Chapter 2
William chuckled on the other end, sounding in a good mood.
"Ms. Spencer, you finally came around. Don't worry. I'll take care of it right away," he said.
After hanging up, I glanced at the brightly lit mansion and sneered to myself.
The real show was getting started.
After leaving home, I headed straight to Sunrise Hotel downtown.
I booked a presidential suite and sank into the huge jacuzzi, feeling all the stress melt away as my whole body relaxed.
My phone kept blowing up. I didn't need to check to know who was calling.
Tristan was calling nonstop, like a debt collector chasing me down.
I hit silent and tossed it aside, closing my eyes and soaking in the rare peace.
The best part about being rich was that I could do whatever I wanted.
If I felt like it, I could cut off those leeches' cash flow in a heartbeat.
About half an hour later, William sent me a message.
William: [Ruth, it's done. Tristan got totally humiliated at the Hermès counter in Hurray Mall.]
He even sent a candid shot.
In the picture, Tristan was standing at the counter, his face flushed red, holding several credit cards.
Olivia was behind him, holding an unpacked bag, mortified.
I couldn't help but laugh out loud when I saw the photo.
It looked like Tristan wanted to take his so-called dream girl, Olivia, out shopping for a fancy bag, probably to calm her nerves and flex his generosity a bit.
Too bad he forgot that all those credit cards in his pocket, with limits in the hundreds of thousands, were secondary cards linked to my account.
As soon as I put my phone down, Tristan blew up my phone again.
This time, I answered.
The moment I picked up, Tristan's voice came through loud and furious. "Ruth, what the hell are you doing? Why are all my cards frozen?
"Do you even know how humiliating that was at the mall? Olivia saw the whole thing."
I shifted into a more comfortable position and replied lazily, "Humiliating? Tristan, those cards are mine. I can cut you off whenever I feel like it. What's that got to do with you?"
Tristan was stunned for a moment, and his voice exploded even louder. "Come on, we're married. Your money is mine, isn't it?
"Unfreeze my cards already. Olivia only wanted a bag for seventeen thousand. Are you seriously being this cheap?"
Hearing his self-righteous tone, I felt sick to my stomach.
"Seventeen thousand? Tristan, you only make seven grand a month. After the mortgage and car payments, how are you planning to buy a seventeen-thousand-dollar bag?
"I used to support you because I wanted to. Not anymore. Get it?"
Tristan sounded like I'd struck a nerve, his voice suddenly turning dark and nasty.
He said, "Ruth, don't take my kindness for granted. It's just a couple of cards. What, you think I can't make it without you?
"Let me tell you, I'm getting promoted to vice president next week. I'll be pulling in 300 thousand a year. Who cares about your measly cash?"
I chuckled, my tone light and carefree. "Why don't you wait until you're making 300 thousand a year to buy your precious Olivia a bag?
"For now, do us both a favor and zip it. I'm hanging up."
Before he could start ranting again, I put him straight on my block list.
But before I could enjoy two minutes of peace, Eva called the hotel front desk.
I didn't know how she found out I was staying there.
As soon as I picked up, Eva's booming voice nearly burst my eardrums.
She barked, "Ruth, you walking disaster! Get your ass back here right now.
"Why is the water and electricity out at home? The internet's down, too.
"Olivia was in the middle of a shower, and the water cut off. Are you messing with us on purpose?"
I couldn't help but grin when I pictured Olivia stuck in the shower, covered in soap with no water to rinse off.
I said coldly, "Mrs. Waller, didn't I say before I left? That house belongs to me.
"If you want to live there, you follow my rules. I'm not in the mood to pay for your electricity right now. Any objections?"
Eva was shaking with rage, cursing me out. "Bullshit! This house belongs to Tristan. Who the hell do you think you are, cutting off the water and electricity?
"I'm warning you, if you don't get someone to turn the utilities back on right now, I'll storm into your office and make a scene.
"Let's see if you can still hold your head up in front of your coworkers."
I sneered, my tone turning icy. "Go ahead, make a scene at my office.
"Let everyone see how your whole family is shamelessly living in the house my parents left me.
"And Eva, let me remind you again. The property deed is in my name. My parents left it to me.
"If you pull another stunt over there, I'll have security throw all your stuff out onto the street."