The problem of getting r.., p.31
The Problem of Getting Rich Quik ... Part One, page 31
part #1 of The problem of getting Rich Quik Series
‘No,’ she lied remembering the DVD cover.
‘You and him!’ Will yelled. ‘You and Richard!’
‘I don’t know why you’re getting upset about it. It’s in the past and this is the first time I’ve set eyes on him in nearly two bloody years.’
She realised he looked totally devastated.
‘This is very complicated,’ he said quietly. ‘I really like Rich.’
‘Richard doesn’t give two shits about me,’ she calmly said. ‘He’s probably happy that you’ve taken me off his hands.’
‘You think?’
‘Look, let’s go home and talk,’ she said walking over to touch his face but he pulled away.
‘Oh my god, dick head, I get it. ‘Dick’ being Richard.’
‘Will!’
‘And Dominic, my so called friend, didn’t say a word.’
‘It wasn’t for him to say so don’t blame Dom,’ she said defensively. ‘He kept telling me to tell you.’
‘I think you should go home, now,’ he said sharply.
‘Are you coming with me?’ She guessed the answer. ‘I love you, that’s all that matters.’
‘I’ll talk to you later,’ he said and walked back in to the building.
Lily stood on the pavement not knowing what to do. She took out her mobile phone and called Dominic.
‘Dom,’ she said very calmly.
‘Hey,’ he said cheerfully. ‘What you up to?’
‘Can I talk?’
‘You are doing so,’ he laughed.
‘This is serious.’
‘What’s wrong?’
‘Will took me to meet the cast and-.’
‘Fuck!’ Dominic said. ‘I take it you saw Richard then?’
‘You knew?’
‘But you did tell Will, didn’t you, about Richard? I told you to do it weeks ago’
‘No.’
‘I told you to.’
‘You mean you knew Richard was working with Will!’
‘Bloody hell Lily, I wish you’d take an interest in what we do for a living because then you wouldn’t land yourself in such deep shit!’
Lily lay on the sofa with her head propped up on a couple of cushions while sipping on a large glass of wine. Dominic walked into the living room holding his mobile phone.
‘He’s not even answering my calls,’ he said before throwing the mobile on to the arm chair. ‘I bet he’s really pissed off with me.’
‘No, he’s just pissed off with me,’ she said. ‘I told him I loved him and he went back in to see Richard.’ Lily shut her eyes feeling her angst. ‘I’m scared I’m going to lose him. I really am.’
‘I like Will,’ Dominic said, picking up Lily’s legs to place them on his lap. ‘I told you to tell him.’
‘You Dominic,’ she said propping herself on her elbow. ‘Knew that Will was working for Richard and never bothered to tell me.’
‘How the fuck could I? You’d have got the arse. Anyway you should’ve told Will sooner? What did your ex dickhead say to you?’
‘Just little snide comments and that I’m not getting a penny off him,’ she shrugged. ‘I hope I never see him again!’
‘If you want closure on the whole thing you have to face Richard and talk it through. Then maybe he could tell Will-.’
‘What!’ she quickly sat up. ‘You want me to go to Richard and ask him to put in a good word about me to Will?’
‘I don’t see you coming up with any better ideas?’ snapped Dominic.
‘I love Will,’ she said painfully.
‘Erm didn’t you say that about Rich?’
‘Shut up Dominic!’ Lily threw a cushion at him. ‘I feel comfortable with Will. With Richard I didn’t know if I was coming or going.’ She noticed Dominic look at her sideways. ‘I’m not talking about sex!’
‘I wonder,’ pondered Dominic. ‘Maybe Richard knew Will was seeing you and wanted him to find out like that.’
‘Why would he do that?’
‘Just to upset you, humiliate Will and get the upper hand.’
‘I don’t care about Rich,’ she said leaning closer to Dominic knowing that wasn’t the actual case. ‘Do you think Will’s going to bin me?’
‘Oh yes, almost a hundred per cent certain.’
