Chapter 32: The Court Order
Diane’s POV
I woke up with a start, my heart racing as I glanced at the clock on my nightstand. 6:30 AM. Another restless day filled with dreams of arguments and locked doors.
It had been almost a month since I’d left Liam’s mansion, and he still hadn’t sent over my things as promised. The frustration that had been simmering for days threatened to boil over as I dragged myself out of bed.
As I shuffled towards the bathroom in Joan’s beach house, where I’d been staying since the separation, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. The woman staring back at me looked tired, with dark circles under her eyes and a permanent frown etched on her face.
This wasn’t me. This wasn’t the Diane I knew myself to be. I splashed some cold water on my face, determined to shake off the sadness that had been clinging to me like a second skin.
"Get it together, Diane," I muttered to myself. "You’ve got work to do."
I went through my morning routine, my mind preoccupied with the tasks ahead. As I was pouring myself a cup of tea, my phone buzzed on the counter. It was Robert, my boss. Curiosity piqued, I answered the call.
"Diane, I’m so glad I caught you," Robert’s voice came through, tinged with a hint of desperation. "I hate to bother you like this, but I’m in a bit of a bind."
"What’s going on, Robert?" I asked, taking a sip of my tea.
"It’s about that comprehensive market analysis report you worked on before you left the company the first time," he explained. "You know, the one for the Eastern European expansion project? We’re pitching to a major client next week for a similar campaign, and I can’t seem to locate my copy anywhere. I was hoping you might still have yours? Your strategic insights would be invaluable for this presentation."
My stomach dropped as realization dawned on me. That report. I knew exactly where it was – filed away in the study at Liam’s mansion, along with the rest of my personal and professional belongings. Being the meticulous organizer I’d always been, I had kept copies of all my important work documents, even after leaving the company few years ago.