Chapter 3
"How much will it take to get rid of that woman? You've been with Roger for so many years. You can't just let some outsider walk all over you," my mother-in-law said.
So, in her eyes, this was still just something that could be solved with money.
I didn't respond.
After about ten minutes, Roger came out of the room, his eyes red.
He walked over to me, his voice hoarse.
"Madeline, let's talk," he said.
He pulled me out onto the balcony.
"I admit it. I got taken in by that woman. She claimed she'd just graduated, didn't know a thing, and I... I couldn't help but feel sorry for her," Roger said.
Then he launched into his story—the classic sob tale of a lovesick CEO trying to rescue some innocent girl, only to get played for a fool.
"As for the kid... I don't even know if it's mine. She's just saying she'll bring her parents over to squeeze money out of me," Roger continued.
He looked at me, his eyes full of earnestness.
"Madeline, please help me out. If you do, you'll be in charge of all my money from now on," Roger pleaded.
Trying to sweeten the deal, he pulled another card from his wallet.
"There's 200 thousand dollars on this card. Take it for now. If it's not enough, I'll figure something else out," he said.
I looked at the card, then at him.
He really thought money could fix everything.
"What exactly do you want me to do?" I asked.
His eyes lit up. "Could you... maybe go talk to her first? You're a woman, maybe she'll listen to you. Just keep her from causing trouble."
He actually wanted me, the wife, to go deal with the side chick.
He really had some nerve.
"Alright," I said, keeping my voice steady.
He finally looked relieved.
"But I've got one condition," I added.
"What is it? Name it," Roger blurted out.
"Transfer the southside apartment to my name," I said.
He bought that place before we got married, and it'd always been under his name. It was fully furnished but had just sat there empty. He kept saying the location sucked, and nobody wanted to rent it.
But I'd already done my homework. That apartment was in a prime area, and he'd been shelling out big bucks for the property fees every month.
That place was his backup love nest, all set up and waiting.
Roger's face went pale.
"That apartment..." he hesitated.
"Fine, have it your way," I said, turning to leave.
"I'll do it. I swear!" He grabbed my arm from behind. "Tomorrow, I'll get it transferred to you, first thing!"
He thought he was giving in.
He had no idea this was just the first bit of payback I was collecting.
*****
I met Claire in a private room at a cafe.
When I arrived, Roger was already there. He was sitting across from Claire, wearing a smug look I'd never seen on him before.
On the table, a phone was sitting, recording everything.
"Madeline, you're here," Roger said, giving me a smug nod like he was a general basking in victory.
Claire kept her head down, her shoulders trembling, like she was barely holding it together.
"Roger, what's your game here?" I asked, playing dumb.
"What do you mean?" Roger let out a cold laugh, but instead of hitting play on the recording, he turned to Claire, his voice deceptively soft, with a hidden bite.
"Claire, quit crying. Tell me, that first time we ate together, the second shrimp I peeled for you, was it male or female?" he asked.
Claire's head jerked up, her tear-streaked face showing a flash of panic. She quickly ducked her head again and mumbled, barely audible, "It was female... with eggs."
Roger's smug look got even cockier as he finally grabbed his phone and started the recording.
Claire's voice came through, trimmed down to just the important bits.
"Give me 300 thousand dollars, and I'll take the kid and vanish from your husband's life.
"Otherwise, I'll spill everything about how we planned this together.
"Madeline, you were the one who reached out to me. Don't think you can just cut me loose now."
Once the recording finished, Roger glared at me, his eyes burning with contempt and fury.
"So you teamed up with an outsider to set me up for cash? Madeline, I never knew you had it in you," he sneered.
He thought he had me right where he wanted, that he'd finally turned the tables.
Claire lifted her tear-streaked face to Roger, looking like a wounded puppy.
"Roger, I'm really sorry. It's all my fault. Madeline came to me and said that if I helped you burn through your money, she'd give me a piece of it. My family's broke, and I was desperate, so I just went along with it... I never wanted to ruin your relationship, I swear!" she cried.
As she spoke, she pointed at me.