The Revenge of The Worthless son in law

15. The Deluxe Dance.

Lauren was organizing her bedroom for the first time since her divorce with Jason. Back when they were together, he was the one who always took care of the house chores and even the cooking as well. All she did was eat, he took care of everything else…even her laundry.

She packed her notes and as she was about to drop them in the drawer by the bed, she came across a piece of paper folded inside, sitting delicately on one of her old books. Carefully unfolding it she was filled with nostalgia as she saw the tiny, slightly slant handwriting. Jason's writing was something she always found attractive in a way. It almost looked like it was typed in using a slanted lobster font. Her writing was okay as well but Jason's was far more superior.

She smiled tenderly as she read the contents written on it.

(Be back soon, birthday surprise. Well that kind of ruins the surprise but since you don't know what the actual gift is, it's fine.

You probably didn't know I was getting you a gift till I put it out there as well, dammit! …well anyway, I'll be back soon. Love you.)

That was when Jason had gone out to get her a present on her birthday a few months back. He was always fond of writing things down on a piece of paper rather then just sending text messages. He said sending texts was characterless, and he was full of character.

She could remember that it had rained that evening, and he had been completely drenched in it, but he said it didn't matter as long as she was happy.

That was the day he got her her favorite bag, it wasn't that expensive but they say it's the thought that counts, and it was very true. The fact that he went through such stress to get her a gift and considering the fact that he didn't have a job so he must have had to do different odd jobs to afford it, and it made her heart melt.

Almost immediately, her eyes fell on the bag that laid next to her on the bed and a warm smile curved up her lips.

Even though they were divorced, she still loved the bag and carried it everywhere with her.

Jason ended up having a cold for a whole week but he said he didn't regret it and would gladly do it again just to see her smile.

She folded the paper gently and placed it in her bag. Then a thought popped up in her head. 'Am I doing the right thing?' she asked herself.

Was divorcing Jason really the only route to success?

Would she be okay with seeing him move on? with another woman?

Her mind reverted to the time she walked in on him kissing another woman and the image made her heart ache. Was that the way he felt when he saw her with Phil?

Probably. And how had she reacted back then, she told him to leave and then she filed for a divorce.

She was unaware of the fact that she was no longer alone until she felt someone's arms wrap around her waist.

"Phil," she smiled, though deep down, she wished it was Jason. "I didn't hear you come in."

"That's surprising, because I called your name multiple times." He released his hold on her and moved to stand in front of her. "At a point, I started to wonder if you were actually home."

"Oh, I'm sorry about that. I was probably just lost in thought."

"Thinking about that weasel again?"

"That's not a nice thing to—"

"Haven't I told you to stop doing that?!"

"Calm down Phil," he always flared up whenever Jason was mentioned and Lauren was getting tired of it. "I'm not saying I want to run back to him, I'm only saying it won't kill you to refrain from insulting him so often. I mean he didn't even do anything to you, you're the one who stole his wife!"

Even though they were divorced, Lauren couldn't stand seeing anyone talk bad about Jason…even if it was her family, or Phil.

She grabbed her bag and made her way to the exit when she felt Phil's grip on her shoulder. "Hey! Let go of me."

"How dare you speak to me in that manner?" He had an inhumane scowl on his face and for the first time since they met, Lauren was scared of him.

"You're scaring me Phil, what is wrong with you?" All efforts she made to free herself from his aggressive hold proved abortive. "Would stop acting like an animal?! What the hell is wrong with—"

"Shut up!" Lauren's complaints were abruptly stopped when Phil's palm landed on her cheeks. "Shut the fuck up you little bitch!! I am not that sorry excuse for a husband you lived with, you cannot talk to me so rudely!! Understand?!"

Lauren cradled her face that was already turning red. She couldn't believe what had just happened.

"Get rid of everything that can remind you of that idiot, move out of this godforsaken apartment if you have to!. Just make sure this doesn't happen again!"

Lauren watched in tears as Phil stormed out of the room and in that moment, she was convinced that she had made a mistake.

~•~><~•~

"What are we going to do Lauren? This could be a problem for us."

Lauren watched her supposed boyfriend complain and she felt almost…unmoved.

