Wife's Bitter Revenge Against Neglectful CEO Husband-Chapter 35: Knot Ball

"Tell her she should come home."

"Tell him to let me go."

Dr. Pacer adjusted her glasses to sit higher on her pointy nose. Golden curls fell in ringlets to her shoulders. In the background, a metronome ticked off.

"Folks, this isn’t how therapy works. We need to calm down and face the problems causing the distance between you.

"Think of this as your knot ball." She held up a softball-sized ball. The ball was made up of multicolored cords knotted together with knot falling over knot with cords woven in and out. It was the nightmare of the parents of small children everywhere who were perpetually caught trying to get knots of shoestrings at the last minute.

"Here." Dr. Pacer tossed us each a ball. "Take these with you. Reflect on them. You can also work free the knots if you like, but with each knot freed, try to relate it to some small hurt that you are holding inside. Release the resentment, the pain, and the fear as you release the knot."

"That’s it?" That’s all you have for us? Our goals are in direct opposition. You won’t tell us who is right?" I asked.

Dr. Pacer asked, "Teela, how long have you known King?"

"Four years."

"Do you know what he is thinking?"

"Not in the least."

"Then why would you expect me to know what he is thinking, form a conclusion, and develop a resolution in a few minutes? Therapy is not an immediate cure-all. Like anything, it takes time and hard work."

King said, "We must see each other to do the work. Teela can’t avoid me."

"It takes both, King. Teela needs time to reflect, grow, and heal. As do you, King, but yes, together time in a safe environment is also essential."

"So, Teela should move into the condo I bought us. We should live together."

"If that is what Teela wants, but you and I both know she isn’t ready to live with you. No, I was thinking of something less confining. What about having lunch together before our sessions? Or taking up a hobby together? Fitness dates would allow you to interact without forced conversation."

"The company has a private fitness center," King offered.

I thought back to the conversation with Jake the previous night. "What’s in it for me? I only agreed to these sessions." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

King asked, "What do you want?"

The answer was simple. "You can’t touch or arrange for anyone to touch my people, literally or figuratively. They are mine and precious to me. I won’t have you pulling them into this toxic quagmire."

"Alright. You bring me lunch or take me to lunch daily. After each session, we’ll hit the gym."

I mentally calculated the time sink involved. I’d lose half a day at work each day, which might not be viable for either of us.

"I want to add an addendum. We can exchange lunch or trips to the gym for a different meal or activity with notice. Oh, and no sending a substitute to any of our activities. I won’t have a repeat of the first session when you sent in Nan."

"I apologized for sending Nan."

"Did you? Did you really?"

"Fine, I’m apologizing now."

"And the rest of it?"

"Why?"

I shrugged. "I have a job. It might be tough to take so much time off during the day."

"I can afford to support my wife."

"You didn’t for three years. I’m broke. I need to build my savings."

"I’ll give you money. All the money you want."

"I don’t want money with strings attached."

Dr. Pacer interceded. "I think that is a fine idea. Why don’t I have my secretary type up a contract? In the meantime, I think that deserves a knot. Take up your balls and work on untying your first knot."

The knots were tight, no matter where I started. I finally settled on a green knot with a longish green cord tail. I mildly wondered why I didn’t try a red knot not once.

"If you would just agree—"

"Don’t finish that sentence. If it weren’t for my friends, I wouldn’t have agreed to as much as I did."

And if it weren’t for your family and mine, we wouldn’t be in this position. I easily forgave my mom for her part. At least she acted on my behalf. Lettie’s people acted against me.

"Can I ask for your baked ziti for lunch tomorrow?"

I could agree to that. I’d planned on making it for dinner tonight, so making an extra serving was no inconvenience.

I vaguely wondered if using a pin or a paper clip to ease open the knots broke any rules. As ridiculous as this ball exercise was, I still wanted to follow the rules.

Meanwhile, King’s ball sat on the table before him, untouched.

"You’re not working on your knot."

King nodded.

"Why not?"

"The ball is symbolic. I’d rather work on the real deal."

Dr. Pacer returned with two copies of the contract. I signed my copy immediately. On the other hand, King read his as if it were a billion-dollar contract with a death clause.

After an interminable amount of time, King signed his copy as well. We exchanged copies and signed again.

We exited the session to find Min and Jake waiting for us like menacing stone structures.

"Who is he?" King pointed to Jake.

"None of your business."

"He was at the hospital, too. He knocked out my men."

"Your men were holding me hostage. Did you really expect me to take it without fighting back?"

"Just give me his name, Teela. You know I’ll find out. I want to know who my wife spends time with."

"I don’t want to be your wife."

"Not an option."

"We’ll see."

I stomped out. The more I interacted with King lately, the angrier I became with his obstinance. He would get much further with apologies, sweet words, and a little old-fashioned dating.

King called after me. "I’ll meet you at the gym in half an hour."

"We’re starting today?"

"Read your contract."

I had never been to a gym before. Even in school, I found ways out of it.

"Jake, what clothes do you and I need for the gym?"

We walked into the Heavenly employee’s fitness center fifteen minutes late. King and Min waited as if they were bored models at a sports magazine photo shoot.

King nodded toward Jake. "Will he follow you everywhere?"

Jake and I said in unison, "Yes."

"I don’t agree," King said.

"You have Min. Why can’t I bring Jake?"

"Why do I bother?" King muttered. "Do whatever. I’m going for a run."

"Fine, I will."

To be honest, I was kind of looking forward to building some muscle and endurance. But, and here was the kicker—I’d rather do it without breaking a sweat.

Jake led me to what he assured me were resistance training machines. They appeared descendants straight from medieval torture devices. I had no idea where to start or how.

One at a time, we worked the circuit with Jake, who took the time to explain what each piece of equipment did and how to use it. He warned me to take it easy. Even if an exercise seemed like it wasn’t tough enough to work any muscles, I’d feel the aftereffects tomorrow.

We were about halfway through the circuit when we stopped at something Jake said would work my inner and outer thighs. It felt vulgar to use. King must have been watching and agreed because he was beside me the next thing I knew.

"Send your boy to work out with Min. I’ll take over here."

"I’m doing fine with Jake."

"Do it, Teela, or get off the damn machine."

I sighed. "You wanted me at the gym. I’m here. I assumed it was to work out. Now you’re telling me what exercises I can do."

King yelled, "CJ, the center is closed for the next twenty minutes. Clear everyone out."

I got up to leave.

"Where are you going?"

"You closed the gym. I’m leaving."

"I closed the gym for you. Do whatever you want now."

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why did you close the gym for me?"

"No one needs to see you splayed wide but me."

"Huh?" And then it occurred to me what his problem was. The cold-hearted CEO has his mind in the gutter. "King, you didn’t want to see me splayed even when we slept together. You barely tolerated my presence in the marital bed. What has changed?"

"I explained that already. I didn’t think you wanted me."

"Well, here’s some news for you. I wanted you way more then than I do now, so stop thinking with your lower anatomy."

"Don’t push me, Teela. I can make you want me."

"What is it with the Heavenly family members always wanting to make people do things?"

"It’s worked for us up to this point."

"Well, it won’t work for me, not anymore."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

Before I knew it, King had me in his arms and kissed me, and this wasn’t one of those polite, fit-for-public consumption kisses either. This was a panty-dropping-please-let-me-have-your-children kiss. For long, beautiful seconds, I forgot that I didn’t like this guy, and I lost myself in the kiss.