An online novel by Gillette Edmunds

Determined not to react further, not to scream, definitely not to cry, Michael stared at the labyrinth of black embroidery on the gold bedspread.

He found himself staring at his face, shaving.  This was all odd.  The Armco merger could be announced at any time.  The tenth largest merger in history.  He had been expecting a phone call every minute since they flew out of Kennedy.  He would fly back, head the tax section, and this silly trip would be over.  Some time had passed since Sonya left.  What was she talking about?  He remembered seeing Sonya and the surgeon together on several occasions.  Well, this marriage is beyond me, he thought.  Absolutely beyond me.  I want to smash this mirror.  I want to crush this mirror with my fist.  But first, I must shower.

Routine prevailed and he stepped into the shower.  Dressing, he could not recall if he showered five minutes or an hour.

Dressed, he stepped out of 302.  The long hall was lined with baggage.  Sonya’s leather bags were next to him, stacked neatly a step from the door.  His face flushed with heat.  He prided himself on his reliability as an accountant and now he’d forgotten to have his bags in the hall before 8:00 AM.  Sonya had not reminded him.  He looked both ways in the hall, saw nobody, stepped casually into his room again and then rapidly folded every piece of clothing he had in a line across the bed and quickly layered the clothes into his plastic suitcases.

At American breakfast, alone, his omelet swelled and deflated under his gaze.  He lay his cloth napkin over his plate and listened to the china clanging under forks and knives and the loud, happy tourists’ voices.  Both sides of the merger had specified that he, Michael Clarke, was to manage all aspects of the taxes.  His bonus on this deal alone would be at least $100,000, maybe as high as half a million.  What a great year he was having: flying around Europe with all these people, waiting to be summoned home with his gorgeous wife at his side.  And now what?  The marriage is off?  Forget eating.  Treat it as if it were a client’s problem, Michael told himself.  Be rational.  Ok, you’ve known this was coming.  Of course you have.  You are not surprised.  Of course not.  You can handle the Armco deal, you can handle this.  The tenth largest merger in history.  Retrieve your suitcase from the airport bus.  Reserve the room.  Plan something.  Do something to make yourself feel better.