Owned by the CEO

The room was muted, very silent. I sat on the opposite side of him; my fingers twisted in my lap. I didn't want to look at him because I was very heartbroken, instead, I looked away. The divorce papers were on the table between us, clean like there was never part of something once called love. Alessio didn't even say a word to me. He just pushed the papers towards me, slow and stiff. No warmth, no emotions, and no explanation. Not even to look at me. I looked away quickly, blinking fast because I didn't want to cry.

"You got what you wanted, Leah," he said, with no emotion, like he didn't care.

"You're free."

Free?

The word felt wrong, like a bad joke with no reason to laugh. I stared at the papers. My name sat at the top, bold and final. Leah Carter De Luca, it didn't feel like my name anymore. I didn't shed a tear. I couldn't. I had exhausted all my tears long ago, during the nights he arrived home late, on mornings when he looked at me as if I were not important to him. I grabbed the pen. My hand trembled, the paper in front of me blurred as my eyes filled with tears, I tried to breathe, but my chest felt tight. He didn't move or blink.

"I didn't ask for this," I whispered.

Still, he said nothing.