Chapter 8 - THE ASHES OF TOMORROW
By late afternoon, the legal formalities were complete. Richard walked out of the courthouse doors into the gray Seattle drizzle, his cardboard box of personal belongings clutched tightly in his arms.
There was no waiting limousine. No luxury apartment waiting for him. No mistress cheering his name. Just the cold wind blowing off the Puget Sound and a long walk toward a bus stop that would take him to his friend's cramped couch.
Across the street, parked curbside in a sleek silver Tesla, Naomi watched him disappear into the gray crowd.
Margaret rolled down the passenger-side window, tossing a file folder into the back seat. "Well, that's officially the end of that chapter. All corporate audits are clear. The company's market valuation jumped four percent today following the announcement of our new corporate governance policy."
Naomi started the engine, her hands steady and light on the steering wheel. "Good. Let's head back to the office. We have a product launch meeting at four o'clock."
"Aren't you even a little bit emotional?" Margaret asked, glancing sideways at her cousin with a mixture of awe and curiosity. "Seven years of marriage, Naomi. Just wiped clean in a week."
Naomi looked out the windshield, watching the city skyline tower majestically against the clearing clouds where a golden beam of sunlight was finally breaking through the heavy mist.
"I was emotional the night I stood outside that hospital room, Margaret," Naomi said quietly, shifting the car into gear. "Since then, I haven't been losing a husband. I've simply been cleaning house."
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The Tesla glided forward, merging smoothly into the afternoon traffic, leaving the past far behind where it belonged.
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