Kayla

              Another camera flash struck my eyes as I got out of the car. I just had to become a news sensation this week. I had publicly accepted my lottery award, and the story had gone viral. Local substitute teacher becomes millionaire. Needless to say, my phone was off the hook with old friends wanting to catch up. All I wanted was to move forward. And I could only do that if Darius responded to the subpoena I issued. I walked into Lowell's office and saw the secretary glowing.

"Mrs. Stanton," she said. "Mr. Stanton is in the conference room. He has been waiting."

"Darius is on time," I said. "That's a miracle."

"That boy looks sad, girl," she said. "You sure he wants out?"

"He doesn't love me," I sighed. "But he's a good guy. Stupid, but good."

"My second husband was that way," she said. "Good luck doll."

                I just nodded because I knew I'd needed it. I opened the door to the conference room and there was Darius. He was wearing a t-shirt and jeans, and he looked tired.

"Hey Darius," I said, my voice steady.

"Kayla," he said. "You look...you look good."

"You sound surprised," I said. "I heard things didn't work out with Greta. I'm sorry."

I sat down across the table from him and smiled weakly. This was so awkward. His eyes had regret in them and I could sense where it was going. Darius was going to beg, and for once, I wasn't going to give in.

"She's gone you know," he said. "I am not sleeping around. I actually wanted to call you, but I thought you'd hang up. I think we should reconcile, pick up where we left off."

                           "And where was that," I asked. "Where I slave away at a job I hate so you can buy presents for bimbos?"

"No..."

"Where you lie to me and leave me homeless, carless, and broken-hearted after I gave you some of the best years of my life?"

"No, Kayla..."

"Or maybe we could back to the part where I lose my job, and then my husband stops loving me," I spat out. "Where I feel so pathetic because I have to beg you to fuck me, and you still say no."

"God, Kayla, it wasn't that bad," he said.

"It was worse! You posted about your affair on Facebook."

"That was Greta. She is a bitch and I made a mistake."

"I know, and I forgive you," I said. "But the divorce is still happening."

"Why?" Darius asked.

                   "Do you love me?" I asked him point blank.

"What does that mean?"

"I don't love you Darius," I said. "I mean, I love you and wish you all the best. But you're not the love of my life. I realized when you left I was more upset that I lost my Honda than I was about losing you."

"Ouch," Darius said. "When did you get so honest?"

"Darius, I am not trying to be mean. I just think we're still young, we're rich, and we could both be happy. Living separate lives, of course."

"Rich? Since when are we rich?"

"You didn't see the news?"

"No," he said. "What news?"

"I won the lottery," I said. "Twenty-two million dollars."

                             "Holy shit," Darius said. "So this divorce, are you trying to make sure I don't get any money."

"No. You're my husband and you're entitled to some money."

"Wow," Darius said. "You're a bigger person than I am."

"I try..."

"I have to tell you something about that guy you live with, Dean."

"Really?" I asked. "What is it?"

"Look, Greta told me she has this plan to get his money. Her divorce lawyer thinks if she gets Dean to cheat too, Greta can get more money."

"That's insane," I said.

                   "Greta has cameras in the house," Darius said. "She watches Dean on her phone. So I don't know if you're into him, but don't do anything. It's a trap."

"IS that why she suggested I become their nanny?"

"She was hoping he couldn't resist a hot young woman living with him," Darius said. "And then when you two didn't hook up, she came up with another plan."

"What kind of a plan?"

"I don't know," Darius said. "I told her she was being a bitch for taking money away from her kids when she doesn't even want them. Then she left me for a French guy and I gambled the rest of the money away."

"So what will you do now that you're rich," I said. "I'm going to get my PhD, I think."

"Remember when we talked about moving to India," Darius said. "Maybe I'll do that. Go somewhere new and exotic, study Buddhism."

                        "Ok," I said. "So, maybe we can part as friends?"

"I hope so," Darius said.

Lowell opened up the door and smiled.

"You two ready to get started?" He asked me.

"Yes," I said. "Time to move forward."

*

*

*

                    We walked out of the conference room and I was smiling.

"That was not very dramatic," I said to Lowell.

"No," Lowell said. "It will take six months to finalize, but technically, you are legally single. Well, separated for now."

"Thanks," I said.

"Let's go to dinner."

"Wasn't our agreement that you could take me out after the divorce finalizes?"

"Well, you should have thought of that before you wore that red dress," he said, pointing to my outfit. I did look fantastic.

"Fine," I said. "But you pay, alright?"

                              "Isn't the point of dating a millionaire that I get to have a sugar momma?"

"So now we're dating," I said, raising an eyebrow.

"Maybe," Lowell grinned. "If you play your cards right."

"Let's just see how dinner goes."

And that was the last thing I remembered from my night with Lowell.