smart enough to realize that.
He didn’t need me.
Or he could have broken down and started weeping. Some part of me really feared that he might come in her and get down on his knees to beg me to take him back. That probably would have been the worst scenario.
In any case, I beat him. I would get a portion of his wealth, and then we could part ways. Maybe we’d be friends. Probably not.
Somehow, I couldn’t quite relax with Adrian in the apartment, so I turned my attention back to the window and contemplated my plans for the future. Should I start dating right away? What should I do with my newfound wealth? One corner of my mouth started to rise, but then someone knocked on the door.
Spinning about, I headed for the front door and found two people. A man and woman, both dressed in scrubs. “Are you here for Adrian?” I asked, thinking they must have been colleagues of his. Maybe there had been an emergency or some sort, though I had no idea why they wouldn’t just call him.
“No,” said the man. “Now, please remain calm, Miss. I’m Tony and this is Valerie. We work with your husband. May we come in?”
I didn’t really understand what was going on, but I nodded. My brow tightened with confusion, I opened the door a little wider and motioned for them to come inside. They stepped across the threshold and paused in the apartment’s entryway.
Valerie smiled brightly, like I was some animal or small child who might bolt if provoked. “This is very important, but don’t worry, we’ll take things nice and slow. Okay?” She placed her bag on the floor, kneeled beside it, and pulled something out. A syringe. I stepped back but refused to retreat because this was my house. I didn’t know what was going on, but it was probably a mistake of some sort.
No reason to panic.
“Take what slowly?” I asked, working hard to keep my tone level and even.
Tony smiled at me and placed a hand on my shoulder as if I required some special comfort. “Melanie, you have people in your life who love you and are very concerned with your well being.”
“My well being? I don’t know what you’re talking about! I’m fine,” I insisted. Prickles of anger started to dig into the back of me neck. Nothing bothered me more than a condescending tone. Pausing for breath, I turned back to him. “Seriously. There must be a mistake.”
“There’s no mistake. We’re here to make sure you stay nice and calm,” Valerie added. When she stood up, she had the syringe in hand. She depressed the plunger just enough to squirt out some clear drug. “We reviewed all of the paperwork.”
Pinching the ridge of my nose, I tried again, “Please, just tell me what’s going on.”
“Melanie,” Tony said again, using my name like he thought that would make me feel better, “Don’t get upset. We’re here because you’ve been committed for medical evaluation and treatment. Clearly, things aren’t working out the way they should, and you require some special attention. Isn’t that right?”
Valerie sidled a little closer to me, but I retreated back, still confused and more than a little aggravated now. “What? No. Look, I really don’t know what you guys are talking about, but I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
“Unfortunately, that won’t be possible. You see, we have a legal mandate to take care of you. A member of your family has decided that you require this specialized attention due to mental instability.” Tony spoke slowly, as though I needed extra time to process each sentence. My fingers balled into fists, yet I maintained my composure.
“Family?” I demanded. “What are you talking about?”
“Your husband,” Valerie explained as she crept a step closer. “You see, he’s been very, very concerned about your well being. So today, he went to a lawyer and had all of the paperwork filled out. So don’t you worry about a thing, we’re here now and we’re going to take very good care of you.”
What? I