Chapter 3
Jason was on his phone, giving Nadia a look so smug it could sour milk.
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Ellen didn’t even spare her a glance. ‘How the hell does she think she could waltz in like a diva and drop the divorce bomb?‘ he thought.
Nadia let out a sharp scoff. Right in front of Jason, she ripped off her filthy gloves and flung them at Ellen’s face.
Ellen wasn’t ready for it. His clipboard and pen clattered to the ground. “You call yourself a manager? Maybe go back to square
one!”
Nadia snapped. “You can try to boot me out, but you’re not setting foot in No. 8 Crest Manor. He’s into those loud, extra types. Sure, you’ve got the attitude, but sweetie, you’re way past your prime!”
She was out the door soon anyway–why play nice? Plus, sneaking in a jab at Jason? Total cherry on top.
Jason’s eyes turned to ice, his knuckles whitening as he clutched his phone.
Nadia stormed inside, grabbing a glass of water. The front door swung open, then shut, and something hit the entryway shelf.
When she finished packing and headed out, she saw it–her phone.
‘Did Jason actually come back just because I left it in his car?‘ she wondered.
This time, Nadia wasn’t playing dumb. She hopped into the Porsche Cayenne in the garage and peeled out.
The car was one of Jason’s wedding gifts. She barely drove it–Brookshire traffic was a nightmare–so it’d been sitting there, collecting dust.
But even if she walked away from Jason’s fortune, this ride was hers. Pre–marital property.
The thought of leaving that cold–hearted jerk behind had her practically beaming. She slammed the gas, the engine roaring like it was cheering her on.
On the road, her bestie, Kate Baldwin, called. She’d seen the latest gossip and was worried Nadia was falling apart, so she tried to drag her to a bar to let loose.
Nadia wasn’t ready to pop champagne just yet–she wanted to settle in first–so she passed.
The apartment was spotless, but Nadia had this weird thing: she couldn’t sleep in a new bed without zapping it with her de- mite machine.
She was on her knees, buzzing away at the mattress, when the real estate agent strolled in like he owned the place.
“Knocked forever, but you didn’t hear, so I let myself in,” he said with a shrug.
Nadia shot him a look. “What’s up?”
“Uh…” He flashed a fake grin. “So, the landlord just called. Bad news–this place isn’t for sale anymore.”
“But I paid a deposit.”
“We’re super sorry. We’ll refund you double, no problem.”
This morning, they were desperate to sell. Now it’s suddenly off the table.
Nadia grabbed her phone to dial the landlord, but froze when she saw the last incoming call. Him.
‘Well, big surprise, she thought bitterly. ‘Bet Jason answered that call:
If she couldn’t see through this little game, she’d be a complete fool.
She tossed the de–mite machine onto the bed. “Buying this place was my choice. That jerk doesn’t get to call the shots!”
The agent flashed a nervous, fake grin, practically sweating bullets. “Ms. Woodward, I’m just the go–between here You really
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Chapter 3
think I’d have the guts to…” ‘mess with the head honcho of the Black Group?‘ he thought, not daring to say it out loud.
Nadia tried every trick in the book, but the guy just shook his head, that infuriating smile stuck in place. A room for the night? Nope, not happening.
Out of options, she slung her bags over her shoulder and headed to her best friend Kate’s place..
It wasn’t about the cash–she could afford a hotel. They just gave her the creeps, plain and simple.
Kate was rinsing off the day’s grime when her phone lit up. She scrambled out of the shower, still dripping, towel half–on and a shower cap perched on her head. When she spotted Nadia wrestling luggage out of her car, her eyes nearly popped out.
“Well, hell’s bells!” Kate hooted. “Takes some sleazeball shattering your heart to remember your bestie’s got your back, huh? But eloping already? Pump the brakes, girl–let’s at least Netflix and chill first!”
Nadia, caught up in the vibe, yanked too hard on her suitcase and got her finger stuck. “Ow, damn it, ow!”
“Oh, crap, my bad!” Kate snorted, doubling over. “That museum’s royal robe is counting on your fancy fingers. You go and break one, and Emperor’s gonna haunt me from the grave!”
Nadia lost it, laughter bubbling up and chasing away the gloom that’d been weighing her down. “Oh, please. I’ll just ship you off to sing at his tomb. Big–shot pop star like you? He’d be living his best afterlife.”
They were still cackling when Jason’s mom, Madge, called, all but demanding Nadia swing by for dinner.
“She got any clue you ditched the house?” Kate asked, her voice dropping with worry.
Nadia shook her head.
To both their families, Nadia and Jason were the poster kids for wedded bliss–polished, polite, perfect. Nadia had to keep Madge happy to lock in the her family’s future and, more importantly, her brother’s shot at survival.
Truth was, Madge treated her better than her own blood ever did. She could dodge Jason’s calls all day long, but letting Madge down? That’d hit her where it hurt.
When Nadia showed up alone, Madge’s face darkened like a storm cloud. “That little punk! I told him to pick you up, and he leaves you to haul ass over here by yourself? What a clown show!”
Only Madge could roast Jason like that and not bat an eye.
“It’s cool. He’s just buried in work,” Nadia said, slipping her hand into Madge’s with a smile. “How you holding up?” Madge had been fighting a laundry list of health problems since Jason’s sister, Chloe, came along. She was always brewing some herba! remedy, the faint scent of it lingering on her like perfume.
