AllFreeNovel
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I take a second to finish my task before glancing up to face my ex-wife. She’s wearing painted on jeans, heels, and a sweater that leaves little to the imagination. Basically, she looks like she stepped out of the changing room at a high-end boutique, not working at a small-town hardware store.
Leaning back in my chair, I run my hand through my hair. “Need more what?”
“Money. On my check.”
“Not happening. You already make more than you should,” I tell her, returning my hands to the keyboard and starting the process of printing the payroll.
“I need it, Logie,” she whines, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Before I even know what’s happening, she’s walking around my desk and practically throwing herself across my body.
“What for?” I ask, trying to push her off without hurting her. “Get off.”
“You’ll have to help with that,” she sings in that overly seductive way I used to find sexy. Now, I want nothing to do with it.
Or her.
“Not happening,” I state when she’s off my lap. “And neither is a raise.”
“But…I own the business.”
“You’re part owner of the business, but that doesn’t mean you can just take whatever you want. You’re already making way more than necessary, Shay.”
“I don’t understand you. Just write another check.”
Sighing, I rub the spot at my temple that’s beginning to throb. “That’s not how this works. You get a salary, yes, but that doesn’t mean you have access to the business’s money whenever you want it. After taxes are done and the year-end complete, you’ll get a portion of the profit sharing, like always.” The majority of any profit goes back into the business for maintenance or upgrades, but we do contribute a small portion to Shay and me as owners, as well as part of the bonus structure for our employees.
“Well, I need it now.”
“No,” I tell her pointedly, returning my attention to the computer screen.
“You don’t make the rules! I’m your equal,” she insists, stomping her high-heeled foot like a pouty child.
“Not true,” I say, sitting back in my chair once more. “I do all the clerical work and still work the floor. You show up whenever you feel like it and don’t even pretend to work. We are not equal, Shay. And you’re not getting more money. This business is small. We don’t make millions. If you need more money, go find another job.”
As expected, my insistence and use of the J-word has her in a tizzy in point-five seconds flat. The truth is, Shay hasn’t worked a real job a day in her life. When she graduated high school, she jetted off to New York for her modeling career. When she slept with the wrong person and was shunned in the modeling world, she came running back to her hometown. She bounced from boyfriend to boyfriend, sucking and bleeding them dry for everything she could.
Then, she turned her sights on me.
I’m still dealing with the consequences of my stupidity all those years ago.
“I can’t believe you won’t give me money.”
“I can’t believe you’re even asking. I’m not a bank,” I tell her, continuing to stand my ground and refusing to let her manipulate me or the situation.
“You’re the worst,” she pouts, crossing her arms over her chest and tapping her foot on the floor.
“The feeling’s mutual,” I inform her, returning my attention to my computer so I can get this finished.
“I feel bad for Hallie.”
That grabs my attention real quick. “Leave Hallie out of this.”
She tightens her arms over her chest, practically forcing her boobs out of her sweater. She’s about a quarter of an inch from a nip-slip, and that’s the last thing I want for myself or anyone else here. “Does she know what kind of controlling man you are?”
My eyes narrow. Being controlling is the furthest from the truth. I let a lot slide throughout our short marriage, and it wasn’t until I started putting my foot down and stopped letting her control the entire relationship, when things really blew up for me. But I was never an equal. It was her way or the highway, and as soon as I started standing up for myself, she was done.
“Get out,” I state.
“Fine, but she’ll learn how you really are sooner or later, and when she does, I’ll be there telling everyone I told you so.”
