Caviar and golden opulence sundae was the one thing that Valerie would miss after breaking up with Richard - well, that and her fashion career. But at least she could work on her career by herself. Caviar and sundaes sprinkled with gold were the best things she had tasted in her life and they came with a five-figure price tag.

If this was going to be the last time she savored it, she sure as hell was going to stuff herself with as much as she could. So stuff herself, she did. Sitting across from Richard in an empty restaurant on the highest floor of a skyscraper, Valerie didn’t look the part of an elegant girlfriend. Far from it.

“What’s up with you today, Val?”

Looking up from her fifth sundae, Valerie wiped the cream from her lips and took a gulp of her wine. “Sorry. I didn’t have any breakfast today.”

“Okay.” Chuckling, Richard eyed her as he took his own sweet time to cut a slice off his foie gras. “But you don’t need to eat like a starved kitten, you know. We have all the time in the world.”

Valerie scoffed and almost choked on her sundae. Classic Richard. He knew the best ways to dole out criticism while seeming to be kind and considerate. Three years ago, she had fallen for it. Or rather, accepted it as a character flaw that she could handle. The Valerie sitting in front of him now was not taking this bullshit. 

Gulping her last caviar, she dabbed her lips with the pearly white napkin. “We need to talk.”

“Oh babe, you know that scares me.” Richard chuckled again.

“I’m serious.”

Richard’s smile wavered. “Alright. I’m all ears.”

Valerie sucked in a breath. This was the moment she changed her future forever. She took another gulp of wine for courage. The warm liquid burned her throat, soothing the chill in her body that had taken over her since Richard arrived at her doorstep to fetch her.

“You’ve been very kind to me, Richard.” 

Breaking up used to be the norm for her before Richard. She used to be pretty good at it too. But Richard was unlike any other guy she had dated before. He was smart, charming, and scheming. He had a way with words which meant he could twist all logic to his whim. If she wanted to get through this, she needed all her wits about her.

She put on a pained expression. “I’ve enjoyed the time we’ve spent together. But we’re from two different worlds. I would never fit in your world and we both know that. I believe it’s for the best that we break up now. I’m sorry.”

There was a flicker of emotion in Richard’s eyes that Valerie couldn’t read. His bottom lip trembled. “What are you saying? Why should we break up when what we have is so beautiful?”

Taken aback by his reaction, she almost felt sorry for him. Then she reminded herself with a shake of her head that this was exactly how he always tried to make himself into the victim. She repeated her apology between gritted teeth.

“Do you even love me?”

Valerie hesitated. They did have good times before. Lovely days spent shopping in the city, frantic nights in his penthouse.

“I do,” she said softly.

A smile broadened Richard’s lips. Three years ago, that smile would have made her knees shake. But now, it only reminded her of a Cheshire cat. It was the smile he often used when he turned out victorious in their arguments.

Annoyed at him and at herself for being this indecisive, she cleared her throat. “But love is not enough to make a relationship work.”

Richard’s eyes glazed over with tears. 

Oh boy, Valerie groaned inwardly. Was he really going to use the pity card? She steeled herself. She was no longer that girl from three years ago. She knew his tricks and his tactics. He could throw anything at her and she had to be prepared for it.