Chapter Thirty
Lily stood staring at the display deep in thought. She had cleaned the shop from top to bottom only to alleviate the time waiting for Will. The shop door opened and once again she was disappointed it wasn’t him walking in. He text her to say he was coming but there was no sign. She grabbed her phone and checked to see if he’d rung but there was nothing.
The time had ticked slowly away as Lily shut up shop and felt the despair of being alone in the flat with just her thoughts while Dominic was doing a late shift. Just as she was going to lock the door, Will appeared, standing at the entrance, staring straight at her. Lily couldn’t help but smile only to be met with stony face.
‘Hi,’ she said holding the door open. ‘I’ve been-.’
‘This won’t take long,’ he said avoiding eye contact as he stepped inside the shop.
‘Do you want to come upstairs for-.’
‘We’re finished,’ he said quickly. ‘You and me.’
‘I see,’ she said, knowing even though she expected to hear it, she wasn’t prepared on how the news would react in her gut. There was a moment’s silence as she tried to compose herself. ‘Is it because I’m Richard’s ex-wife?’
‘You’re still his wife,’ Will said looking at her for the first time and she could see the hurt in his eyes. ‘And you didn’t tell me.’
‘I never told you his name because I didn’t think it was important.’
‘You know I really, really admire him.’
‘I’m sorry.’
‘How do you think I felt, turning up with you?’ he said mortified. ‘I’ve betrayed him.’
‘You’ve done nothing wrong.’
‘He’s my boss. I’m sleeping with the boss’s wife, can’t you see how bad that looks?’ he gulped.
‘The relationship is finished and I told you what he was like.’
‘You told me about this man that’s nothing like Richard. You got it all wrong!’ he defended. ‘When I spoke to him about you he-.’
‘You spoke to him about me?’
Lily took a sharp intake of breath.
‘We were talking ages ago and he mentioned how much he missed his wife but he didn’t know where she was. He said he’d treated her badly and wanted to give it a second chance.’
‘Are you sure this was Richard?’ Lily asked in total disbelief and not convinced for one moment the estranged tricky bastard meant it. ‘Are you sure he wasn’t talking about someone else?’
‘It was about you,’ he sighed heavily. ‘Richard being your husband changes everything Lily, can’t you see that?’
‘It doesn’t change the way I feel about you. I love you.’
‘You see, I don’t feel the same way,’ he said turning to go to the door.
‘Oh,’ is all she could muster
‘It was a fling that got out of hand.’ Lily stood there unable to speak for a moment letting the devastating news take full effect as big fat tears rolled down her face. ‘Goodbye Lily,’ he said and walked out of the shop gently closing the door without looking back.
Chapter Thirty One
Strolling with her shopping bags down the road, Lily stopped in the park to take in the early morning sunshine before heading back to the shop to prepare gifts for an order. She stared at the sky then looked at the grass and thought of Will. The pain of what he said to her a week before still very close to the surface. She closed her eyes for a second, holding back the tears of disappointment before standing up.
Lily walked across the green then noticed a black car parked outside the shop. She nearly fell backwards when she saw Rosana get out and look straight at her.
‘Early morning bargains?’ she cheerfully said walking up to her.
‘I’d like to say I’m pleased to see you but that would be pushing it,’ Lily replied stopping.
‘Nice shop,’ she said turning up her nose.
‘What do you want?’
‘Always straight to the point,’ Rosana said. ‘Richard wants to see you.’
‘Tell him to talk to my solicitor.’
‘He’s asked me to ask you to come to the office this afternoon.’
‘No!’ Lily replied and walked passed Rosana who followed.
‘You do want the divorce don’t you?’ Lily turned on her heels and glared at Rosana. ‘He wants a quick chat.’
‘I do have a business to run. Tell him to email me or better still send a recording of it on DVD.’
Lily smirked at Rosana who shook her head.
‘Can’t you get someone to cover for you? You’re the owner, aren’t you?’
‘Dominic and I are partners,’ Lily replied and watched Rosana’s smile flicker.
