The Mysterious Midnight Magnate

04: Not A Loser

Eric strode outside the elevator and clenched his jaw.

He never expected a divorce today. Claudia had been away for two weeks and he was fine with it because he couldn't get in the way of her career.

Too bad things had ended between them. He did his best to provide for her needs, yet she was unsatisfied because she felt it was too little.

Right from the very beginning, Claudia had the eyes for flashy things and a luxury lifestyle.

Several paps were outside waiting when Eric stepped right out of the elevator. And upon thinking they were waiting for Claudia because she was the celebrity, he raised his head high and strode past them. They didn't know him after all. He thought to himself.

Only to be surrounded by all of them like a hive of bees.

"Mr. Michaelson, your ex-wife just posted this update on her social media handle," someone pushed his phone in Eric's face, and Eric's eyes widened in horror.

It was a picture of him in the attorney's office, along with Claudia and her bodyguards. She tweeted, 'Now divorced and free to pursue my career.'

What in God's name was going on?

"How do you feel about this divorce?"

"She paid you off, didn't she?"

Each direction he turned to, the questions were popping up.

"Just let me pass, please," Eric pleaded. He was already exhausted from the weight of the divorce, and he didn't like attention.

"You must be dejected, Mr. Radcliffe. Having your famous wife divorce you," said another reporter with a hint of pity.

"It's no one's business, now move aside," Eric snarled, on the verge of losing his patience.

But they kept shoving their mics in his face and taking several snapshots of him with their cameras.

As Eric struggled to shoulder his way past the buzzing reporters, he noticed the convoy of the Mayor driving into the scene and it was at the same time Claudia was making her way out of the Law Firm.

The reporters who had been flocking around him left him and ran to catch up with his ex-wife and her boyfriend.

There was a tinge of pain in Eric's heart when he saw Claudia hooking her arm around Mr. Skillsgard, and addressing the paps. that truly, she was divorced and the widowed Mayor was now her boyfriend.

It was stupid, amusing, and hurtful at the same time to Eric.

Immediately the paps left, he was about to disappear without being seen when he heard, "Eric!"

Of course, it was his ex-wife calling out to him.

Eric turned around, just in time to see Claudia and her boyfriend approaching him, along with their flock of bodyguards.

And Eric knew things wouldn't end well, as he was already getting infuriated at the sight of Claudia and the Mayor.

"This is the man you married for three years?" Mr. Skillsgard uttered with distaste and mockery.

"He turned down the $5,000,000 you sent me to give him," Claudia uttered as she stood beside Mr. Skillsgard. She seemed to be more confident now.

"As poor as he is?" Mr. Skillsgard chuckled as his eyes did a once-over at Eric's poor appearance.

"Being a stinking rich Mayor doesn't make you any better than me," Eric was quick to press on the defensive side.

"Did he just talk back at me?" Mr. Skillsgard turned sideways to check if it was really him Eric just addressed.

"Yes, and I'll make you pay for brainwashing Claudia and filling her head with lies, you miniature buffalo," Eric gritted out, his gaze hateful at the man in front of him. He was brewing with rage but he did his best to keep a calm demeanor on, except the look in his eyes was despiteful.

And Claudia was taken aback at his outburst.

"How dare you!?" An enraged Mr. Skillsgard snarled, fuming in anger as he shoved Eric backward.

"I'll teach you a lesson," he cocked his fist and dragged it back to punch Eric.

And Eric, who already saw this coming, caught the lunging blow and headbutted Mr. Skillsgard so hard, and the impact sent the man flying to the floor.

Gasps flew around at this quick occurrence.