Chapter 8
Chapter 8
Nadia tossed him a flirty wink, her voice dripping with playful sass. “Don’t get all bent out of shape, babe. Wherever you’re going, I’m down to ride shotgun.”
Jason’s fists clenched tight, knuckles popping like a string of bottle rockets. His sharp, rugged features, already hard as stone, looked like they’d been chiseled with a blunt knife.
He’d thrown those cutting words at Nadia without a second thought, but now that she was firing back? Everything felt wrong.
A hot tangle of frustration and anger churned in his chest.
The salesman, bless his heart, was trying to melt into the woodwork, barely breathing.
Jason’s icy vibe could’ve frozen the whole room solid. “You think you’re swiping my card for this?” he snapped, his voice sharp enough to slice through steel. “Keep dreaming.”
Jason had never put a limit on Nadia’s spending. She’d always used his money for top–shelf groceries or her little brother’s medical bills.
He’d spoiled her with gifts, but Nadia? She wasn’t the type to splurge on herself.
Even if she’d stashed some cash on the side, no way it was in the millions. If she wanted to play hardball and act like she didn’t need him, fine–let her see how tough life gets without his backing.
Nadia’s fingers grazed his chest, and with a smooth flick, she slipped his glossy black–and–gold card back into his suit pocket.
‘Does he seriously think I’m just freeloading off him?‘ Nadia fumed to herself. ‘I didn’t touch that cash because I didn’t want to, not because I’m scraping by!
No way was she letting him win this one. Not a chance. Nadia pulled a bank card with a cheesy cartoon character plastered on it from her purse and handed it to the waiter.
He swiped it, and in a heartbeat, the machine pinged: Payment Approved.
“Thanks a ton,” Nadia said with a sunny grin, then strutted out without so much as a glance over her shoulder. Behind her, Jason’s jaw was clenched so tight you could practically hear his teeth screaming.
‘She’s been stashing that much cash?‘ Jason thought, his mind racing. ‘Has she been plotting to bail on me this whole damn time?‘
Back in the car, Nadia’s fiery spark fizzled out fast. She sank into the passenger seat, deflated, like a balloon after a rager. Back to ground zero.
A tiny stab of regret hit her–maybe she shouldn’t have let her pride call the shots back there.
Those fancy cultivated mushrooms cost a fortune, but they weren’t Rex’s thing. Gifting them would’ve been a total bust, and letting them sit around? That was just tossing money in the dumpster.
Her bank account was sobbing, but watching Jason’s face scrunch up like he’d bitten into a sour lemon? Oh, that was worth every cent. She’d finally let out some of that pent–up steam, and it felt like a win.
The summer heat was a killer, turning the car into a sauna within minutes. But Nadia? She was shivering, wrapped in a chill that had nothing to do with the weather.
She was running a fever, probably from last night’s brilliant idea of dashing around with wet hair.
Fumbling in her purse, Nadia popped a cold pill and reached for the ignition. Before she could start the car, the passenger door swung open.
Chloe slid in, clutching a gift box like it was her ticket to the high life. “Let’s get real, Nadia. My brother wouldn’t touch you if you paid him. You could stuff him with reishi mushrooms till he chokes, and it’d still be a no–go.”
Nadia rubbed her aching temples, shooting Chloe a look. She’d probably tagged along with Ivory but was too scared of Jason’s temper to show her face earlier. Instead, she’d lurked outside, soaking up the drama.
1/3
11.39 AM C
Chapter 8
“Name your price, Nadia. What’ll it take to get you to ditch my brother?“Chloe said.
Nadia let out a sharp laugh, nodding at the box. “Staying with him, I’m buying reishi mushrooms like they’re bubblegum. You want me out? Show me you’re serious.”
Chloe froze, not expecting the comeback.
Since Nadia married into the Black family, she’d been a doormat. If Chloe eyed her bracelets, Nadia handed them over. When Jason chewed Chloe out,Nadia took the fall to save her.
‘But with Abby back and Nadia’s time as Mrs. Black running out, is she finally showing her claws?‘ she thought.
“Bubblegum?” Chloe scoffed, twirling the box’s silky ribbon around her finger. “You married Jason right out of college–no job, no game plan. Without him, you’d be scrounging for pocket change.”
