ADRIANSPOV.
Yes,amsupposedtogoonadatewithDoratomorrow,IsaidtoJamesonthephoneasIpouredmyselfaglassofwhiskey.
Whataboutwork?Therearesomeclientsyouneedtospeaktopersonally.Jamesrepliedonthephone.
IwalkedovertomylibraryandwasabouttotakeaseatwhenIheardmy Whocouldthatbe? Illcallyoubackinafewminutes,Isaiddroppingmyphoneonthetable.
Iwalkedovertothedoorandopenedit.
Shoppingbagswereeverywhere.
Ifurrowedmybrows,whatwasthis? doorbell.
CanIhelpyou?Iaskedthedeliverymanstandingthere,lookingalmostbored.
AreyouAdrianWestwood?themanasked,flippingthroughadeliverylist.
Yes.
Iwasaskedtodeliver theseheretoyourhouse,hesaidcasually.

Tomyhouse,whocouldhavesentthis? Iarchedaneyebrow.Who? Thedeliveryguypulledoutaslipfromhisbackpocket,quicklyskimmingitbeforereadingthenameoutloud.
Umm…OliviaWestwood.
Huh? Iopenedtheshoppingbagsslightlyandsawdifferentthings,qualitybrandedbags,qualitydesignershoes,qualitydresseslotsofthem.
Pleasesignhere.Thedeliveryguysaidwhilehandingmeapieceofpaperandapen signed,stilltakingintheridiculousamountofbagssurroundingme.
Theguyleft,andIcalledmy/maidstobringeverythinginside.ItwasntlikeIwasgoing.todealwiththisnonsensemyself.
Oncetheyclearedeverything,Iheadedbacktomylibrary,butbeforeIcouldevensitdown,myphonebuzzed.
Ipickeditup,andwhatIsawmademyentirebodygostill.
Adebitalert.$76,000waswithdrawnfrommyaccount.
Wasthisrightordid theymakeamistake? 1/3 CHAPTERME Iimmediatelycalledmyaccountofficersnumber.
Janet,Ijust gotadebitalertfrommyaccount.Idontremembermakinganytransactionslikethis.Whatsgoingon? Justgivemeamoment,sir,shesaid,clickingawayonherkeyboard.
Afewsecondslater,sheresponded,Okay,sir.Yourhistoryshowsthatyourlasttransaction of$76,000wasspentataGuccistoreon123MainSt.

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Huh? Iwentbacktothelivingroomtochecktheshoppingbagsthatweredelivered ThebagshadtheGuccisignonthem SothiswasOliviadoing? IletoutasighasIrealizedIwastheidiotwhohadntchangedmycreditcardpassword.
Itsfine.Imawareofthetransaction,Isaidcurtly.
Alright,sir,JanetsaidbeforeIendedthecall.
Ileanedonthesofatakingalookatalltheitems,whenshetoldmeshewasgoingshoppingIthoughtshewasgoingtouseherownmoney.
vehertherighttousemymoney? nospends76thousanddollarsonbagsandshoesforcryingoutloud? sawoneofthe carspullingupandknewthatwasOlivia.
And shehadalotofexplainingtodo Thefrontdoorcreakedopen,andOliviastrolledin.Shebarelyglancedinmydirectionandwasabouttoheadupstairs whenIcalledhername.
Olivia,Isaid,mytonesharp.
Whatisthis? Sheturned,lookingcompletelyunbothered.Iwentshopping.
Withmymoney?Iasked,myvoicecoldernow.
Shetiltedher headslightlyandcrossedherarms.Well,Imunderyour roof.WhoelsesmoneywouldIuse? Myfingersclenchedaround thewhiskeyglassinmyhand.Andwhatsthatsupposedtomean? ItmeansexactlywhatIsaid.Sheshrugged.Youdontwantmetowork,youdontwantmetostartmyownbusiness,soIlluseyourmoney.
Ashortlaughescapedmylips.LetssayIdidallowyoutogetajobdoyouthink youcouldbuyallthiswitha9to5salary?Igesturedtowardthemountain ofshoppingbags.

WhatIwassayingwasthetruth,allthishereisbasicallysomeonesyearlysalaryand 2/3 CHAPTER018 shejustspentitinoneday.
Sherolledhereyes.Well,obviouslyno,butyouhavemorethanenough.
Idontknowwhatthisfussisabout,itsnot likeIdentedyourbankaccountorsomething,Oliviaadded.
Whywasshespeakingthisway,didshehaveachangeofpersonalityordidshehitherhead? ItslikeIbroughtbackanewperson,theOliviaIknewafewmonthsagowascalmandhumblesowhatsthis? No,you didntbutkeepthisupeverydayandyoumight,Isaid Illkeepthatinmind.Shesaid.
Iinhaledsharply,tryingtocontainmyirritation.Yourestillnotgettingmypoint,Olivia.Thiswasrecklessspending.Youcanbuyadamnhousewithallthis.
Shemetmygazewithouthesitation.Iknow.
Mypatiencethinned.Youknow?Andyoustillwentaheadanddidit? thispastfewdaysyouhavebeengettingundermyskinalot,Iadded Isawasmallsmileappearonherface,andsomethingaboutitmademepause.Wasshedoingthisonpurpose? Youstartedthiswhenyouforcedmebackhere,sogetusedtoit,shesaidbluntly.Then,withoutwaitingforareply,sheturnedandwalkedaway.
Istoodthere,watchingher disappearupstairs,myjawtightening.
Somethingwasntright.ThiswasntOlivia.
Oliviawasneverthe kindthat likedmaterialthings,shelikedkeepingalowprofile,sowhythesuddenlovefordesignerbagsandshoes Isatbackonthecouch,mymind racing.Wasthisherwayofretaliating?Wasshe-testingme? Orworse…Wassomeoneinfluencingher? ShedoesnthaveanyfemalefriendsIknowof Iexhaledslowly,rubbingmytemples.Ineededtokeepaclosereyeonher.Because whatevershewasplanning,shewasntgoingtowin.
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