Chapter 60

60

Corrine

‘Ah, there you are, darling,’ Mitchell said, slipping his arm around Maisy’s waist and drawing her towards him. They kissed on the lips.

Corrine did a double-take. It was the first time she had clapped eyes on her friend in more than eighteen months. Gone was her alcohol-induced bloat, bloodshot eyes, grey skin and unkempt appearance. This Maisy enjoyed a healthy glow, a flawless complexion and a stomach as flat as an ironing board.

‘Hello Corrine,’ Maisy began. ‘It’s been a while. Lovely to see you again.’

‘Maisy,’ Corrine said, perplexed. ‘What the hell’s going on?’

‘Hasn’t Mitchell told you? I’m marrying him tomorrow. Exciting, isn’t it?’

‘Don’t be so ridiculous. Of course you’re not.’ Corrine wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it despite there being no humour in the moment. She searched Mitchell and Maisy’s faces for signs it was a joke. ‘Oh my God, you’re serious, aren’t you?’ Her mind raced. ‘Why . . . how?’

‘I had an epiphany,’ Maisy recalled. ‘I finally understood I was self-sabotaging my life so I pulled myself together and started again. And once I sobered up, I began reacquainting myself with some old friends. Including Mitchell.’

‘But you’ve never been friends!’

‘And look at us now!’

‘But after everything I told you about him? You know what kind of man he is.’

‘I know what kind of man he was with you, Corrine. But with me, he’s different. Sometimes we find our better selves in the company of others.’

‘I don’t believe this. Are you trying to get back at me? Have I hurt you in some way?’

‘No more nor less than anyone else. It’s nothing personal, Corrine, I just wanted my old life back. And Mitchell can give me that.’ Maisy and Mitchell looked to one another and smiled before kissing again.

‘Can you give us a moment?’ Mitchell asked Maisy. ‘I’ll see you in the car.’

‘It was lovely catching up with you, Corrine,’ Maisy added with a wave. ‘Let’s do lunch some time and we’ll catch up properly. And happy divorce day!’

Corrine waited until she’d disappeared behind the lift doors before she spoke. ‘What the actual fuck are you doing, Mitchell?’ she growled.

He placed his thumb and index finger on his chin. ‘Hmm, well, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer so let me explain it to you. First and foremost, I’ll be humiliating you in front of our children, your friends and our neighbours. Secondly, I’ll be ensuring that you will only be awarded the most minimal amount of my money as possible by the court as I’ll be the one in a new relationship and not you. And thirdly, I’ll be reminding you that I will not be beaten. I will always be one step ahead of you.’

Corrine closed her eyes. ‘I can’t even bear to look at you. Your children will never forgive you for doing this to me.’

‘They can add it to their other criticisms on my feedback form. But don’t worry, I’m sure they’ll stand by you after your sentencing.’

‘What sentencing?’

Mitchell leaned over to whisper in his wife’s ear. And when he’d finished, he kissed her cheek and made his way towards the lift, leaving Corrine unsure if she wanted to chase after and punch him or run to the bathroom and vomit.

He turned as the lift doors opened. ‘You have twenty-four hours to decide.’ He grinned before he entered the lift and the doors closed again.