Borrow My Seat novel · Chapter 16 of 24

Chapter 16: Her Own Terms

I went down the stairs, and Tobias came with me.

The reporter was a young woman in a green coat, with a cameraman who looked at Tobias and lowered his camera at once.

"Ms. Eklund," she said. "Mr. Raskin tells us you're his wife, and that you've been hiding from him. Would you like to respond?"

"Not in here," I said.

The lobby had eight cameras, and I did not want a ninth.

"Outside, on the sidewalk, where it happened the last time," I said. "Ask me whatever you like."

The cold hit my face.

The cameraman set up on the pavement, and half the studio came to the glass doors to watch.

I looked into the lens, because that was where the audience lived.

"My name is Ingrid Eklund," I said. "On Tuesday I learned that I have been legally married to Lane Raskin for three years."

"I did not know."

"Every account he opened in my name goes to a lawyer by Friday, and I will publish the list myself if he refuses."

The reporter's eyes widened.

"Mr. Raskin says he is willing to settle quietly for half of my income and half of my stock," she said. "Will you take that?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because he helped plan a game that cost me two jobs."

"And he wants it to end in a room with no windows."

I took a breath.

"This Friday I will walk into the Milwaukee County clerk's office and file to end the marriage."

"After that there's a hearing, and it will be in open court, whatever date the judge picks."

"Anyone who wants to watch me sign it is welcome."

The reporter looked at Tobias, then at me.

"And your relationship with Mr. Ahlgren?"

"He's my boss and he's my boyfriend," I said. "He's a very good one. You can put that on the news too."

Behind the glass, the woman with the green streak in her hair cheered.

By two o'clock the clip had four hundred thousand views.

By five it had a million, and the top comment said, Finally, a mistress video with a good ending.

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