A Vegas Mishap (#2)

Like it or Not

Ethan

I started laughing at what I just heard.

"You..you are kidding, right?" I asked Henry.

"I am serious, Ethan", Henry looked at me with a serious face.

"What?! That's impossible!" I yelled at Henry.

This is absurd to even think about.

I scoffed and took a deep breath to calm myself.

I looked at Henry and told him, "Can I talk to you in private?" 

I gave him a hard look and walked to my room with him behind me. 

The minute he entered the room, I shut the door and said, "Henry, I am not staying in this sham. I don't believe in it. I don't even know this woman. Who is she? Where did she come from? Until a few minutes ago, I didn't even remember her first name! In fact, I don't remember anything about what happened last night. I never forget! Who knows? She might have just planned all of this for money and fame. She might be just another bloody gold digger. It would be madness to carry this forward even for one day! Get it divorced, annulled, whatever. I don't care! Just do it!" I told him angrily. 

"Ethan, I told you. That is not possible. You know what this annulment will look like? The media knows. They are always behind your back. They will create a scandal out of this. Your business will suffer. They call you womanizer and this will just add to them considering you a reckless, careless man. You have a reputation in the business world that you have worked very hard to build. Whatever respect and admiration you have earned so far, it will go into the gutter within seconds. What will you tell the board of directors? What will you do when the stock prices go down? This is not that easy for a person like you", he told me angrily.

"I don't give a damn! I want out!" I told him angrily.

"Think rationally, man! It will not take me ten minutes to get this annulled for you but, it will take you years to get it out of people's mind. You made a mistake now live up to it. I am saying this as a friend, Ethan. Just continue with this charade for sometime. Then, we can get you divorced", he told me.

I took a breath calming myself.

"How long?" I asked Henry.

"A year at least, if you want to make it believable", he told me.

"Three months", I offered.

"A year, Ethan", Henry rolled his eyes.

"Six months", I bargained narrowing my eyes.

"A year, Ethan. Nothing less would shut them up", Henry told me narrowing his eyes too.

"Fine but, after a year, we divorce and she gets lost and you will not stop me then", I told him firmly.

"Agreed", Henry nodded.

"And you are going to have to make a postnuptial document and get her to sign it. She gets nothing from the divorce. Nothing at all", I told him.

"Will do", he nodded.

"Also, I am not going to talk to her. So, you have to tell her to just fuck off to wherever she came from. I am going back tomorrow to my home in Athens and I am definitely not taking her with me. I will see her directly next year for the divorce", I told Henry.

"Cause that will look so normal, right?", Henry rolled his eyes.

"Fine, she can stay here and I go back", I told him challenging him to argue with me.

"Ethan! Come on, man. Don't make me tell you everything like a baby. You are not a five year old. I hope you understand the gravity of the situation right now. If we do this, you both have to pretend to be normal in front of the world. She has to stay here with you. How is it going to look believable if it is otherwise? You are going to have to take her to the parties and galas with you like you would do in a normal circumstance", Henry told me.