Chapter 485

The Retreat

Diana didn’t have a chance to talk privately with Kei during breakfast, but the young architect’s face showed the stress despite the smile she tried to keep up. Kei participated in cleanup, and Diana didn’t dissuade her from it. The architect had been given an office at the Retreat long before, and she had stocked it with the equipment she needed other than what Jeff and Diana had already installed for her. After the confrontation with her husband, Kei had brought several days’ worth of clothing with her, intending to stay away from Edi as much as possible.

Not long after Kei entered her Retreat office, the phone rang, and her husband informed her that she would be served with divorce papers in a couple of days. He had insisted that she sign the papers immediately, have them notarized and sent back to his lawyer, saying he wanted to get the marriage over with as soon as possible. Kei sat openmouthed for a moment, then ended the connection without speaking. Seconds later, coincidentally, Diana knocked on Kei’s office door.

When the architect opened the door for the Clan Queen, Diana took one look at the young woman’s face and grabbed her in a hug. “What’s happened?” she whispered in Kei’s ear.

“When that bastard called, he told me that he is divorcing me and expects me to pay him upkeep – fifty percent of my net income for the next ten years. He said he would be sending the papers here and wanted me to sign them and return them to his lawyer immediately.”

Diana managed to catch herself before grinning. She had never heard Kei say anything even the least bit off color, let alone express so much vehemence. But before the Clan Queen could comment, Kei went on. “I started my business and worked seven days per week in order to pay off my loans and achieve some small amount of success. Yet, I did not forsake my husband. I never told him no, no matter how tired I was.” Then in tones far harsher than was normal for her, “All he has ever done is spend the money I have made. He drives a new Corvette with – how do you say it – all the balls and whistles.”

Diana fought back a grin at the misquote.

Kei’s very precise speech, usually free of contractions, became even more stilted in her emotional state. “I drive a three-year-old Toyota,” she continued. With a big sniff, she dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. “I became suspicious when he insisted on his coming back from Midville long before I had completed my work there. Now, I know why. And when he refused sex, I knew that my suspicions were well founded, but I still continued to try.”

“Damn him,” she hissed out as the tears returned in earnest. “That bastard has always insisted that I suck his little penis, then, half the time, he just rolls over and goes to sleep. Well, he used to. Now, he does not want me at all. But ... if he doesn’t want me, he isn’t going to have my monetary support, either.”

Diana, at first, thought that the petite and very pretty little woman was going to stamp her foot, but after wiping her eyes and blowing her nose, she went on, though no less forcefully. “More and more, he wanted to continue the old ways. ‘Man is ruler of the household. Woman obeys unquestioningly.’ Well, I am not of the old ways,” she insisted. “I made that abundantly clear to him when he begged me to marry him. I should have listened to my mother, but I was stupid and agreed to his proposal.

“At first, he seemed to be loving and kind, and I thought we had a great marriage – mostly – but even then, I had forebodings because his father continued to treat me as if I existed only to serve his son. Over time, Edi has fully returned to the old ways – the ways of his father. The ways that I told him from the beginning that I abhorred. But ... I eventually allowed much of this to happen because I had promised to be a good wife and I took my marriage vows seriously. I turned – how do you say it?”

“A blind eye?” Diana suggested.

“Yes, that is the expression. I turned a blind eye when he had mysterious meetings that he was required to attend – meetings that lasted well into the night or all weekend. But having sex with that ... that tramp in my own office is just too much. I will not be embarrassed any longer. Furthermore, I refuse to support his laziness. In a way, I feel sorry for Akane, but she is apparently stupid enough to fall for him. Of course, so did I.” Kei did stamp her foot that time. “Mrs. Matthews, I am in need of an attorney.”