Nadia arched a brow, letting her ramble.
Chloe smirked, sensing blood. “If Jason calls it quits, you’re getting nothing. His cash? All from before you two hitched. You’ve been a freeloader, and–oh–your brother’s hospital bills? Paid with his money. They might even come after you to cough it up.”
Nadia tilted her head, unfazed.
Chloe leaned in, smug. “So don’t get greedy. Take the deal.” She tapped the box. “I’ll toss you two sticks of them. Pack your bags and bounce.”
Nadia stretched out her hand. “Five.”
Chloe’s jaw hit the floor. “Three. Take it or leave it.”
“Six.”
“Three and a half!”
“Seven.”
“Nadia, are you insane? Why not just knock over a bank?”
Nadia grinned, shrugging.
Chloe’s mind flashed to the perks Abby had dangled. Clenching her jaw, she muttered, “Four.”
“Done.”
Chloe was strapped for cash, so she shot Abby a text, hyping her hustle while begging for a quick transfer.
“Catch you later,” Nadia said, swinging the car door open the second the money hit her account.
She’d been annoyed about the expense, but now? She’d cleaned up.
Chloe shot her a glare, warning her not to stall, then hopped out, already bragging to Abby on the phone. “That fool! I swiped her reishi mushrooms. Thinks she’s slick? She’s got nothing on me!”
Later, Chloe passed the cultivated mushrooms to some socialite, locking in her spot in the cool crowd.
Nadia felt like death and bumped her meeting with Clive to tomorrow.
Kate clocked the red marks on Nadia’s hand and lost it when she heard it was a burn. “Are you kidding me, Nadia? I’m out here trying to get your hand insured, and you burn it? You trying to send me to an early grave?”
Kate grabbed burn cream and slathered it on. The sting was long gone, but Nadia’s eyes prickled with gratitude.
“You’re the only one who’s really got me,” Nadia teased, puckering her lips. “Gimme some sugar.
9/3
11:30 AM
Chapter 8
“Gross, no way,” Kate laughed, shoving her. I’m not kissing lips that bastard’s been near. Dump that clown, and then we’ll talk tonsil hockey.”
They cracked up, sprawled across the couch. Nadia spilled the tea on her reishi mushroom chase. “I was so close to nabbing it for you.”
Kate’s eyes narrowed. “That wasn’t for Abby.”
“What?”
“Abby’s career’s in the toilet with all the online hate,” Kate fumed. “Mr. Males’s ready to axe her. Those mushrooms were a bribe for him.”
Nadia’s stomach twisted. She’d been trying to do something sweet for Kate, but she’d spilled to Jason, and now Abby was cashing in.
“I’m so sorry…“Nadia said.
“For what?” Kate snapped. “It’s Jason’s fault.” She scooched closer. “But, real talk… He’s dodging the divorce. You think he’s got it bad for you?”
Nadia’s eyes popped wide. “You like someone, you don’t play saint for three years.”
“Good call.”
“Mr. Black, earliest Paria flight’s the day after tomorrow,” Austin said, trying to soften the blow. “You’ve got a big meeting then.” “Whatever,” Jason growled, his face like a thundercloud.
Last night, he’d crashed at his private villa. A cold shower calmed him for a second, but Nadia’s name in his head had him tossing all night.
“Let’s hit the office,” he said. Work might keep her off his mind.
Austin grabbed a shopping bag from the passenger seat. “Mr. Black, want me to drop this off with Mrs. Black? Might smooth things over.”
It was a ruby jewelry set Jason had custom–ordered from a master craftsman on a business trip last month. He’d made a special trip to pick it up.
His gifts to Nadia kept getting flashier.
Jason’s lip curled. “That gaudy stuff’s perfect for her.”
Austin kept quiet.
At last year’s gala, an exec had rocked a loud ruby necklace. Nadia, watching from the sidelines, asked Jason on the drive home how much the exec made and why she’d wear a fake.
The next day, Jason had Austin hunting for the best rubies and pink diamonds out there.
“Nah, forget it,” Jason snapped, yanking his tie loose. “She’ll get it when she owns up to her screw–up.
