Bzzz. Bzzz. Bzzz.
My phone is vibrating on my nightstand. I try to ignore it and go back to sleep. Just as I am thankful that the call ends, the phone begins to ring again. Groaning, I reach for it and pick it up in hopes of it not disturbing Rupert. “Hello?” I croak.
“Come here,” Sierra whispers on the other end.
“Si? What are you doing? It’s the middle of the night…”
“Come here! We need to talk!” she whisper-yells at me before hanging up.
I look at the time to find it’s five in the morning. What in the hell could possibly be going on at this hour? Dragging myself from bed, I slide on a pair of sweatpants and a big t-shirt before heading for the door. I spare a glance in Ru’s direction, ensuring he’s still asleep before I head outside.
As soon as I open the door, I’m face to face with Sierra. She grabs my wrist and pulls me into the living room. “Why aren’t you asleep?”
“Will you shut up and look at this?” Sierra speaks rapidly before jutting her cell phone in my face.
I blink and adjust my eyes before reading the email she has pulled up.
TO: BLUE HEN STABLES
FROM: ALLEGIANCE AUTO
SUBJECT: ALERT- Claim Made Against Your Policy
Dear Customer,
In the past twenty-four hours, we have received a claim against your policy. It is being claimed that your CHEVY PICKUP TRUCK has been involved in an incident with a BUGGATI owned by RUPERT LEE.
Your account is under investigation. Until a settlement is reached, your payments will remain the same. Once the claim has been processed, your monthly rates will reflect the changes. As it stands, the damages are reported to total: $10,584.
We will keep you informed. Please respond with any relevant documentation…
“What the fuck!” I exclaim. I look to Sierra with wild eyes. “This has… This has to be some sort of mistake. I mean, Ru didn’t file a claim. He never even took my insurance information. And there’s no way that a front bumper and headlight costs nearly eleven-thousand dollars? Right?”
Sierra shrugs and throws her hands up. “I don’t know! If you open the attachment, they are claiming that the accident resulted in way more damages than that.”
I shake my head defiantly. “He didn’t do this. I know it…”
“Do you?” Sierra questions, folding her arms. “Because there’s no mention of anyone else on this. The only names on here are ours and his.”
She’s right and I don’t want her to be. Everything is hitting me all at once and to my own surprise, it’s anger that’s bubbling to the surface. I’m not someone who gets angry easily, and I honestly couldn’t tell you the last time I got worked up about something. I feel so betrayed, so used and lied to…
I’m stomping toward my room, my heart beating in my ears. Flipping on the light, I pick up his clothes and hurl them in his direction. “Get the fuck out of my house!” I shout.
He’s startled awake and sitting up, his eyes blinking rapidly to adjust to the light. “What… What’s going on?”
“You made a claim against us when you promised me you wouldn’t!” I tell him. “After I told you how much it would hurt us. After I told you everything about our business, about my past… And you don’t even bother to give me a heads up? And for more damages than I actually caused? What kind of asshole does this?”
“Luce, it’s not like that at all—”
“Then what is it like, Rupert?” I snap at him. “Because from where I’m standing, all you’ve done is toy with me while you tried to collect some cash. Was it your plan to romance me so that I wouldn’t be upset when I found out you’re trying to get more on your fucking Bugatti fixed than your headlight? That I would just gladly eat the claim because I can’t afford a lawyer and you’re just soo handsome?”
Rupert stands, fumbling to pull on his boxer briefs before hurrying over to me. He tries to grab my hands but I yank them away from him. “It’s not like that,” he pleads. “I swear to you that I didn’t make the claim and I’ll do everything I can to clear it up.”
“Who would have possibly made the claim then? Who?” I huff.
His eyes search around, as though the person would be standing here in the room with us. His brow then creases and his mouth drops. “My nephew…”
“Don’t blame—”
He holds a hand up to silence me so he can finish his thought. “I don’t know why or what is going on… But he’s been acting weird lately. Please. Let me just look into this. I wouldn’t lie to you, Luce. I swear.”
“How am I supposed to believe you?” I ask earnestly, though my anger was already faltering. Anger is a secondary emotion, and it’s giving way to hurt. I’ve opened myself up to him and it feels as though it’s been used against me.