“Since when have I become Mrs. Matthews?” the Clan Queen asked as she hugged Kei to her. “I’m still Diana or Di, and you’re home as far as we are concerned. As we have told you before, the suite and office are yours as long as you want them. As far as a lawyer is concerned, I’ll get in touch with Frank. He’ll know who you need for an attorney. If it’s any consolation to you, my husband never really liked Edi. I had to put my foot down, or he would be in jail for kicking Edi’s ass after what you told us yesterday. Jeff is really pissed. If Edi hits you again, Jeff will do some major damage to him. I don’t want that to happen, because I don’t want my husband in jail.”

Kei sniffed and blew her nose again, her eyes red from crying. “I owe you and your family a lot. I will have to thank all of them, you, and your husband in particular.” She took a deep breath as she tried to calm herself. “Edi knows where I am and he said I would be served with divorce papers here. Should I call him back and insist that...”

“Certainly not. You’re living here now, so the papers should come here. I’ll tell the guards to allow the server access.”

“Thank you. I would prefer to get this over with. I am not going to sign anything until I speak with a lawyer, and I am certainly not going to give Edi fifty percent of my income for ten years. That is not going to happen.” Then an evil grin lit her face. “That Corvette he is so proud of is in my name and I have a set of keys. He was busy admiring his new car while I was paying for the vehicle, so all the paperwork is in my name, the tags as well. He can have the house he had to have for status, and the payments that go with it. Once I acquire my clothing and a few personal possessions, he may have the rest. Our association is at an end.”

Kei had been pacing while she was talking. She spun to face Diana. “Might I impose on you to have someone give me a ride to my, uh, previous home? I will take what will fit in the Corvette, and find a hotel. It is not right for me to impose my troubles on you.”

“Not going to happen.” Diana broke in to say. “You have an office and a suite here. Add to them as you see fit. We’ve already discussed this, so don’t start talking about hotel rooms. If you feel that he might harm you...”

Kei unbuttoned several buttons on her blouse and pulled it over her left shoulder to show Diana a big bruise on her upper arm. “I have like bruises on my side and back. He makes sure to hit me where the results do not show if I am dressed.”

“Crap, Kei,” Diana stormed. “Why did you put up with that?”

“I ... I guess I always thought that some of it was my fault. The neighbors have called the police twice. I understood that he felt humiliated because of my success and his lack of it. But ... I will not stand for his blatant taking of a woman in my office. A client could have walked in and seen them just as I did. He has gone too far this time.”

“So, you didn’t push it when the police came?”

“A female officer took pictures once, but I would not allow her to do so the second time. And ... I never went to the place she indicated to sign a warrant for his prosecution. They arrested him the first time, and he spent the night in jail. They said it was the law. They threatened to arrest him the second time, but since I would not show the officer where he hit me, they said that they did not have proper cause to arrest him.”

Diana frowned. “You should have shown them. Protecting him did no good in the end, did it?”

“I suppose not,” Kei returned with a sigh.

Then, after a second of contemplation, Diana continued. “I’ll get in touch with Sheriff Tate. I’m sure he’ll be glad to assign a deputy to escort you while you get your personal property out of the house.”

“I would appreciate that. I am, indeed, afraid that he will seriously hurt me when he finds out I am taking what he considers to be his vehicle.”

“Do you have the title to the Corvette? The deputy might not let you have it unless you do.”

“It is in my office safe. The tag is in my name, but I will do as you suggest and have the title in my possession before I meet the deputy.”

“You’ll never get your things in that Corvette, so Jeff and I will bring an Escalade, and we’ll help you move, but please don’t mention his having hit you until after we leave your husband’s presence. I don’t want my husband going to jail.”

“Maybe I should just leave my possessions. They are not worth you and your family having to be involved...”

“Kei, just hush about that before you say something to hurt my feelings. We are involved and we’re going to do whatever is necessary to get your personal possessions and that car. Oh, I love that idea, and I know Jeff will, too. Now, while I’m making some arrangements, I suggest you make a list of what you want to retrieve so you won’t forget anything.”

Kei stood, her hands locked together in front of her. “This is a terrible imposition on you and your family. Diana, are you certain?”

