Chapter 11 QUIT

KATRINA's P O V

Since it was still a little after half past noon, Cohen was probably still out having lunch with his friends at some quaint little diner. As I started to write my resignation letter on the computer, I felt a knot form in the pit of my stomach. My heart pounded painfully with the idea that I would have to give up because I was unable to be with Ella in the same place.

After this, I have no idea what will take place with my life. But I am optimistic that I would get a new job because I have completed my degree and have experiences that other firms would be looking for when hiring someone. After the payment for my surrogacy, I didn't have any money left over in my account to help preserve Cohen's business. I gave him everything I had, but all he did in exchange was give me nothing but heartaches and headaches.

Not only did I need the money for me, but I also needed it for my grandmother, who was quite ill at the moment. She was being hospitalized, and I had to pay for her medical expenses and bills out of the money I earned.

It was 1:17 in the afternoon when I saw Cohen walk in front of me, without taking a single glance in my direction. I waited for about five minutes before I quickly pulled out the paper out of the printer, and dashed towards his office.

I knocked softly on the door, and a low voice called out, ‘‘Come in!’’

I took a deep breath, and I could feel that my hand was almost shaking as I clasped the door knob, turning it and pushing open the heavy door. I shut it behind me, and didn’t meet Cohen’s eyes as I walked towards the desk he sat at against the far wall.

It was a relief to see that Ella wasn’t here. She might be busy retouching her make up in the restroom to make her look like a perfect whore in the eyes of my husband.

Because Cohen is the CEO of this company, his office was obviously much more spacious and more up to date than the rest of the rooms in this building. Behind him, floor-to-ceiling windows revealed a breathtaking view of downtown area of Manhattan, fifty-first floor in the air.

At the other end of his office is another desk, which is most likely Ella's table that can be used temporarily; however, I highly doubt that she worked at that area. To the best of my knowledge, she spends her time at Cohen's table engaging in activities of which I would prefer to remain ignorant.

‘‘What do you want?’’ he asked, leaning his back against his swivel while looking at me from head to toe and then smirking, which sent shivers down my spine.

I didn't say a word as I laid the document on top of his mahogany desk and pushed it in front of him.

‘‘What the heck is this?’’ He grimaced as he lifted the paper and scanned it with his eyes. ‘‘A resignation letter?!’’

I jumped as the loud sound of the paper being slammed down on the table echoed in the room, which caused my legs to tremble. I swallowed when Cohen sprang from his seat, and with only two long steps, he was now standing in front of me.

‘‘Cohen!’’ I yelped when he suddenly grabbed my shoulders, pushing me, and pinning my back against the cold wall. ‘‘Let me go! You’re hurting me!’’

‘‘I’m not letting you resign, Katrina!’’ he roared on my face, his voice was ice-cold and croaky. ‘‘Who told you that you can quit from your job without my permission, huh?!’’

‘‘That’s why I’m here! I just can’t take it anymore, Cohen!’’ I shouted back as I tried to push him away from me, but my strength was no match against him. ‘‘Let me go. Just let me leave, please…’’

To my surprise, his grip on my shoulders gradually loosened, but he didn’t take a step back as he pressed his body harder against mine.

‘‘Why are you leaving?’’ He inquired while maintaining a low volume but with a slightly gentler tone. ‘‘Don’t you need money for your grandmother who is sick? Is the salary I am giving you, not enough?’’

‘‘I can't work with Ella. You're aware that I can't be in the same room with her...'' I added, causing him to burst out laughing and eventually draw away from me. Because I couldn't stop thinking about what Ella had said to me earlier, I asked, ‘‘Is it true that you were having sex with Ella on the day of our wedding?’’

I was anticipating a denial from him on his part. It would only lessen the hate I felt towards him if he were to tell me that it wasn't true, but the words that came out of his mouth just served to deepen the damage that was already present in my heart.

He responded with a casual, ‘‘Yeah, any problem with that?’’ as if he did not care whether or not he was causing me pain. ‘‘While you were standing at the altar waiting for me, we were fucking each other in my room...’’

I thought back to the day when I had to wait about an hour in the church on that particular day. I thought something bad happened to him, but his best man informed everyone that he had stomach pain, and was only taking a rest in his room.

Ella was also late at that time, and I had no idea that they were having sex, but now that he told me, I couldn’t be more furious towards him and my cousin. Tears welled up in my eyes as I sent him murderous glares.

‘‘Are you angry?’’ he scoffed. ‘‘That's not even close to being half of what you did to me!’’

I took a deep, painful breath trying to calm myself as what I always did. My heart stung from hearing the truth from him, and I felt like collapsing to the ground. The amount of suffering that he was inflicting upon me was something that I did not know if or when I would be able to withstand.

Steadying myself on my feet, I walked to the door and made my way out of his office, where I met Ella at the doorway, her scent reeking with a strong perfume which made me almost throw up.

‘‘Hey---’’ she called out but I paid her no attention, but I bumped into her on purpose as I walked by which caused her to yelp and quickly dashed inside Cohen’s office.

I headed towards my desk and gathered all of my things. I promised to myself that I would never set foot in this place again under any circumstances.

I was getting ready to leave when my attention was drawn to the photo frame on top of my desk, in which Cohen and I were wearing our wedding outfits. This was taken in the reception area after the wedding. We were all smiled in the picture, and looked so happy. I thought his smile was genuine. I was wrong.

As I stared at the frame in my hand, I could feel that my heart was bleeding. This day was one of the most memorable experiences I’ve had in my life. But now, it turned out nothing but a nightmare.

I tossed the photo frame in the garbage bin behind my desk, but I felt like I wasn’t satisfied with that, so everything that was on my desk were swiped away by my hand in one swift motion, tossing them away along with the photo frame.