‘Partners?’ Rosana asked alarmed.
‘Business partners and we live together.’
Lily could see her old adversary was getting annoyed
‘Would four be okay?’ Rosana said, clearing her throat.
‘Do I really have a choice Rosana?’
‘To be honest, no.’
Heading towards the building Lily felt a sense of doom as she stopped outside. Taking a deep breath she walked in and headed towards the large doors.
Everything had changed. He’d taken over the whole of the building. There was an actual reception desk on the ground floor manned by two very pretty women. The area had been redecorated and there were more people walking around. Lily walked towards the desk and smiled at a beautiful Ethiopian girl.
‘Hello I’ve got an appointment to see Richard Hayden-Quik,’ she said, feeling her heart racing as she clutched her briefcase.
‘May I take your name?’
‘Yes it’s Lily.’
‘Your surname please? We need it for security tags,’ she said typing something on the keyboard.
‘Warner,’ she replied.
‘Please take a seat,’ she said handing her a badge and talking into her head piece. ‘I’ve got Lily Warner to see Mr Hayden-Quik.’
Lily sat down, fixing the badge on her top, and watched the people walk passed then recognised the feet coming towards her and stood up.
‘I’m here for my slapping down even though he’s done that enough to me in the past,’ she said to Rosana then noticed the confused expression on the receptionist’s face.
‘Richard’s office is now on the top floor. Follow me,’ said Rosana turning around and walking towards the lift. She stopped to glance at Lily. ‘Worried?’
‘No,’ Lily lied. ‘I’m going to get this over and done with as quickly as possible and then you won’t have to see me again.’
‘We can all but pray,’ she sighed.
As the doors opened a man walked passed with a large cardboard cut-out of the billboard she’d seen advertising Richard’s film, the beautiful woman he’d shagged. Something stabbed at Lily as she walked into the lift.
They stood side by side.
‘I don’t hate you,’ Rosana said, not looking at her. ‘I think you were a little naïve when it came to Richard. I wasn’t proud about coming into your home and taking his belongings.’
‘You could’ve fooled me,’ Lily replied willing the lift to crash to the ground floor just to avoid speaking to him again.
‘I know how it feels when someone you care about doesn’t want to know. I empathise with unrequited love,’ she said turning away.
‘And there was me thinking you thought it was all bollocks. I was an idiot, you’ve always been right about that,’ she said looking down. ‘Richard hurt me but I won’t let him get the better of me again.’
‘Tell me about Will Hutton,’ Rosana said glancing at her. ‘That, once again, wasn’t one of your brightest choices, was it?’
‘I didn’t know he was working for Richard,’ she snapped feeling an incredible sharp pain. ‘And leave Will out of this.’
‘Oh, I’ve touched a nerve,’ Rosana smirked. ‘And it never occurred to you that sleeping with a toy boy would-.’
‘He’s not a toy boy! He’s nearly twenty nine for goodness sake! And I don’t see what difference that makes anyway! It is the twenty first century, isn’t it?’
‘You don’t think sleeping with the leading man in a film your husband is directing and producing makes any difference?’ Rosana looked at Lily in a way that only a mother could do to scold a child. ‘You really are the thickest-?’
‘Why don’t you shove it up your-.’
‘Here we are,’ Rosana laughed at Lily’s distress as the lift doors opened.
The floor wasn’t as noisy as the reception area but it was very swish. She followed Rosana down the corridor and her heart felt like it was in her mouth. Lily stopped and Rosana did a double take.
‘Are you alright?’ she asked touching Lily’s arm momentarily before pulling her hand away as if she’d picked up an infection.
‘I can’t face him,’ she said feeling the fear grasp her.
‘You’re a strong woman.’ Lily looked at Rosana who was inches away from her face and realised she was being sincere. ‘But not the best judge of character.’
‘Thanks for that,’ Lily said trying not to smile. ‘You’re a female version of Dominic, you know that?’
‘Thanks,’ Rosana said chuffed.
