"This one, that one, and the pink one too." Paisley pointed lazily at a few handbags as the sales assistant rushed to take them down.
"Ma'am, would you like me to wrap these up for you?"
"Nope, just leave these out. Wrap up all the rest and send them to Rosepine Estate, No. 85."
"W-Wait, ma'am, are you serious?"
The assistant's face was full of disbelief. In response, Paisley pulled out a black credit card and handed it over. It was a limited edition worldwide, a secondary card Clive had given her on the second day of their marriage. The main card, of course, was still with him.
She used to think she was above all this. Never touched the card in her past life. But now? No need to play nice anymore.
According to the info she dug up, Clive couldn't stand gold-digging women. So hey, maybe this was her shot. Right now he was stuck in his sweet little fairy-tale romance with his one true love, so if she went all-in as the "material girl" and even hung out with other guys, maybe, just maybe, he'd snap and file for divorce.
Lucas, who had been tagging along beside her, gave her a thumbs up. "You're in a league of your own when it comes to spending money. Other women can't even compete."
Paisley raised an eyebrow. "Jealous much?"
Lucas chuckled, shaking his head. He knew exactly what she was scheming. After all, Paisley's secrets weren't really secrets to him - he had full access.
"You're really that eager to split with Clive?" he asked.
Damn right.
She had to get out of this marriage. Who knew if Clive would one day try to swallow Hughes Group whole? She needed to cut ties ASAP and take over from her grandfather.
"Quit nagging. I'm already annoyed. Just get moving on the stuff I asked - Ethan's company accounts. Don't slack."
"Relax, when have I ever messed up a job you gave me? So, what's next on your evil genius list?" Lucas was dying to know what she had in mind, family drama and all.
"Time to take off the mask. Didn't the guy say he hated jealous, overdramatic women? I'm gonna make a scene, go full drama queen, cry, scream, threaten - everything. Divorce, here I come."
*****
Back at the office, Clive was in the middle of a meeting when his phone buzzed with a credit card alert. He glanced down at the number and blinked.
Uh... what did his wife just buy?
It's not like he cared about the money. But that kind of shopping spree? Totally out of character for Paisley.
The meeting was about this year's new investment projects. Tiffany Evans came over and handed him a cup of blue mountain coffee, trying to keep him alert.
Just as things heated up, a sudden ringtone cut through the serious atmosphere.
Everyone fell dead silent.
Clive picked up. The voice on the other end? Cold. Sharp. All edge.
"Clive Harrington, get home. Now."
She used his full name - with the kind of tone that made grown men want to vanish.
"I'm in a meeting," Clive explained, oddly calm, a small smirk tugging at his lips.
"Did I stutter? I said now." Paisley doubled down, taking unreasonable to a whole new level.
"Fine. Wait for me." Clive ended the call, paused the meeting, and told his assistant to arrange for a ride home - leaving a room full of execs too afraid to even breathe.
