Chapter 6: The Beggar's Plea
Chapter 6: The Beggar's Plea
Three days passed.
Andrew and Margaret were living in a cheap motel on the outskirts of the city.
The smell of stale cigarette smoke clung to everything.
Margaret refused to leave the bed, complaining about her back, the sheets, the food.
Andrew couldn't sleep.
Every time he closed his eyes, he heard the sound of his hand striking Mariana's face.
He had to fix this.
He swallowed his remaining pride and took a bus downtown.
He stood outside the monolithic Escalante Holdings skyscraper.
It took him four hours just to get past the lobby security, begging them to send a message up to the penthouse.
Finally, a pristine assistant came down.
"Ms. Escalante will see you," she said coldly.
Andrew's heart leaped.
She was willing to see him. That meant she still cared.
He followed the assistant into the private elevator.
When the doors opened to the penthouse, Andrew's breath caught.
Mariana was sitting at the head of a massive conference table.
She looked radiant. Powerful. Untouchable.
She didn't stand when he entered.
"Mariana," Andrew breathed, taking a step forward.
"That's Ms. Escalante," she corrected, not looking up from her tablet.
Andrew stopped.
"Mariana, please. I was wrong. I was so wrong."
"My mother lied to me. She confessed to giving Brenda the necklace."
"I lost my temper. I never should have laid a hand on you."
"I love you. I want my wife back."
Mariana finally looked up.
Her eyes were like glacial ice.
"Your wife doesn't exist, Andrew."
"She was a charity case you kept around to feel superior."
"She died the moment you humiliated her in front of your mistress."
She slid a thick stack of papers across the table.
May you like
"I didn't bring you up here to reconcile."
"I brought you up here to sign your divorce papers."
