Punished by Divorce

Confession

Erik

“So, how does it feel to be a free man?” my brother, Eugene questioned, casually, as he leaned against the bar. We were waiting for our table, and I didn’t usually indulge in daytime drinking, but I figured one drink while we waited wouldn’t harm anyone.

“Wasn’t I always free?” I remarked casually. I wasn’t sure if I should discuss it with my brother, but Naomi’s words had been echoing through my mind since that day.

“I mean…I don’t know, Erik,” he said as he eyed me closely. Eugene was two years younger than me and while I held the CEO position at Billora, Eugene worked alongside our sister, Samatha, as well as Barbra Max – Bob Scott’s younger sister, Corey’s mother – as senior managers. They were above the board. The four of us made sure that the company ran as smoothly as possible. Regardless, Eugene had made more of a life for himself. We had the same dark brown hair, the same light brown eyes, the same athletic build – albeit I was a few inches taller. Eugene was clean-shaven, whereas I enjoyed my short-boxed beard. However, back to Eugene’s life. He had recently gotten married to a lovely woman named Lisa. They had a cute little house close to the borders of Cidwood and I wouldn’t admit it out loud, but I was insanely jealous. Did I want a wife? I just divorced Naomi. So, no. I didn’t want a wife. Did I want a home? I had a penthouse as well as an apartment across the street from the company, but no, I didn’t necessarily want a house. I wasn’t even sure why I was jealous, but I was.

“Naomi made a comment the day we signed the papers,” I started. I wasn’t one who dived into small talk about my personal life – not that I had much of a personal life to begin with – but her words worried me. “And it got me thinking,”

“What did she say?” he asked, and I hesitated. It was then that the hostess came over to us. A stunning woman with pitch black hair that hung loosely down her back and the cutest little dark red dress suit.

“Your table is ready, Mr. Carlson,” she said to me, and I nodded as I effortlessly down the rest of my whiskey before I made a move to follow her. I assumed Eugene was right behind me, and he was. Once we were seated, the hostess, whose name I couldn’t remember, smiled. “Your server will be with you shortly,” she said before she hurried off. I waited until our server arrived and only after we had put in our order, did I continue.

“She said that she kept waiting for me to come home,” I told Eugene, who immediately frowned. “I never even considered it. I prefer staying in the apartment across the street. It is simply more convenient,”

“Be that as it may…I have questions, brother,” he said casually as he leaned back in his seat slightly. “Are you telling me, in the year you were married to Naomi you never went to the penthouse?”

“No,” I answered.

“And did she ever come to the apartment?”

“No,”

“So…based on those two answers, I have to ask…did you two ever have s*x? Did you ever consummate your marriage?”

“No,”

“Never?”

“Never,” I confirmed. Eugene eyed me for a moment, and then he shook his head.

“Why Erik? Naomi is…and don’t tell Lisa I said this, I will deny it…but…Naomi is stunning in every aspect. I mean, when Papa announced your engagement, I was extremely jealous. In fact, I had thrown a little fit,” I stared at my brother in confused fascination. Surely, he wasn’t being serious right now.

“You threw a fit?”

“I did. Papa knew I had a thing for Naomi…but…she had been chosen for you and that was that. It wasn’t long after that, that I met Lisa,” I wasn’t sure how to respond to my brother’s confession. However, even if I wanted to say anything, he continued. “But Erik…I know you two had dinner together, occasionally,”

“I tried to see her at least once a month,” I stated.

“Once a month? What on earth? Were you two even married? Because it sounds to me like you weren’t even friends,” he pointed out, and I sighed. Eugene wasn’t wrong. Naomi and I had never become friends, never mind lovers or partners. “Why…what made you decide to divorce her?” he then asked, and I considered lying to him.

“I cannot reveal that information just yet,” I decided to say. I didn’t want to lie, but I couldn’t tell him the truth. Not yet.

“And why’s that?” he questioned.

“The reason is of a very serious and sensitive nature, Eugene,”

“Does it have anything to do with the Scott’s being dethroned from Billora?”

“Partly…mostly…possibly,” I said. “Regardless, I’ll inform you as soon as I can,” I promised.

“Well, I still can't believe you let her go. Naomi is…spectacular,” he cooed just as our server appeared with our first course and drinks. Silence fell between us as we started to eat. Had I missed something? I had to admit that yes, Naomi was incredibly attractive, sexy, and mysterious. But I couldn’t even remember the last woman I had bed. Should I mention that I hadn’t taken her virginity? No, that would be low of me. I couldn’t reveal that.

“I heard she left Cidwood,” I then said conversationally. Eugene glanced over at me and smiled.

“Good for her,” he said, and I frowned.

“Just how well do you know her?” I asked curiously. It seemed to me that Eugene knew more about my ex-wife than I did, and I had been married to her for just a little over a year.

“Clearly, I know her better than you…which is honestly…not only disappointing, but disgusting. You should be ashamed of yourself. I felt sorry for you, but now I just feel sorry for her. Naomi deserved more than what you gave her, Erik,”