Office Desires

23. Divorce

The attorney's office was adorned with polished mahogany furniture and sterile beige walls, an atmosphere that contradicted the emotional storm brewing between Debbie and Claude. As they sat across from each other at the sleek conference table, the air crackled with tension, each word a potential spark.

Debbie, her posture rigid, tried to maintain a façade of composure, but her eyes betrayed the turmoil within. Claude, seemingly composed, wore an expression that hinted at a subtle satisfaction, a chess player confident in his moves.

"Let's begin. Debbie, you've expressed your desire for an amicable divorce. Claude, do you agree?"

Claude, his gaze unwavering, responded with calculated nonchalance, "Sure, I'm all for it."

Debbie, sensing an undercurrent of treachery, shot Claude a sharp glance, her eyes narrowing.

"Now, the matter of assets. Debbie, could you please provide a list of your shared properties?"

Debbie, hesitating for a moment, handed over a carefully prepared document. Claude's eyes flickered with a subtle gleam of satisfaction.

"I've got a few additions to that list." Claude slid an additional document across the table, his smug expression intensifying.

Debbie's eyes widened as she scanned the unexpected additions. "Claude, what is this? We agreed on a fair split."

"Just a few adjustments for clarity."

"What are you talking about?" Debbie's tone sharpened, a mixture of confusion and betrayal settling in.

Claude, maintaining his composure, leaned back in his chair. "Debbie, let's not pretend we're strangers here. I know you, and you know me. This divorce, it's unnecessary. We can work through whatever issues we have."

"Claude, we both agreed on this. We both agreed it's what's best for us."

Claude, his eyes locked onto hers, leaned in slightly, his tone taking on a more intimate note. "But is it truly what's best for us, Debbie? I can see it in your eyes. You're not as sure about this as you think."

Debbie, feeling the weight of Claude's emotional manipulation, clenched her fists beneath the table. "Claude, I'm sorry, okay, but you need to set me free...please."

Claude, his expression shifting to one of stubborn resolve, folded his arms across his chest. "I can't just let you go, Debbie. We have something, something worth fighting for."

Debbie, frustration boiling over, shot back, "You can't force me to stay in a marriage that's suffocating me. We had an agreement."

Claude, his eyes narrowing, retorted, "Yeah well I'd like to come back on those agreements."

"Claude, please, this isn't healthy for either of us. We're just hurting each other more by dragging this out."

"I won't agree to this divorce, Debbie. I won't let you throw away what we have."

"We have nothing and you know it, fuck Claude why are you stabbing me in the back like that ?"

"I won't agree to a divorce. ."

"Well, I can't continue like this."

" I can't let you go, Debbie. ."

"Why ? Why are yo doing this ? You know I don't love you."

"But I do... I love you enough for both of us."

"If you truly love me let me go" Debbie, her eyes hardened with resolve, spoke with unexpected clarity, "Fine, Claude. If holding on to this marriage is so important to you, take everything. Take the house, the cars, everything. I don't care ! Just sign the damn divorce papers and let me go."