The Uncanny Archer Williams: New Money Era

CHAPTER TWO

Eva squirmed uncomfortably in her seat, unable to face Archer.

 

She felt guilty for the disappointment she caused him, searching for something to say to break the silence in the cafeteria.

 

“If you were not an ex-convict, Archer, I would have helped you” she started.

 

“I would have helped you attain power and a little class so that you can become successful, but now, your coming out of prison is just too much. There’s no company that will employ someone like you.” She said, “that’s why I have to buy out this marriage.”

 

“There’s nothing remaining in your reputation anymore and that will affect my company.”

 

Archer broke into an ironical laughter, shaking his head unbelievably,

 

“If I didn’t go to prison in your place, do you think you would have been successful as you are now?”

 

"I sacrificed myself for you, but now you can't be associated with someone like me?",

 

"How can you blame me for going to prison, when it was for your crimes?"

 

Three years ago, someone like him helped her, he chose to make her happy and took the fall for her mistake.

 

Archer took the blame for her because he loved her, but today, she dished out all the cruel words in her dictionary for him.

His smile broadened sadly as he thought about Eva’s words.

Janice clenched her fist and stomped the table angrily,

 

“I can not watch this anymore” she spat. She must have thought that Archer was being ungrateful and tactically asking for more money.

 

In fact, the thought that Archer was holding on to Eva to leech off of her fame also occurred to her and Janice became more furious.

 

"How can you be so ungrateful?! Ms Eva has offered you a million dollars which is more than you deserve, yet you still want to ask for more, you shameless good for nothing man!"

 

“You don’t deserve Miss Austin anymore. She is out of your league now!”

 

“You’re selfish and inconsiderate of her, yet you claim to love her?”

 

“Miss Austin didn’t ask you to take the blame for her mistake, you did that out of your own will, after all, you were just an additional burden! A man with no class or status is nothing but dead weight!” she fumed.

Archer clenched his jaws, furiously angry that Janice was constantly insulting him.

 

Still, he smiled wryly and shifted his gaze towards Eva, staring at her quizzically.

 

“Is that what you also think of me?” He asked in a calm tone.

 

Eva averted her eyes to the floor, feeling intimidated by Archer’s intense stare.

 

“Do you also think I was an additional burden?”

 

Eva remained quiet, without admitting nor denying the truth.

 

Archer silently hoped Eva did not completely forget the good memories they once shared, within his mind, he didn’t want to believe that their once happy marriage was just a ‘burden’ to her.

 

The cafeteria went dead with silence as he waited for her to say something, yet Eva stayed quiet.

 

After a moment, Archer broke into a painful laughter. Eva’s silence was all the answer he needed.

 

He took up the pen and scanned the pages of the document. Eva had already signed her names on each page. Archer sighed dejectedly, furrowing his eyes and said,

 

“Don’t regret this decision tomorrow…”

“Why would I?” Eva snapped.

 

“I became successful on my own when you went to prison! I don’t need you anymore, especially not now!” She retorted sharply.

 

“I will never regret it”

 

“She would never regret a deadweight marriage!” Janice sneered at him.

 

Archer wryly smiled, determined to sign all the papers finally.

 

Janice broke into a wide smile and quickly snatched the papers from his hands.

 

“You’ve just made the best decision of your miserable life” She sneered, tucking in the documents to her bag, afraid that Archer might change his mind.

 

Yet it wasn’t Archer that had a lump in his chest, it was Eva.

 

After Archer had quietly signed the documents, she suddenly felt as if she had lost something valuable, a wave of regret rushed through her but she quickly composed herself, “it was my choice” she cautioned herself.

 

“We’re done here, Ma’am” her secretary said, and Eva obeyed, rising from her seat. Her heart was heavy with sadness and she felt so lost seeing Archer’s face cold and upset

 

“Take care of yourself, Archer…” she said sadly.

 

“Use the money I gave you and seek a good life, try to make something of yourself at least, you don't have to remain a nobody.”

“Well, even if you can’t, change your wardrobe at least.” Janice added mockingly.

“Keep your money, Eva” Archer retorted.

 

“Just don’t let me see your face again.”

 

“From today, we are strangers”

 

Eva was taken aback by Archer’s words, but she sighed sadly and nodded.

 

Archer sat in silence, feeling deep sadness as he watched the woman he once loved so much walk out of the cafeteria, and out of his life forever, accompanied by her devil of a secretary.

His heart ached and he clenched his fist tightly until they were almost turning gray.

 

The silence within him echoed all the cruel words Eva and her secretary had spoken to him, leaving him disappointed and feeling betrayed.

Suddenly, a convoy of black tinted cars pulled up at the parking lot of the cafeteria, all the cars bearing the eagle symbol of The Sterling Group.

 

Archer pushed his chair back, rising from the table, and made his way towards the exit, after all he was the new CEO of The Sterling Group of Companies.

 

A quiet air of authority enveloped his movements as he neared the convoy.

 

 

A beautiful young woman stepped down from one of the cars, her hazel brown eyes glowed in the sun as she walked towards him, composed with an air of professionalism.

 

 

She stopped in front of him, bowed respectfully and said, “Boss”