"Hello?" Pt. 2

November 21st 2016

"Sophie?"

"Yeah?"

"Read a book."

"I've read all my books."

"Then go out, go to a bookstore and buy a new one!"

"There's nothing out there that really takes my fancy right now."

"You're impossible."

"I know what I can do."

"What?"

"I can go and help Charlotte down at her shop."

"Excellent. Great plan."

"Mhm. What are you doing today? I can't believe that you were called into work on one of the days you don't work."

"Unfortunately, scorned wives don't particularly care what days I work or not. When your husband cheats on you witht the nineteen eyar old nanny and it makes the front cover of The Sun on Sunday, you call in the divorve lawyers, stat."

"I still can't belive he did that!"

"What?"

"That actor guy cheating on his wife."

"No?"

"No."

"It's not the first time. The wife says in her filing that her husband was a habitual philanderer and that he's a sex addict. It was bound to happen. For the most part, I think the wife was ok with the arrangement, so long as it didn't make the news."

"Unlucky that it happened this time, huh?"

"No, it was cleverly calculated that it would happen this time."

"Huh?"

"I have it on good authority that the wife was the one who released the video evidence to the press."

"What, why?"

"Two reasons: the first, that the guy signed a new multi-million pound deal with that stupid show of his and the wife would be entitled to half his earning from that. Secondly, she was also having an affair and if that ever became public knowledge, the wife would lose her stake in his fortune. This way, he looks like the big, bad wolf and she walks away with a generous pay cheque."

"Aren't you supposed to share that kind of information? She's taking advantage."

"I am obliged to share that information, yes. But the husband was the first to cheat so technically, the wife was only extracting her revenge by cheating on him."

"Divorce is messy."

"I think I can get this one wrapped up by the end of the week. It'll involve me being in the office all day, but I can do it."

"Well, good luck with that."

"Thanks. Hey, did you manage to get through to Jasmine?"

"Yes and no."

"Yes, how?"

"I got her voicemail."

"No, how?"

"I got her voicemail."

"What did you say?"

"I kept it short and sweet by telling her that she was stupider than I thought if she just lets Samuel slip through her fingers. She and I may not be on great terms right now, but that doesn't mean she should throw away her relationship with Samuel. Hopefully, she'll call him soon."

"And if she doesn't?"

"I unleash hell."

"Bit overdramatic."

"Nope. I think it's a nice balance between realstic and wholly proportional to the havoc Jasmine has caused."

"If you say so."

"I do say so. And I say so correctly."

"Sophie?"

"Yeah?"

"Just go and help your sister out."

"..."

"..."

"Fine, but not because you told me to go. I'm going because I want to go."

"Ok."

"It's ok to leave Samuel and Evie here alone?"

"Yes."

"Ok. But you're paying for Samuel's therapy sessions, not me."

"You're the root cause of this whole thing. You should pay for the therapy."

"How am I the root cause?!"

"Really? You need me to explain that to you?"

"..."

"Exactly. Now, I have to go. I'll see you later, 'gator."

"In a while, crocodile."

"..."

"..."

"What did you just say?"

"In a while, crocodile."

"..."

"..."

"You... crocodile... I mean... You haven't said that since... a while."

"Don't make a huge drama out of it, Daniel."

"..."

"I love you. And I'll see you in a while, crocodile."