A New Beginning (17)
As Mark looked through the contract carefully, he couldn’t believe what he was reading. He already thought it was odd for Steffi to initiate a prenuptial agreement, but the contents were truly shocking for him. It was full of clauses and conditions that protected her but left him financially exposed.
“Steffi, you can’t be serious about this!” he exclaimed.
“I’m very serious,” she calmly replied. “It’s very reasonable and fair. It states that in the event of a divorce, no one will be at fault.”
“But it says I still have to pay you alimony no matter what happens, on top of half my salary.” He called out the flaw in her logic.
“That’s just what exes do.” She remained calm, sounding reasonable.
He wordlessly stared back as her attempt to gaslight him failed.
“Ok, I meant that’s what you do,” she clarified. Without explicitly mentioning it, she reminded him how he consented to being her personal ATM after their first breakup as boyfriend/girlfriend years ago. “Honestly, I didn’t think you’d have a problem with this.”
“How can I be fine with this? What’s going to stop you from leaving me for another man?”
“Do you think I’m that manipulative?”
He knew the truth, but he stopped short of verbalizing it.
Wanting to end the stalemate, she made a definitive statement. “I’ll make this easy for you. Sign the papers and we’ll continue the wedding planning. Otherwise…well, you may not like the alternative.”
“Steffi…” he pleaded for her to be rational.
“And until then, I think you should sleep in the guest room,” she added. “Maybe that’ll help you make the right decision.”
*****
The next evening
Steffi knocked on the door of the guest bedroom before opening it. She saw Mark lying in bed reading. “What are you reading?” she asked.
“It’s nothing,” he said, turning off the tablet’s display. “Do you need something?”
“Actually, I do.” She walked closer to him and took his hand. “Come with me.” She walked to the master bedroom with him in tow. She hopped on the bed and gestured to him to join her.
“What’s happening?” he wondered in confusion.
She opened up to him with an admission. “This whole situation is hurting me as much as it’s hurting you.” Lying back on the overstuffed pillow, she spread her legs. “Come closer.”
He crawled into bed with her and nestled his face in between her legs. Without further prodding, he began performing oral sex until she had a powerful and messy climax on his face. She rested for a moment basking in the afterglow.
“You can go back to your own bed now,” she casually dismissed him.
He looked at her in disbelief.
She ignored his reaction. “Oh, and you should set your alarm. Remember, we’re meeting with Maya and her new boyfriend early in the morning.”
Feeling dejected, he went back to the guest room.
*****
Two evenings later
While watching a movie on the sofa, Steffi lay on her side with her head resting on Mark’s lap. After the movie ended, she lazily rose from the sofa. “We should go to sleep,” she said.
Looking down, he couldn’t hide his sorrow. He followed her upstairs. As she reached the master bedroom, she wished him a good night without making eye contact.
“Hold on, Steffi.” He went into the guest room and immediately reappeared. In his hand was the contract, which he held out to her.
Giving him a cautious smile, she took the contract. Opening it, she looked through it.