I went online, logging into my bank to see if there were any weird purchases. Everything looked normal, but not wanting to take any chances, I called the bank and talked to their customer service about my concern that my account had been compromised. He told me he’d cancel my debit card and send me a new one. Then he recommended that I call my credit card companies to cancel the cards and have new ones sent. That was such a pain in the ass, but it had to be done.
I needed to let Max know. I wanted to call him, but that was just because I wanted to hear his voice. I reminded myself that it wasn't a good idea to keep longing for him. So instead, I sent him a quick text telling him I was concerned that my bank information had been stolen and I wanted to check to make sure his hadn't either. Quick and to the point.
Then I remembered his dyslexia and I wondered if maybe I should call instead. And then I had to think about what if he did call me back or text me back asking why I thought my information was stolen? Should I tell him that the hotel denied sending a car to pick us up? All of this was just too weird. The only thing that made sense was that the driver was telling the truth and whoever I talked to at the hotel either didn't know or didn't want to tell me because I wasn't the guest. That wasn’t what she said, but then again, she knew who I was related to, so perhaps it was safer for her to deny sending a car than to tell me to mind my own business.
I tossed my phone on my desk and rubbed my hands over my face. I was driving myself crazy with all this. It didn't really matter who sent the car or who the driver was. It didn't change the fact that I was married to Max, and as soon as possible, he was going to file to annul our marriage.
CHAPTERNINE
Max
I downloaded the documents for an annulment, of which there were many, and went through them. Eventually, I gave up. My excuse was that I was still tired from jet lag and settling back into my routine. Several days later, the documents were still incomplete on my computer. Reading always took effort, but legal documents were some of the most difficult reading. For one, the print was usually small, and two, legalese always seemed like a bunch of words strung together without much consideration on whether or not they made sense to someone who wasn’t a lawyer. Besides, what was the hurry to fill out the documents? I wouldn’t be able to file them until after Thanksgiving, anyway.
I refocused on my business. It reminded me that I needed to talk to Sam and let him know I was coming out after Thanksgiving. I scheduled a video call for the two of us.
When his face came on the screen, I was relieved to see it wasn’t filled with depression.
“How are things out there in California?” I asked him.
“Looking up.”
I could tell he wanted to be excited about whatever gains he’d made with Kate but was also being cautious. He knew Kate was like a skittish cat, and any little thing might send her running. In Kate’s case, she might scratch him first and then run off.
“I want her to come to Thanksgiving.”
I arched a brow. It seemed like that should be good news, and yet I could still hear the uncertainty in his voice.
“Wouldn’t throwing her into a family gathering across the country be a little too much, too soon?”
“Five years ago, I planned to spend my life with this woman, and she’d never met you, Vivie, or Mom and Dad. Plus, except for her brother, she doesn’t really have a family. At least not like ours. I want her to know what that’s like to have a close-knit, loving family.”
I smirked. “It sounds like you don’t think you’re enough and you need to have your family seal the deal.”
“Fuck you, Max.” But he said it with humor.
I laughed. “So aside from Project Win Kate Back, how are things going on the business front?”
The quick glance away told me that he hadn’t thought much of the whole reason he’d gone out there in the first place, to find and build a club.This is why relationships are a problem. They distract one from the things they need to focus on.
“It’s coming along. You know I had to give up on the club we bought because it was too close to Kate’s.”
You see what I mean? We had bought a club, but now because it upset Kate, we couldn’t build there anymore. I knew it wouldn’t go to waste. We’d find a way to make use of it, but it set us back.
“Do you have other locations?” I asked.
“I’ve got the realtor lining some up.”
I got the feeling he was just saying what I wanted to hear. “I’m planning to come out with you after Thanksgiving and see how things are going.”
His eyes narrowed and darkened. “You don’t trust me?”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Is there some reason that I, as your partner, shouldn’t see what’s going on?”
He stared at me through the video conference as if he was trying to figure out whether I had ulterior motives. I did my best to maintain a serious expression so he wouldn’t figure out why I really needed to come west. Of course, there would be no way for him to know that it was to get an annulment. He didn’t even know I’d been in Las Vegas for an extra two days. I’d planned to tell him, but after everything that happened with Amelia, and now this crazy marriage, I figured I’d go back to the old plan and wait until we finished the club in Los Angeles before starting one in Las Vegas. I recognized the irony in that I was letting a woman dictate my business actions.
“I don’t have any problem with your coming in and checking up on me.”
I rolled my eyes. “All the other clubs we’ve done together side-by-side. I’d just like to be a part of it.”