Mary Pattinson Pt. 02

"And then Barry. Arranging for me to go out of town on pointless business trips. It didn't take much to put two and two together."

"I'm sorry Philip. I truly am sorry. Look I know I screwed up but can't you see I did it for us. I sacrificed myself for you." Her face was etched in anguish.

"Huh. Even if I bought that explanation for one second it doesn't explain one other thing," he scoffed derisively.

"What?" Mary was nonplussed, "what other thing?"

"Steve."

The name struck home like a thunderbolt. Her blood turned to ice water as she began to shake.

"How...how...did..." she stammered.

"How did I know!" he interrupted. "I didn't really. I had my suspicions but you've just confirmed it."

"But how...?" Mary was lost for words as her world collapsed around her.

"Doesn't matter how." Philip paused as he shook his head before he continued. "You know what? I thought I knew everything about you. But clearly I was wrong. Over thirty years together and I don't know you at all. Imagine my surprise Mary...when it turns out that you're nothing more than a fucking slut!"

Mary winced. The words stung. The last one spat out with such venom. She closed her eyes and wept.

Philip left her there, sobbing, whilst he made a cup of tea. He preferred tea to coffee. He walked back into the room and handed a cup to Mary.

"Here, drink this, it'll make you feel better."

"I doubt that very much. So what's next then?" Mary sniffled as she took the offered cup of tea. "What are you going to do?"

"Well, divorce you for one thing," he replied sharply.

"No...no i meant after, what are you going to do..."

"Oh I see. You mean work. Ah yes. I would tell you but no doubt you'll go tell your lover all the details."

Mary cringed. "No I won't, I promise. I told you, I'm through with Barry. I told him it was over the other day when he finally confessed that he only employed you so he could fuck me."

"Oh that makes me feel so much better," Philip replied sarcastically, "really heart-warming."

He continued. "Okay. I'll tell you. It won't matter much if you do tell him because it's too late for him to do anything about it. It's a done deal! Oh, and of course, obviously I'm not going to be working for him anymore."

"What? What are you talking about? What have you done?" Mary was intrigued.

"That bastard's going down," Philip said with relish. "That new contract he gave me the pay rise for. He should have looked at the small print a bit closer."

"What do you mean?" Mary asked.

"It means that he thinks he's got this big ten year contract and on the strength of that contract he's gone out and ordered some more trucks and trailers to cope with the extra work."

"So?" Mary said, "what's wrong with that. If he hasn't got the contract he'll just cancel his order surely."

"Hardly. He left it to me to sort out the transport and I used a friend of a friend of mine to broker the deal. He can provide them for the right sort of price, if you know what I mean, and Barry being a greedy bastard went for the deal. He was well impressed when I told him the price." Philip smiled.

"Unfortunately for Barry, to get that best price he had to pay quite a healthy amount up front. Smug bastard's got a rude awakening when he finds out he can't get his money back. Of course he'll try but it could take him months even years."

"Yes but what are you going to do for work then if you're going to ruin Barry."

"Already taken care of. You remember when I went to see my mother all that time ago when you were away at the road-show. Well I met up with some old friends. It was good to catch up with what they were doing with their lives. Over the last few months one thing has led to another. I won't bore you with the details except to tell you that I've now set up my own logistics company with one of them who has a small transport business. We've come to an arrangement with another two of our friends, who are putting money in to enable us to meet the terms of the new contract that I was negotiating for Barry."

Mary looked confused. "But how could you set this up for Barry if you already knew about him and me?"

"I had to get Barry to commit to getting all the new trucks and trailers. I want him to take a substantial financial hit. And he will. He just doesn't know it yet."

The room went quiet for a few minutes before Mary realised Philip had finished, there was no more to tell.

"So is that it then?" Mary asked, "is there any chance for us?"

Philip smiled patronisingly. "You're kidding...right!"

"I suggest you go upstairs and pack some clothes. You've got twenty minutes to get out of this house. The only time I want to see you again is in court. We're done!"

Mary didn't argue.

As the door closed behind her as she struggled on her own to load the suitcase in her car, the only thing Mary Pattinson did know for sure was that an uncertain future lay ahead.

* * * * * * * * * *

Or did it...?

A few months had passed by and Mary had rented a small apartment in town. It was very small but it would do until the divorce was finalised.

Even though it was uncontested, for some reason the solicitor's seemed to be dragging it out.

Philip had told her he would be generous with the settlement as long as she waived any rights to future money he might make in his new business venture. He wanted full financial separation when the decree absolute was issued.

Mary was surprised and delighted to accept Philip's generous terms. She knew it was much more than she deserved.

Being free and single again gave her the opportunity to hit the dating scene. She thought it would be fun and exciting meeting new men after all this time.

How wrong can you be? After three dreadful dates she changed her mind. It seemed that the men just wanted to fuck her. There was no attempt at trying to build a friendship let alone a relationship.

In spite of that she'd still had sex with each of them, an action she later bitterly regretted. She put it down to the drink but knew that wasn't the case.

She was sitting alone in her apartment again on a Saturday night pondering over her future. It was clear she needed to change something in her life...but what?

It finally came to her. That eureka moment! Her thoughts fully crystallised. Why not. What did she have to lose.

* * *

The following Monday she rang head office and put in a request for an immediate store transfer.

She just hoped Steve would be as thrilled when she turned up to work with him again.