POV Ella
"3 billion dollars and 5% shares in Ingram Tech," Dad says.
"3 billion dollars and 2% shares. And if we give you 2% shares in Ingram, Ella won't be getting any shares at all. This is non-negotiable," retorts Haley Ingram.
So that's the going rate for my life now—a balance sheet composed of shares and liabilities. My human worth is three billion dollars, minus 98% of my future life.
"And, Ella will be required to sign a pre-nup to that effect," adds Keith, his voice flat. It's a clinical confirmation that I am merely property, a strategic merger object, and nothing more.
My father smirks as he pitches in, "that's fine. I see here that you've added a termination clause..."
Keith glances at me then, frustration flashing in his eyes before he tamps it down with visible effort. He balls his fists, as if to prevent himself from striking my father. "Yes, I reserve the right to end this marriage at my discretion. If Ella breaks the terms of the contract, she will forfeit all right to settlement. If I initiate the divorce for any other reasons, I will see to it that she gets a handsome settlement."
"If you initiate the divorce, Keith, I want an additional 3% shares in Ingram Tech as settlement. Not only will my family have to weather the weight of a scandal, I will have lost my company. Not only that, the scandal could badly affect the future of my Eliana."
Keith grits his teeth. I can tell it galls him to even entertain such terms of termination. I guess he is planning to end our marriage before it's even begun. The spot of pain in my chest throbs again.
They are discussing my future like I'm not even in the room. I want to shout at Keith—"I'm right here! Why won't you see me?" But no sound escapes my mouth. I try to open my mouth to protest, to dispute, to say anything at all, but my lips won't cooperate. I'm starting to feel a strange sort of cold, creeping numbness along my limbs. It's a kind of emotional paralysis, a protection mechanism I didn't know I possessed. I feel my heart sink deeper as I realize—I will never have any say in this marriage. My life will be dictated by termination clauses and percentages.
I can tell my father will never allow me to end the marriage, and he is going to penalize Keith for trying. My father will fight for a connection to the Ingrams tooth and nail if he has to.
Keith looks like he has reached his boiling point. Haley lays a hand on his forearm as he opens his mouth, no doubt to refuse, "1% shares and 1 million dollars, only and only if Keith initiates the divorce. If Ella breaks the terms or initiates termination, you get nothing, and in fact, you will be liable for any damages calculated at the time. Deal?"
"Deal."
My father rises from his chair, smug as can be, and shakes hands with Haley.
Abruptly, Keith jumps up, looking pale. He takes a few steps towards the door and looks like he's going to make a quick exit, before he stops for a brief second. He turns to look at me, and beyond his frustration, I see his silver eyes soften a little—a brief, blinding crack in the cold wall I thought was permanent.
"I'll call you," he whispers, the sound barely audible over my racing heart. He hesitates for a second, his gaze holding mine, like he wishes to say more. I hold my breath, wanting—needing—something from him; but the silence grows. His back hunches as he turns, like he wants to shut out the world, me included. He speeds up, reaching the door in moments, and leaves without a backward glance.
I watch Keith depart with a wistfulness that is nothing new to me. The last time Keith walked away, I had Toto to hold my hand, but even he's not here anymore.
I turn to find Eliana looking after Keith with a thoughtful expression on her face, lips pursed and eyes narrowed. A knot forms in my gut.
"I did ask Eliana if she was interested in Keith... They've known each other since childhood after all," I hear my father say. The pain in my heart sharpens as my father expounds on Eliana's virtues to Haley. "We would have found a legal path for her if she cared enough, but she wishes to follow in my footsteps..."
"Honestly, Keith wanted Eliana," Haley replies, truly regretful. The words are sharp and precise, driven into my chest like a shard of ice. They weren't just discussing a merger; they were discussing the woman he wished he was marrying. "Unfortunately waiting isn't an option for us right now but I would love for Eliana to join our family someday... a girl like her will make any man happy..."
I look around the room, and everyone seems to avoid my gaze—especially Keith's brothers. Haley wasn't even trying to be subtle in her hints. The knot in my stomach twists into a hard, aching stone, sinking to the floor. It's not just failure; it's humiliation. My heart thumps. I'm not sure what this means for me.
Keith wanted Eliana. Of course he did. My academics were abysmal, I had no social life and I look—grief overwhelms me for a moment— I hear the voices of my peers whisper— ugly...
I close my eyes to shut out the world. I feel like nothing could hurt more, until I take a deep breath and chance a look at Eliana herself. A chill races up my spine as she suddenly meets my eyes.
Cold, calculating, dead.