What? Her heart stopped beating for a second. “What do you mean, the house?”
“The big house where you’re whoring your body, bitch. Come on out. I need to talk to you face to face.”
Sam closed her eyes, counting to ten to keep her emotions in check.
“Sam!” Jared barked.
She choked. “Go away, Jared. You’ll get your money by the end of the month.”
“Hell, I can’t wait, honey bun. I know your sugar daddy’s a rich man. Bet he won’t mind writing you a cheque for money that you owe!”
Damn. She hated it when Jared started losing his temper. Alcohol also didn’t help. He drank to keep his buzz going all day and doubled it at night. It was only nine o’clock and he sounded like he was already inebriated.
“Just go, Jared. You’ll get your money soon.” Sam hung up. She could imagine Jared screaming at the top of his lungs into the phone by now. He hated it if he didn’t win the argument. He always had to say the last word.
Samantha hurried getting dressed. The landline phone rang. It was the intercom. Nigel’s thick accent seeped through the earpiece when she picked it up.
“Ms Knight?”
“Yes?”
“There’s a gentleman named Jared Knight who wishes to see you. Shall I let him in?”
“No!” God no. What do I do? Jared is a hot-headed bastard. He’d make an ass of himself if I send him home without talking. Sam thought hard. “Don’t let him in, but I’ll go outside and talk to him.”
“Very well, miss.”
“Thank you, Nigel.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Sam went downstairs and into the foyer. Nigel stood by the front doors and opened them for her.
Jared took one look at her and spat, “Look at you. Ain’t that nice? All dolled up and powdered for your sugar daddy.”
“What do you care?” Sam spat back. “We’re divorced. If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have taken this job.”
“That house is as much as mine. It would have been easier if you’d just sold that goddamn thing.”
“That house was my parents’ house. They gave it to me. You have not an ounce of claim to ownership…”
“We were married, that makes us equal owners of the house.”
“Forget it. I don’t want to argue with you. How about you just go? I don’t want to see your face.”
“You have to. I want my money now!”
“Jared.” Sam exhaled a deep breath. “I don’t have the money yet.”
“Why not?” Jared balled his fist. “Why don’t you go marching inside to your sugar daddy and ask him to write you a cheque? And while you’re at it, why don’t you throw a few blows to sweeten the deal?”
“Jared! I swear…”
The door opened. David emerged. “Do we have a problem here?”
Jared threw David a contemptuous look. “Look, fella. I’m just talking to my wife…”
“Ex-wife,” Sam interjected. “I’m sorry, Mr Strauss. I’ve made a nuisance in this house. I’m going to wrap it up.”