‘Is Rich going to give me hell?’
‘For once,’ Rosana said walking passed her, pushing open the door. ‘I have no idea what he’s up to.’
‘If I’m not out in fifteen, call the police,’ Lily said earnestly, feeling a sense of doom as she entered the office.
Richard was standing, arms folded, by the window glaring at her as her stomach knotted. She felt a mix of hate and love at that precise moment, not knowing whether to kiss or kick him. There was music in the background and she frowned on hearing what he was playing.
‘Shut the door,’ he said without a flicker of a smile. ‘Take a seat.’
‘It’s Stevie Wonder,’ she said accusingly.
‘I can play what I like,’ he said flatly. ‘It’s my office.’
‘You know I like him.’
‘I wanted you to feel less nervous,’ he shrugged.
‘And you know it’s a record we’ve-,’ she hesitated for a moment.
‘We made love while listening to this several times and, no doubt, you’ve used it as a background tune when you were dropping your knickers for William Hutton,’ Richard said bluntly.
‘Let’s get this over and done with.’
Lily looked around the room and noticed a table with four chairs. She headed straight for it and sat down as Richard stood still. Placing her handbag on the table and the case by her feet, she waited for him to speak. Eventually he walked towards her and sat in the chair opposite, slamming a file on the table making Lily jump.
‘You wanted to see me,’ she said and noticed the handsome bastard was glaring at her. ‘What do you want to talk about?’
‘This,’ he said throwing the file towards her.
Lily saw her solicitor’s headed paper.
‘Have you read it?’ she asked glancing up at him.
‘You know, not so long ago, I find out my lead man is sleeping with my wife then yesterday I received this from my solicitor outlining your demands. Funny don’t you think?’ he said sitting back in his chair.
‘Hysterical,’ she replied trying not to look at him. ‘I told you the papers were being sent to you.’
‘And how much money are you asking for?’
‘Everything is open for discussion. If you don’t agree with-.’
‘You’re doing this to piss me off!’
‘How do you figure that out?’ she said irritated by his arsey behaviour.
‘You want to hurt me through my wallet, don’t you?’ Richard leaned forward. ‘Your solicitor’s saying you’re entitled to part of my earnings since the day we got married.’
‘Do you know that date by any chance?’ Lily stared back at him as his eyes narrowed. ‘Second of March ring any bells? And the fifth of March the following year when you finished the marriage. Who was in your bed when I called you up that day?’
‘That was unfortunate,’ he said apologetically. ‘I never meant to-.’
‘Hurt me?’ Lily said aghast and started to get angry. ‘What did you think it’d do? Make me break out into song?’
‘With your voice I hope not.’
‘At least I know the words to songs instead of humming along,’ she snapped. ‘And what has Stella done to upset the highly strung director other than to make it fair to me?’
‘She wants part of my earnings to cover the time we weren’t even together and up to the moment we get a divorce.’
Richard glared at her.
‘The quicker we get divorced the better, don’t you think?’ Lily flashed him a fake smile and could see he was wound up. ‘I never took you down for being a skin flint.’
‘And you’re not getting a penny,’ he grinned back.
‘Let’s go to court and thrash it out then!’ she said standing up. ‘You put together the pre-nuptial agreement so surely when you planned for the marriage to end you knew what would happen? It’s not as if I’m taking half is it? Just twenty five per cent since we got married as per your specification.’
‘I never took you down for a material girl,’ he said standing up. ‘But I don’t think this is about money is it?’
‘What is it then?’
‘Will,’ he whispered. ‘William Hutton?’
‘Leave him out of this!’ She grabbed her bag and case. ‘He’s got nothing to do with what’s going on with us.’
‘It’s just a coincidence you and Will? What do you take me for?’
‘For your information,’ she calmly said. ‘Will and I are no longer together!’
Lily slammed her case on the table. She stood up straight and watched Richard look down at the floor before glancing up at her. There was a sense of trouble brewing.
‘I see,’ he replied with pursed lips.
