Chapter 6 - The Spider and the Fly
Sylvia was staying at a miserable two-star motel off the interstate. Her credit cards were still blocked, her pride was shattered, and her beloved son was currently sitting in a holding cell awaiting bail for federal wire fraud.
But Sylvia was a survivor. She was a woman who knew how to manipulate to save her own skin.
She used the last of her cash to hail a cab to Richard Sterling’s office building. She bypassed the receptionist, demanding to speak to Clara. I was sitting in the conference room, rocking little Arthur in my arms, looking out over the city skyline. I looked rested, radiant, and completely untouchable.
“Clara, darling,” Sylvia cooed, bursting into the room and attempting to force a loving smile. “Thank God. We need to talk about this terrible misunderstanding.”
I didn't look up from my son. “Lower your voice, Sylvia. You’ll wake the baby.”
Sylvia swallowed hard, taking a seat across the long glass table. “Look, Julian is a fool. He got stressed, he made some poor financial choices, and he acted terribly by leaving you. But I tried to stop him! I begged him to stay with you.”
I finally looked up. I pressed a button under the desk, activating the room's recording system. “You begged him to stay?”
“Yes!” Sylvia lied smoothly, tears pooling in her eyes. “He forced me to go on that trip. Clara, I am a mother too. I want to help you raise this beautiful boy. If you drop the charges, I’ll testify against Julian in the divorce. I will give you full custody. Just… reinstate my allowance. Give me my life back, and I’ll help you crush him.”
May you like
She was throwing her own flesh and blood to the wolves for a monthly stipend.
I smiled coldly. “I don't need your help to crush him, Sylvia. He’s already crushed. And as for your allowance? You’re cut off. Permanently. Now get out of my sight before I have security physically throw you into the street.”
