The Second Marriage Chance

Jane

For three more days, I focused on work at Luminary Productions in Highland Hills. Despite the familiar surroundings, I found little comfort as I prepared to return to London next week. Brody kept calling me several times, and Sonia also kept sending me messages.

Sonia's texts grew increasingly venomous:

Sonia: 'Jane, don't think that Brody loves you. He's struggling to keep his good public image and manage office politics. Your separation would ruin his company. Face it-the only reason he's staying in this sham of a marriage is because of your Cornell surname.'

Her next message dripped with hostility:

Sonia: 'Stop being a bitch! You're making things hard for Brody. Because of you, there are problems here at the office.'

I swiftly reported her number as a scammer and blocked her.

Why does it seem like I'm the one at fault? Seriously!

With trembling hands, I fired off a text to Brody: 'Tell your mistress to stop disturbing me, or else she'll face my lawyer!'

The constant pressure from Brody and Sonia had me on edge, making it hard to sleep and find any peace. Their toxic behavior made it clear that separating from Brody wasn't just an option anymore; it was a necessity.

My husband and his woman constitute a significant source of irritation for me, which is why I decided to go ahead with my plan to divorce. I don't want to live like this forever with Brody.

The chairman called me to the office in the afternoon.

Steeling myself, I entered my father's expansive office, only to stop short at the sight of Brody's familiar silhouette. I rolled my eyes and couldn't help but let out a harsh sigh. As I spun on my heel, ready to flee this ambush, my father's voice cracked like a whip.

"Don't let that woman go!" he declared. I could feel the sharpness of his gaze on my back.

Maybe it's because I've been rebellious for several years, or perhaps because my father indulged me so much that it gave me the courage to defy him.

"I apologize, Ms. Jane, but you can't leave the chairman's office," the assistant said firmly.

Frustration built up inside me as I gritted my teeth and took the seat across from Brody. I noticed his unshaven chin and messy hair, a clear departure from his usual polished look.

Looking at me, Dad asked, "When exactly were you planning to inform me about your divorce request?"

I quickly came up with a plausible excuse. I intended to tell you before leaving, Dad. Work's been all-consuming lately, especially with the projects I'm handling for Philip."

It wasn't entirely untrue; I've been so occupied at Highland Hills that I haven't considered returning to London. The work Philip gave me keeps me occupied.

Dad's frown deepened as he shifted his gaze between Brody and me. "What's the real reason behind this?"

I answered swiftly, hoping to control the narrative. "We've both become engrossed in our careers. We've each built separate lives outside our marriage."

Brody interjected, "Jane misinterpreted a situation involving my ex at our penthouse. I... I mishandled the situation. I should have approached it differently."

His admission caught me off guard; it was the first time he'd acknowledged any wrongdoing.

"I've hurt your daughter's feelings, Chairman Cornell..." Brody lowered his head, hiding whatever emotion he was trying to conceal.

Dad leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. "Unfortunately, my agreement with Brody is binding for five years, Jane. You can't file for divorce for another year." "What?" I jumped up, feeling a mix of disbelief and anger. Brody stayed silent and wouldn't look at me.

Does this mean I'll have to endure another year of this? No way! I can stay in Paris for a year to avoid Brody if necessary.

After talking with my father and Brody, I returned to work and saw a notification from a resort in Mexico. It reminded us about our scheduled couple's attendance for the upcoming weekend.

A whirlwind of thoughts raced through my mind. First, Brody had never mentioned this to me. Second, Sonia might be the person he was supposed to bring.

Puzzled by the unexpected message, I dialed Joe Moore, Brody's ever-efficient executive assistant. The phone rang once before he answered.

"Ms. Jane!" His voice was full of surprise.

"Hi!" I glanced at my watch and winced, realizing we were in different time zones. "I'm sorry to bother you, Joe. I just wanted to ask about an email I received from a resort in Mexico..."

I trailed off, not wanting to admit my confusion outright.

"Ah, yes, Ms. Jane. The boss booked that trip. Didn't you get their email last month when he arranged the reservation?" he asked.

My brow furrowed as I tapped on my laptop keyboard to locate the email Joe mentioned. Sure enough, there was an email I had somehow overlooked or forgotten.

Joe continued, "To be honest, Ms. Jane, it's been a long time since you and the boss had a proper vacation together. He thought this trip to Mexico would be a nice break for both of you. He had planned to wrap up all pending office matters this week, but..."

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But then Brody followed me to Highland Hills, and I finished silently in my head.

I said goodbye to Joe and stared at my laptop screen momentarily.

'No, Jane. You've made your decision!'

When I left Luminary Productions, Brody's sleek Maybach was waiting outside. The driver looked straight at me, his head bowed.

"Ms. Jane, the boss wants to speak with you. This will be the last meeting before he returns to London tomorrow morning," said the driver.

My lips pressed into a thin line as I considered how we needed to talk as a couple. I had questions I needed answers to and things I needed to clarify.

I got into Brody's car, and we drove in silence. The vehicle glided to a stop in front of an upscale restaurant. Brody had booked the entire place for the two of us, so we were the only customers being served then.

Brody broke the silence first, his tone more measured than before. "Today is Sonia's last day as my secretary. I've given her a hundred thousand as compensation."

Sonia's name was the last thing I wanted to hear at that moment. I couldn't understand why Brody had to bring her up. A hundred thousand? I could only shake my head.

He went on. "I want to apologize for my shortcomings and the stress she caused you. I only recently discovered the extent of her harassment. You won't have to deal with her anymore, so I gave her the money."

"Brody, it doesn't matter anymore. I've reached a point where I don't want this anymore. I gave you a chance, and you wasted it."

Brody's jaw tightened. His lips parted several times as if struggling to find the right words. Finally, he simply said, "I'm sorry..."

He took my hand gently. I didn't pull away.

"Jane, I have a confession. The first time I saw you was at your school in London. The second time was on the Las Vegas Strip-you were talking with my cousin Bronn. I saw you cry then, and he told me about you. After that, I asked for your hand in marriage..."