“Ah, I see, we’ve got a problem. You know Drew, don’t you?” William said, pointing toward him.
Francine paled and looked a little aghast.
“Yes, I’ve heard about him.”
“Don’t try to pretend you weren’t fucking him, dear,” William said. The sarcasm in his endearments was clear to hear. “He doesn’t want your rotten pussy, just like I don’t.”
“How dare—”
“You will leave Raven and him alone. Is that understood?” William asked. His voice was dripping with pure hate.
“Why the hell will I do anything you say?”
There was a pause, a brief silence.
William flicked the credit card on the desk. “Okay, you’re right. You shouldn’t listen to me. That will be all.”
“Credit card,” Francine said. “I need one.”
“Excuse me, but no.”
She laughed. “Stop being an ass.”
“I suggest you get one of your bitch friends to buy dinner, and to take you to that spa that costs me a couple of grand for all of you.”
“No!”
William got to his feet. “Why should you do as I say? Because I’m the one that controls what you buy. You think people will look at you the same when I take away your house? The money you spend, none of it is yours.”
“I’ll tell Daddy.”
“Go ahead. He’s got no control over what I do. Think about it, Francine. Money or no money. I don’t care if I live in a trailer. What will it do for you?”
****
“What did she say?” Raven asked.
“Francine caved. Called him a bully, but he’s told her until he knows for certain she’s going to stop, he’s limiting her account, and that he’d canceled the spa date.”
“I bet that didn’t go down well.” She handed him a drink and took a seat beside him. Neither of them could do anything as today she’d gotten her period, and had told him so. She was in pain with the cramps. He pulled her toward him, and started to rub her stomach.
“It didn’t. She’s not going to cause any more trouble for us. I can guarantee it. Money is all she cares about.”
“Money can do a lot of bad things to people, don’t you think?” she asked. “It makes them … different.”
“Yeah, it does. I’m just glad he took care of it.”
“Did you think he wouldn’t?”
“I don’t know. It was a long shot to be honest.”
“I didn’t know you even knew William.”
“Back in high school. We weren’t close, but we were friends. He went away to college with big dreams, and he came back home. Poor fucker had to actually marry her when he’s got a woman and two kids he loves more. Doesn’t even touch her.”
“That’s just … sad. Don’t you think?” she asked.
“Sad, hell yeah.”