Hostile Takeover

Chapter Three

Quinn reclined back in the chair. It was so comfortable, the white leather so soft and buttery that she almost wanted to close her eyes and fall asleep. She looked around the room at the postmodern artworks and decorative pieces. She didn't know what she expected when she had decided to come and see a therapist, but it certainly wasn't an office set up like this. Quinn decided she liked it, it lifted her mood, which, she guessed was the point.

"So, you had your first mediation with Gray yesterday. How did that go?"

Quinn looked at Kendall, her therapist and let out a breath before she began to speak.

"Not well. He denied any wrongdoing and we got nowhere with dividing the assets."

"Does that mean you'll need to have another mediation?"

"Yes."

"How do you feel about having to see him again?"

"Not good. He's grown a beard for a start which looks terrible."

"Why does that bother you so much?"

"Because he always threatened to grow one when we were together, I threatened to divorce him if he did."

"So it's like a sign that he's moving on," Kendall suggested.

"Exactly. Plus, I'm pretty sure he's also moving on with his lawyer."

"What makes you say that?"

"She kept touching him."

"What was Gray doing?"

"He... well, he didn't push her away, that's for sure. He seemed to be enjoying the attention."

"Is this what you perceived or what was actually happening?"

Quinn shifted on the lounge. "Probably what I perceived," she said, remembering how Byron had also been surprised by her accusation. "Gray used to say that to me all the time. That it was all in my head, that he loved me, that he didn't want anybody else, but he would just sit there and let things like that happen."

"When did you first realise your husband had women throwing themselves all the time?" Kendall said.

Quinn realised Kendall was making her face the ugly parts of their marriage. She needed to, but it was hard. Quinn thought about it for a moment.

"It was at our wedding, actually. One of my cousins kept showing a little bit too much interest in my brand new husband. She danced with him right after our first dance as husband and wife then kept coming back for more. Then later that night she said she was too drunk to find her way back to her accommodation and could she please stay with us in our room."

"Your cousin tried to stay in your room on your wedding night!"

"See, even you think that's a bit much," Quinn said.

"Just a bit," Kendall said, shaking her head. "So you didn't realise women threw themselves at him like this before you were married?"

"No." She shook her head. "I guess we should've dated for longer. But I was wearing my rose coloured glasses before we got married. Once the wedding was done and dusted and reality set in, I realised what was happening. It used to happen all the time. We'd be out for dinner and the waitress would make eyes at him or another patron. Once we were at an event at the art gallery and at least three women that night tried to... win him over. Every time he came to The Daily Times head office every female eye in the place would be on him. And then there was Lina."

"Well, as we discussed last week, I think in that instance you were allowed to be in a rage. But let's discuss Gray's response to your anger."

Quinn couldn't help it, she scoffed. "He told me I was being irrational. He didn't seem to understand why finding a naked woman in his office would upset me so much."