"I don't care that she wants a larger pay out, we settled on an two billion alimony and that's what she's gonna get. None of this changing her mind bullshit, I don't have time to play her games." there was a pause as the man listened on the phone, before the scowl returned full force to his face. "Doesn't matter how convincing her lawyer is, she got to keep the house and all the property that came with it. The settlement was in no way equal no matter what the papers say. I had to invest in new real estate and you know how that market is right now. Hmm? Mmm." the ginger glanced over his shoulder when a rotund man appeared, looking at him questionably with a large cardboard box in his arms. With a nod of his head Joshua wordlessly directed him to place it in one corner of the room before returning to his conversation.<br/>"I understand, but I won't budge. The bitch cheated on me and I gathered all the evidence to prove it, whatever sob story she tries to pass over a judge. She dares try to use a domestic violence dispute over me, and I'll dig up all the other nasty business I kept out of the files. Trust me on that." With his ear pressed against the cell being held up by his shoulder, he turned towards the glass windows lining one side of his office while a few more men in matching overalls came in with trolly's to unload piles of file boxes. They placed them in the corner with all the rest, silent as the grave in their shuffling. No one wanted to anger the man who hired them, especially when the air of agitation was suffocating in the room.<br/><br/>Only when the audience left the office did the tension evaporate from his shoulders, remaining hunched as he sighed. It was so soft, barely audible even to himself. Defeat was the emotion in his voice as he spoke no louder than a mutter.<br/>"I want this done, George. It's been going on for too long, I just want her out of my life so I can move on. Feel normal again, you know? Yeah? Yeah. Good thing we didn't have kids, or this mess would have been worse. Remember to tell your boy not to marry young, or they screw you over in the end." a set of blue eyes, light and clear like the cloudless sky outside the glass stared off into the distance. What was once a kind, gentle gaze was clouded over from the pain of betrayal that had long stretched over the past two years, the constant delays not helping to soften the blow.<br/>"I should go. The moving guys are almost done, and I should really start to unpack things. Work resumes in a couple days whether I'm settled in or not, so may as well get started. E-mail me the new details on the forms." confirming his attorney hung up, he gripped the phone and haphazardly tossed it onto the spit shine wooden desk. At least he had been able to salvage his father's antique of a thing, even if there was no need to have done so. Silly sentimentality, perhaps. Fondness from days gone by.<br/><br/>Shaking himself from going down a road he would rather dismiss at the moment, a strong hand rubbed at his temples before sliding down his face. One handedly he leaned his palm against the window and gazed out into his backyard; stone work and patio furniture he doubted he would use leading the way to a grassy yard littered with small trees at the edges. It was large enough until a fence cut across it, leading to a neighbour far enough away to give him plenty of privacy. The view wasn't spectacular, he admitted, but one of the reason's he took the house to begin with was for the solitude. Absentmindedly he noted that the professionally groomed shrubs to the sides of the fence were trimmed just short enough to align with the height of the wooden stakes separating his yard from next door. Snorting, he saw that their yard was practically in plain view, similar looking to his but with a large swimming pool. On a hot summer day like this, it looked more inviting than the wildness that was the ocean, probably cool, crisp and clear. If he didn't have so much work to do, he might have taken a stroll outside to enjoy the sunshine, alas the unpacking couldn't wait.  Glumly he turned away.<br/><br/>Time lapsed at an undetermined pace, Joshua busy directing the movers on the placement of his furnishings and belongings. There wasn't much, as he hadn't thought to take more when they were easily replaceable. His job was good, being on the high end of the ladder in his company, so there was always ample opportunity to buy what he needed. With six bedrooms, his large office, spacial basement and other rooms to spare, there was plenty to fill it with.<br/><br/>Finally after what felt like hours, the truck previously loaded with his possessions started it's engine, and puttered it's way down the long driveway. Joshua, still in his tailored suit since this morning, hands in pockets, watched it reach the end and rounded the corner before he turned to head back inside. Catching a sliver of white out of the corner of his eye, however, made him pause, and only on a whim did he briskly march down his steps onto his lawn. The "For Sale" sign was still up, despite him having taken ownership a week prior. Groaning in frustration that the real-estate agents couldn't even finish this one simple task, he hoisted the sign up himself and brought it to the side of the house. He'll dispose of it later on his way to work.<br/><br/>Despite the majority of the grunt work being complete, the twenty-six-year-old man couldn't bring himself to lift a finger towards the still sealed boxes littering the living room. Most likely he would order take-out tonight, very much not in the mood to dish out his pots and pans to cook.<br/><br/>It was strange, living in a large house by one's self after having shared a space with another for so long.<br/><br/>Too much quiet.<br/><br/>Feeling a sense of isolation instead of the solitude he sought, to distract himself he forced his tired body off the couch and ripped off the tape of the first box.<br/><br/><div class="bbCodeSpoiler">
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