Werebeasties

She didn’t know what the hell that meant. Why did he say ‘we’? Was Adam talking on behalf of all three of them?

Adam regarded her with an unreadable expression and silently exited the room.

Sam regretted her outburst. Sometimes her mouth blabbed before she could think it through. She wished she could take back what she had said.

She wanted to slam her head on the desk. Stupid me.

* * * *

David paid Jared the money. He wrote the cheque for seventy-five grand and sent the bastard on his merry way. Sam didn’t know why she was fucking pissed about it. She was going to pay Jared that sum eventually, but the way Jared had barged into this house and demanded the money as if he was her pimp really pushed her to the limit. She had put up with a lot of Jared’s crap during the years of their marriage and she swore this would be the last time he humiliated her. In front of Adam, David, and Calvin too. She thought she wouldn’t care what the three thought about her, but deep inside, she did. She liked her bosses. She liked them a lot. To the point that their opinion of her mattered, without that son of a bitch making her look like a cheap tramp.

David came to her room shortly after Adam had left, informing her that she shouldn’t have anything to be worried about. Jared had been paid and he should leave her alone. Sam thanked him and apologised. David only waved. None of the men came to her bed that night. Maybe they wanted to give her some space after the commotion. Or perhaps nobody was in the mood for sex after the ruckus Jared had caused. As much as she wanted to, Sam couldn’t shed away the embarrassment. She wanted to hide under a rock and die.

In the morning, she asked Adam if she could go to town to buy some feminine toiletries. Because of the stress, her period had started a week early and she’d forgotten to pack tampons. To her surprise, Adam gave her the keys to his Mercedes. She was thinking she would hitch a ride with Morgan, the cook, when he went to get groceries. On top of that, Adam pulled out a wad of cash from his wallet and told her to have fun. Sam tried to refuse, but the look on Adam’s face dispelled her attempt. After what he’d said last night, she didn’t want to make another stupid mistake. Or make Adam angry.

She drove to a local Walgreens, picking up a few items, determined not to spend any money Adam had given her. She had some cash in her wallet, about a hundred bucks, and that was enough to pay for her purchases. Adam had already spoilt her enough. The gowns, shoes and jewellery. She planned on not taking the gifts they had given her when it was time for her to leave. She didn’t think it would be appropriate to take them. And her pride would prevent her from doing so. They might be paying her for spreading her legs in bed, but she wasn’t a whore. At least, she wanted to think she wasn’t. She enjoyed their company. And more. She kinda loved them. Who wouldn’t?

Her heart stirred at the thought of leaving the mansion. Would they miss her? She would certainly miss them. Adam, David, and Calvin were the best lovers she’d ever had. They treated her like she was somebody. Like she was worth something. A princess, in fact. Unlike Jared with his sneers and condescending comments.

She paid for her purchases and walked to the parking lot. She was deep in her own thoughts.

“Samantha!”

She jerked, turning to the person who’d grabbed her arm.

Jared.

“The fuck you’re doing? Let me go.” She swatted away his grip.

Her ex-husband threw her a malicious grin. “Babe. You’re so tense.” His eyes flickered from the keys in her hand to Adam’s Mercedes. “You surely livin’ the life, aren’t you, babe? Big mansion. Fancy car. Sugar daddies who buy you stuff. So which one do you fuck? That fancy-pants David? Or that fast-taking lawyer? Or did you fuck them all?”

Sam slapped him. Jared had gone too far.

He grinned. His eyes glinted. “You like playing it rough too these days, huh?”

“Stop following me around or I’ll call the cops.”

“Go ahead, honey. Then I’ll go see your momma and tell her what her daughter’s been doing. Sam ain’t workin’ in no factory no more. She’s gone and got herself rich men. Bet your daddy would be rollin’ in his grave if he ever knew his little girl loves spreadin’ her legs for some fancy-pants sons of bitches.”

She froze. Cold anger raged through her system. “Don’t you dare call my mom. What I do here is my own business.”

“Then we talk, sugar honey. I can forget this business callin’ your momma with, let say, two hundred Ks.”

“What?”

“Two hundred thousand, baby. And I can forget the whole thing.”

“Are you blackmailing me?” Her voice raised an octave.

“It ain’t much for those rich sons of bitches. I was surprised to see them coughing up seventy-five grand as if it was loose change. Two hundred K ain’t much for them. You just need to sweet talk them and lift your skirt.”

“Fuck off, Jared. I’ll report you to the cops for this.”

Jared roared. “You’ll tattle to the cops on me?” He shook his head. “Naah. I don’t think so. Considering you’re sleeping with those men for money. That’s prostitution, baby cake. Do you know what they do to whores like you? They put ‘em in the slammer.”

She tightened her lips. He couldn’t treat her like this. She didn’t want to hear Jared’s crap any longer. Not after the years she’d had to put up with his shit. She unlocked the car door with the remote. Jared slipped in front of her, blocking her way.

“Get lost. I’ll swear I’ll call the cops.”