He Gave His Female Best Friend My 5th Anniversary Trip, Then Bet I Wouldn't Leave novel · Chapter 18 of 24
Chapter 18: Compassionate Leave
The conference room had a glass wall that faced the open sales floor.
Thirty people sat at desks beyond it, pretending not to look.
Derek sat on one side of the long table in a pressed shirt, with his hands folded.
On the other side were his manager, a heavyset man with a coffee ring on his notes, and the woman from human resources who had called me.
I sat at the end with my lawyer's letter flat in front of me.
"Thank you for coming, Ms. Westerby," the woman said. "I want to be clear that this is not a hearing. We have a written request from Mr. Maddox, and we need both sides."
"I understand."
"He states that you have been unstable since the beginning of the month. That you've left the marital home without notice, that you've made claims to his family and friends, and that you may be a danger to yourself and the pregnancy."
Derek lowered his eyes and kept his hands folded.
"Do you want to respond?" she asked.
"I'd rather you ask me anything you like," I said. "I'll answer all of it, in front of him."
His manager shifted in his chair.
"Okay," he said. "Are you in treatment for any mental health condition?"
"No."
"Have you been hospitalized?"
"No. I saw my obstetrician Wednesday of last week, and the heartbeat was strong. I've worked full time every day. My manager will tell you I was late twice in two years."
"Did you leave the home without notice?"
"I left on a Saturday morning at six, in front of his friends, after I handed him a petition for divorce," I said. "He read the first page."
Derek cleared his throat.
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