150 Ignored Duties, Unexpected Outings
150 Ignored Duties, Unexpected Outings
“Mom! Dad told me about tomorrow’s meeting with Ms. Ashton,” Cora’s excited voice filled the line.
ra: Thank you for the invitation. I’d love to join you and Shanice this weekend.
ra’s office was quiet except for the gentle tap of her fingers on the keyboard. The morning sun filtered through the blinds, casting strips of light across her desk.
“Everything’s fine. Listen, I’m taking Shanice camping this weekend. Lovely spot about two hours from the city. She mentioned she’d love for you to join us.”
Julian studied her face. “You know, it’s okay to admit when things hurt.”
ra felt a familiar twist in her stomach. She typed a quick response.
“Damien again?” Julian asked, not looking up from his tablet.
ra slipped the phone back into her pocket and continued her presentation without missing a beat. No one in the room would have guessed the turmoil behind her professional smile.
There was a brief pause, then Cora asked, “Will Vivi go with Dad instead?”
Ms. Ashton had sent a message: Mr. Thorne and Dr. Dubois are here for Cora’s conference. We’ll miss having you but understand your busy schedule.
“I’m conserving my energy for battles, I can win,” she replied simply. “The divorce proceedings are moving forward. That’s what matters.”
Beckughed. “Don’t worry. It’s mping at best. Proper cabins, real beds, just with nature all around. Shanice thought you might enjoy a break from… well, everything.”
The next afternoon, while ra was deep in a meeting with investors, her phone vibrated. She discreetly checked it under the table.
ra saved her work before responding. “What would you have me do? Throw a fit<b>? </b>Demand he stop? We both know how effective that would be.”
As she began mentally preparing for the unexpected outing, she realized she <b>hadn’t </b>felt this spark of genuine excitement in longer than she could remember. <b>Whether </b><b>the </b>
150 Ignored Duties, Unexpected Outings
weekend turned out to be wonderful or terrible, at least it would be different.
ra was surprised. Beck rarely called her directly. “Good morning. Is everything alright?”
“Nothing to say about that,” she replied, sorting through papers on her desk. “It’s
done.”
”
The offer was tempting. A weekend away from her empty apartment, from thoughts <b>of </b>Damien and Vivienne, from the constant reminder of her changing life.
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry, sweetheart. I won’t be able to make it,” ra said gently.
Later, when Julian asked how she was doing, ra shrugged. “Fine. The meeting with Sternwood went well.”
Later that night, ra called Cora as she did every evening.
Damien: Cora’s parent–teacher meeting is tomorrow at 2PM. Ms. Ashton specifically requested both parents attend.
Beck’s response was immediate: Excellent! I’ll pick you up at 4PM. Pack light, bring a
smile.
“What good would that do?” ra asked. “Cora is happy. That’s what matters.”
“You should probably see what he wants.”
“Of course. Think about it and let me know by noon? Shanice is quite excited about the possibility.”
The reply came almost immediately.
“He’s integrating them quite thoroughly,” ra agreed, her voice neutral.
ra sighed. “If it were truly urgent, he’d text.”
ra: I have meetings all afternoon that cannot be rescheduled.
She stared at her phone for a long moment, then pulled up Beck’s number. <b>Before </b><b>she </b>could overthink it, she typed a quick message.
She put the phone down and returned to her <b>work</b><b>. </b>Julian watched <b>her </b><b>carefully </b><b>but </b>
150 Ignored Duties, Unexpected Outings
said nothing.
“I meant about the school thing.”
For the first time in days, ra felt a flutter of anticipation. A change of scenery, fresh air, andpanions who didn’t look at her with pity or judgment–maybe this was exactly what she needed.
Coraunched into a detailed ount of her school activities. ra listened attentively, asking questions and offering praise in all the right ces. When they finished talking, she sent a quick message to Ms. Ashton apologizing for her absence tomorrow and requesting a follow–up call at ater date.
ra looked up at him, her expression softening. “I’m working on it. One day at a time.” “That sounds nice,” ra replied, swallowing the hurt. “Tell me about your day.”
The week passed in a blur of meetings and project deadlines. ra threw herself into her work, finding sce in theplex problems that required her full attention. She spoke with Cora each evening, but their conversations were bing shorter as Cora seemed increasingly distracted.
Friday morning brought an unexpected call.
“First Jorge, then Xavier, now Emily and Daniel,” Julian paced the room. “At this rate, InnovaTech might as well be renamed Dubois Industries.”
Attached was a photo of Cora beaming between Damien and Vivienne in the ssroom. Cora was clinging to Vivienne’s arm, looking up at her with clea
oration.
Her phone buzzed with a text from Damien.
The conversation shifted to their current project. They workedte into the evening, poring over engine specifications and testing protocols. When ra’s phone rang the third time, she nced at the screen and silenced it.
for
“I’d have you show some anger, at least,” Julian muttered, dropping into the chair across from her desk.
Damien: Mother will be disappointed.
“I’d have to check my schedule,” ra said, though she already knew she was free. She’d deliberately left her weekend open, dreading two empty days with nothing but
150 Ignored Duties, Unexpected Outings
her thoughts forpany.
ra hesitated. “Camping? I haven’t been camping in years.
Julian burst in without knocking, his face tight with frustration. “Did you <i>see </i>thetest memo? Damien is bringing in two more of Vivienne’s cousins next month.”
ra looked up from herputer, maintaining herposure. “I saw it.”
“ra? It’s Beck.” His voice was friendly, casual.
“And what about your happiness?”
ra: I’m aware. Send my regrets to Ms. Ashton.
“I hope she does! She promised to show Ms. Ashton pictures from our trip to thearium.”
ra: She’ll survive.
After hanging up, ra sat motionless at her desk. Part of her wanted to decline, to stay within the safe confines of her routine. Another part craved escape, a temporary reprieve from her reality.
Julian’s expression softened. “You’ve changed so much, ra. Sometimes I miss watching you fight for things, even hopeless causes.”
The casual way Cora referred to Vivienne stung, but ra kept her voice steady. “I don’t know. That’s for your father to decide.”
Damien: Dropping Cora at Mother’s for the weekend. She asked if you’d be
ting.
Julian stopped pacing and stared at her. “How can you be so calm about this? He’s practically building a dynasty around her family while you’re still legally his wife.”
“It’s just one night,” Beck continued. “We’d leave this afternoon,e back tomorrow evening. I’ve already sorted security and everything else. All you need to bring is yourself and a change of clothes.”
And different, right now, felt like a step in the right direction.
“I still fight,” she said, a small smile curving her lips. “I’m just more selective about my battles now.”
150 Ignored Duties, Unexpected Outings
As if on cue, her phone buzzed with an iing message. ra picked it up
reluctantly.
Damien: This is about our daughter’s education.
ra: Not this weekend.
Comment 1