Leila gazed at her friend wearily as she walked around the room agitated. She wasn’t going to call her out of it and she wasn’t going to try to reassure her. Her mind had been made up.
“So…..” Jackie said, coming to a halt. “You still insist on letting him move in?”
Leila hesitated. She knew Jackie would be livid. She knew she’d never understand. But there was no need trying to lie. Jackie would figure it out soon enough. “Yeah.” She responded mildly, dreading what her friend would say. She was not however ready for the rage that swept Jackie’s face.
“You’re letting him move in??!!”
“You don’t understand Jackie-”
“After all the signs he’s shown? Girl, that man is a red flag on legs. How can’t you see that?”
“ I’m sure of this one. He’s different.” Leila said quietly.
“Have you always been this dumb, or am I just noticing?”
Leila winced at the bite in her friend’s words. Jackie was her best friend and she’d never raised her voice at her, talk less of insulting her. And she’d done both today.
She looked at Jackie who was already grabbing her purse to leave. “ You’re wrong about him.” Jackie paused with her hand on the doorknob. “I hope with all my heart that I am.” And then she went out the door, shutting it with a note of finality.
As Leila drove back home from the cabin that she used when she hung out with friends, she thought of her life before Spencer. She wasn’t surprised that her family and best friend were not happy with her choice and for good reason too. She had a knack for going after toxic men. Men wanted her, not because they loved her but because of the Bancroft name.
Stephen Bancroft, the former CEO and her grandfather had recently retired and installed her as CEO to the family's pride. Bancroft Enterprises had been in the family for generations and now, it was her turn. But somehow, no matter how much she tried to keep it secret, the men she dated usually found out and from then on things would be different. Their insistence that she pay the bills when they went on dates, more and more expensive family ‘emergencies’ would come up and she’d be asked to support. “After all, money is not your problem.” They would so eloquently say.
After her last relationship where she barely escaped being massively defrauded, she decided to stop relationships for the meantime and got into therapy. During one of her therapy sessions, she ran into Spencer who turns out was also coming for therapy with another doctor. She was wary at first but he proved to be such a wonderful person. Helping her with her issues and being there for her. There was no way she couldn’t have fallen for him. And she’d even asked him if he knew Bancroft Enterprises and he replied in the negative. It was a double delight to her.
And soon enough, they started dating and Spencer treated her like a princess. He bought her gifts, cooked for her and even gave intelligent inputs when she asked something business-wise that was bothering her. And even when he found out she was and how much she was worth, he didn’t change. The gifts and princess treatment kept coming, even more than ever. She couldn’t tell her friend that he’d already moved in long ago. She wouldn’t understand.
So, it was with a smile on her face as she drove in through the automatic gate to her two-storey house. She got out of the car and walked inside. That’s strange, she was sure she’d locked the door when she left home that morning. Taking a look around, she screamed. Someone had gotten into her house. The painting that her been worth hundreds of thousands of dollars was gone. She noticed that other really valuable items were gone too. It’s as if the thief knew what to pick. It was broad daylight. Who could have done this??
With a sinking feeling, she dialled Spencer’s number with trembling fingers. After five rings he picked.
“Hey L, how’s it going?” he shouted. The noise in the background told her that he was at a club.
“Someone robbed the house.”
“Yeah, that would be me,” Spencer replied, casually. “Figured you didn’t need all that junk anyway.”
“How could you Spencer? I trusted you.”
“Now now, don’t be so sore.” He cooked. “Reserve that for when you get to the bank.”
“What does that mean?” Leila asked, struggling to breathe.
“Let’s just say your account is just a few millions lighter.” Spencer chuckled. “Anyways, it was nice while it lasted. You’re a good sport. Toodles.” Spencer concluded and the line disconnected.
Leila slipped to the floor, clutching her heart and just stayed there for hours. She couldn’t bring herself to shed a tear at her foolishness. She was numb. She’d made a mess of her life and she deserved it. Picking herself from the floor, she went back into her car and drove off.
This is my submission to The Inkwell Fiction Prompt. All Rights Reserved. Copyright©️ Jhymi || 2023
