne lied through her teeth. She didn’t want to talk about Jules or their contentious divorce proceedings. Not with Sharleen. Not with anyone. Working helped Dionne forget her hurt, her failures, and she’d rather suffer in silence than pour out her heart. She admired Sharleen and thought she was an exceptional life coach, but a woman desperately and madly in love wasn’t the right person to confide in. Neither were her two older sisters, Mel and Lorna, who both just didn’t understand what she was going through.

No one does—that’s why I keep my feelings to myself. Her gaze strayed to the window, and she peered outside. Pathways Center was in an attractive plaza filled with glitzy boutiques, cafés and beauty salons, but what Dionne loved most about the location was the hustle and bustle of Peachtree Street. Growing up in a large family, she’d always thrived in chaos, and having her business in a high-traffic area fueled her creative juices.

“We’ll get through this together. You have my word.” Sharleen reached across the desk and touched Dionne’s hand, giving it a light squeeze. “If you need anything, just ask. I’m here for you, and so is the rest of the Pathways family. You’ve built a fantastic team, and any one of our colleagues would be glad to listen if you need to talk. We’re a hundred percent behind you, Boss.”

Dionne opened her mouth to thank Sharleen for her support, but she couldn’t find her voice. She wasn’t one to cry, but her friend’s words made her eyes tear, and the room swam out of focus. Good God, what’s wrong with me? I’m an emotional wreck, and it’s only ten o’clock.

“How did your meeting go yesterday with Jules and his attorney?” Sharleen asked. “Are you any closer to finalizing the terms of your divorce? Have you finally reached an agreement you’re both satisfied with?”

I wish, but he’s determined to screw me over. Dionne’s gaze fell across the picture frame on her desk. The photograph had been taken Labor Day weekend at her childhood home, and every time Dionne looked at the picture of her loved ones, her heart ached. In her culture divorce was frowned upon, something her deeply religious Somali father was vehemently against, and Dionne felt horrible about the pain she’d caused her family. Her parents adored Jules; so did her siblings, and every day her mother implored her to kiss and make up with her estranged husband.

No way, no how,she thought. Her Prince Charming had turned out to be a frog, and she was sick of playing the role of the dutiful wife. They were finished, over for good, and there was nothing Jules could say to convince her to reconcile. Their marriage had been stained with insults, name-calling and lies, and Dionne was ready for a clean break.

“Nothing’s changed. Jules is still as stubborn as ever and...”

Dionne suddenly closed her mouth, stopping herself from saying any more. Even though she knew the divorce was for the best, discussing the demise of her marriage always made her emotional. Scared her emotions would get the best of her, and she’d end up bawling all over her Escada pantsuit, Dionne turned toward her computer monitor and typed in her password. “I have to finish my speech for the Seattle Leadership Conference, so let’s touch base later.”

“It’s Thursday, remember? I’m off at noon.”

“Hot date?” Dionne teased, playfully wiggling her eyebrows.

“You know it.” Sharleen cheered and danced around in her chair. “Emilio’s taking me to Fiji for the weekend.”

“Again? But you guys were there Labor Day weekend.”

“What can I say? My fiancé likes spoiling me, and I’d be a fool to stop him.”

Enjoy it while it lasts, because things will change. They always do, and not for the better.

“I’ll be back on Sunday, but call if you need me.”

“Why bother? You never answer your phone after hours.”

Her eyes twinkled, and a smirk curled the corners of her glossy lips. “You wouldn’t either if you had a man to wine you and dine you.”

“It’s a shame Emilio doesn’t have a twin,” Dionne joked, laughing.

“He doesn’t have a twin, but he does have five very single, very handsome brothers. Want me to hook you up?”

“Hell no!” she shrieked, fervently shaking her head. “The last thing I need is another lying, cheating man in my life. I’m better off alone.”

“Not all men are dogs, you know.”

You’re right, they’re not, but the good ones are rare and harder to find than the exit at a corn maze. Dionne hadn’t dated anyone since leaving Jules and moving out of their marital home, and she had no intention of putting herself out there anytime soon. Her focus was on building her business and spending time with her family. They wouldn’t hurt her, wouldn’t betray her trust—

“You and Jules have been separated for almost a year,” she pointed out. “Wouldn’t you like to do something besides work? You’re a great catch, Dionne, and there are plenty of eligible, successful men who’d love to date you.”

“I’m not interested. I like my life just the way it is, thank you very much. I have my business, my family and my friends, and that’s more than enough.”

“Well, if you change your mind just let me know.”

I won’t, so don’t hold your breath.Unconditional love is a myth, and the notion of living happily ever after is a fairly tale.

The phone sounded, and Dionne sighed in relief. She was tired of talking about men, namely her good-for-nothing ex, and wanted to get back to doing what she did best: running her business. Dionne hoped it was her divorce attorney calling with good news, and placed her hand on the receiver to signal the end of their conversation.

Thankfully, Sharleen took the hint and rose from her chair. “Have a good weekend,” she said, marching towards the door. “Don’t work too hard.”

Back in CEO mode, Dionne sat up tall and cleared her throat. Even though her marriage was in shambles, she looked forward to coming to work every day and enjoyed connecting with clients. “Dionne Fontaine speaking,” she said brightly, turning away from her computer screen. “How can I help you?”

“You can start by returning the money you stole from me.”

Her eyes narrowed, filled with hate. Damn. It was Jules. Again. How many times did she have to tell her assistant not to put his calls through? Her ex could be persuasive, charming even, but still Lily worked for her, not Jules, and now because her assistant was a softy, she was stuck talking to her estranged husband. The man who’d made her life a living hell for the past year. Her first impulse was to hang up the phone, which is what she usually did when he called, but this time she didn’t. “I have nothing to say to you. Quit calling me at work. I’m busy.”

“Return my money. You stole from me, and I want every cent back.”

Dionne played dumb, pretending not to know what he was talking about. She was, of course, aware of what Jules was referring to, but she wasn’t going to argue with him about the six-figure donation she’d made to the Atlanta Children’s Shelter just days before she filed for divorce. If you can spend thousands of dollars at the strip club, then I can give thousands of dollars to a worthy cause.

“This has gone on long enough,” he snapped, his voice taut with anger. “You made your point. Now, move back home before I change my mind about giving you another chance.”

“This isn’t a game. We’re through, and there’s nothing you can say to change my mind.”

“You don’t mean that. Think of all the good times we’ve had.”

What good times? We argued constantly, and you betrayed me over and over again. For five years, they’d lived in comfort and affluence, but it was time to end her marriage and move on with her life. Her parents couldn’t talk her out of it; neither could her in-laws, and in the time they’d been separated, she’d never once regretted her decision.

“Every marriage goes through rough times,” he said. “Don’t let your insecurities ruin us.”

“It was your lies that destroyed us, not me.”

“We need to talk, alone, without our attorneys. What time will you be home?”

Her stomach twisted into knots. Was Jules in her house? Was he calling from her master bedroom? Snooping through her things again? Last Friday, she’d arrived home to find Jules in her living room, and if she hadn’t pretended to call the police with her cell phone, he’d probably still be demanding she withdraw the divorce papers.

“If you keep harassing me I’ll file a restraining order against you.”

“But I love you.”