When they saw it on the news that he had been cut off, Lauren felt bad for him but now as she sat across from him at the restaurant, she felt nothing.

At first, the remnants of the pity she felt still lingered. Then the more she stared at his face, the more her blood kept boiling, recalling the way he acted towards her. The final resolution she was able to attain was numbness.

As her mother would say, power is the most important thing in every situation. So she could use this as an opportunity, she just had to find an opening.

"And I'm sure that bastard has something to do with this as well." He continued with a frown.

Bastard could only mean one person. "Jason?"

"Yes. The son of a bitch works at the company and I'm certain he told the CEO to cut me off."

"Jason got job...at the Decker Industries?"

"I don't know how he did it. I would say he bribed his way in but the idiot doesn't have any money."

Jason got a job at the Decker Industries. The most influential company in the United States. How was that possible?

Sure he was a graduate with good grades, and thanks to his scholarship, they went to the same highschool and college. But it still didn't change the fact that he was financially at his lowest.

Sure, if he had the backing of her parents he might have had a chance, but securing himself a job at such a company all by himself seemed highly unlikely…unless he knew someone in the company.

"Lauren, are you listening to me?"

"Huh? Oh yes. Why are you so convinced that he has something to do with this? We all saw it in the news that you were violent with a staff…and you can't tell me it was a lie." She intentionally hinted at their issue, expecting an apology but he just waved her off.

"You brought that on yourself Lauren."

"I did? Oh and pray tell, how did I do that?"

"You know it displeases me to hear you talk about that…that ignoramus, and yet you still do it all the time. If anything, I have been very patient with you."

"Patient with me…so if you weren't, you would have sent me to the hospital?"

"Relax darling, I think you're overreacting."

"Right, okay." Her priority was the Deluxe Dance. Missing that ceremony would be way too much of a oss to her, especially after all the sacrifices she had to make. "You're still attending the Deluxe Dance, right?"

"Is it that important to you that I attend? Is there something you're supposed to gain from it?"

"What the hell is that supposed to mean? I was talking about you. You know that ceremony is the fastest way to make huge connections.

Besides, I'm sure people will attend on behalf of the Decker Industries, this could be an opportunity for you to find out what happened."

Phil stared at Lauren for a while, as if he was pondering her words, then he gave a slight nod of approval. "You're so right. You've always been so smart, right from our highschool days."

"Hmm I guess."

"Now finish up quickly, there's somewhere we have to go."

"Where's that?"

"Don't question me! Just hurry up."

No one had ever spoken to her in such a rude manner before, and somehow it made her think of Jason. All through their courtship and marriage, he had to go through different insults and harsh remark from her family and he never complained. Even before they got together, Jason was an undesirable bevaude he was poor. She missed him.

She wanted him back.

In that moment, she gave herself a new mission; get close to Jason and try to win his heart back.

But first, she had to find a way to dispose of Phil. After the ceremony.

Once she was able to make two or three significant connections, she would remove Phil from her life completely.

~•~><~•~

Finally, the day had come. The day that Lauren had been eagerly waiting for.

The Deluxe Dance had different meanings to everyone who attended. For some, it was a mean of making good friends. For some, it was a medium for finding possible business partners. For others, it was a means of advertising what you do, to show off your company and wealth.

To Phil, it was hope. Hope that he could somehow find a way to remove himself from the blacklist of the Decker Industries. It was pride. A means for him to brag about his wide range of connections to Lauren.

To Lauren's mother, it was a power hunt. A means for Lauren to acquire more power and fame. To mingle with the best of the best and gain as much power as she could. To cling with all the top men-both married and single- and stick with the one that offers the most money.

To her father, it was a popularity contest. The Executive Director of the Sterling Medical Groups, the man who had won the employee of the year award for two consecutive years. The man who would probably be getting a seat among the Board.

Then to Lauren, it was hope. Hope that she would be able to make a few connections so she could establish herself, or at least get a job at a well paying company. Then she would finally be free from her mother and Phil…and hopefully, get her husband back.

The MC announced that the VIP guests had arrived and all eyes were turned to the entrance to see the influential people as they walked in.

Phil and Lauren turned as well and when she laid eyes on one of the guest, Lauren felt her jaw drop.