A company whose revenue had paid for this house outright.
A company that had also quietly financed Richard’s medical education and later helped him secure the operating credit line for the private clinic he had opened three years ago, the clinic that had not yet turned a profit.
Not once.
The Phone in My Pocket
I moved back toward the kitchen counter and rested my hands against the cool marble surface.
“Richard’s clinic must be doing very well by now,” I said.
Alexis made a small dismissive sound.
“Honestly, between us,” she said, lowering her voice slightly as if sharing a confidence, “it’s struggling. But that’s because Richard is too generous. He needs someone who pushes him to be stronger. His wife probably holds him back.”
She smiled knowingly.
“I bet she uses her little paycheck to cover the bills while he tries to get things going.”
I reached into my pocket and unlocked my phone without making a show of it.
I sent Richard a message.
I told him there was an emergency at the house.
Specifically, I mentioned that something had happened in his clinic office.
He replied in under a minute.
He would be home in fifteen minutes.
I set the phone on the counter and returned to the living room.
“Richard is on his way,” I told her.
Her face lit up.
“Finally,” she said. “I’ve been wanting to surprise him. We’re going to Cabo next week. I already booked the villa.”
“That sounds expensive,” I said.
She laughed lightly.
“Richard is handling it. A real man always takes care of things.”
She then mentioned the birthday necklace he had purchased for her six months earlier.
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