The Queen grabbed the small woman in a fierce hug. “Never been surer of anything in my life. Now let me bring my husband up to date and make some arrangements with Quinton. In the meantime, you might want to consider your finances. It would be a shame for your husband to run off with your money. Don’t forget; a lawyer is going to be expensive.”

There was, at first, a startled look on Kei’s face, but it quickly changed to a look of determination. “He has always insisted on separate accounts, and a joint one for household expenses, as well as separate charge cards. I subsidized his income, depositing the money in his personal account. I will change my passwords immediately as well as speaking with the bank manager. I am very, very glad Edi’s name is not on my savings account, either. Since he never put anything in the account, I did not put his name on it.

“I am also glad that I used a local bank instead of one of the large, interstate ones. I have recently completed a project for the manager, and I charged him a much-reduced fee. He was well aware of the favor since he had already received a price estimate from another firm. I will make certain my soon-to-be-ex-husband does not have access to anything other than his personal account. I realize that I will probably have to pay him something when this is over, but he shall not steal from me before then.”

Kei had picked up the phone even as she was talking.

Diana hurried out with a grin on her face.

When the Clan Queen brought Jeff up to date, he continued to stare at her. After a couple of moments of embarrassing silence, “The rest of it,” he insisted.

“Jeff, that’s...”

“Di, you’re keeping something from me. Now spill it before I get pissed.”

“Oh, shit. You know I can’t lie to you. Promise me you won’t do anything to him,” Diana almost desperately pleaded.

“Di!”

She let out a sigh. “Apparently, Edi has been hitting her. She showed me a big bruise on her upper arm and shoulder. She says he’s always careful to hit where it doesn’t show. She’s been putting up with it and even tried to defend him by saying some of it was her fault. Seeing him screwing a woman in Kei’s office was more than she’s willing to take. She is really pissed.

“Jeff, I guess you could call her situation a classic one. She blames herself for his beating her. I just don’t understand it. She at least now seems determined to grant his wish to dissolve the marriage, but he’s demanding fifty percent of their money and fifty percent of her income for the next ten years. Can he do that?”

The Prime frowned. “I have no idea, but hell, more and more I’m beginning to think that a couple of broken legs is in order. Guaranteed attitude adjustment.”

“You can’t do that, Baby. I don’t want you in jail. Now let’s be serious and figure out what we need to do.”

Jeff mumbled something about his having been serious.

Diana went on, “I told her I would call Quinton and have a deputy meet us at their home to make sure he doesn’t try to beat on her again.”

“We don’t need...” Jeff began, but Diana kissed him to shut him up.

“We will do this legally. If that doesn’t work, then I’ll turn my back. Okay?”

Jeff grinned at her. “Damn straight, Babe.”

Diana let out a sigh. “Jeff, Baby, Edi isn’t Jack. I don’t want you taking this out on him for what Jack did.”

“Why not? I don’t owe that bastard anything, except maybe killing his ass,” Jeff reasoned. “If Jack had left a bruise on you or Arlene, he would have died in that alley. Remember, I saw you and Arlene nude in that basement. It was hard enough not to kill him, but if there had been bruises on either of you...” The look in the Prime’s eyes sent chills down Diana’s spine.

“Jeff...”

He looked at her for a long second. “We’ll do it legally,” he grumbled, “but if he tries to hit her...”

“Just don’t kill him,” Diana pleaded.

“I won’t,” he said with a sigh. “But, the guy is an idiot, anyway. Kei is a fox, smart as hell and makes a ton of money. He has to be dumber than dirt.”

“From what she implies, she knew he was screwing around and put up with it, anyway. Just tried harder to please him, I think, but ... that ended when she saw him openly screwing that woman in Kei’s office. She’s so tiny, but trust me, that girl is on the warpath now.”

“I assume she didn’t call the cops when he hit her?”

“Oh, she didn’t, but their neighbors did; however, she failed to follow through with what the cops told her to do, so she never signed a warrant and he got away with beating on her. Kei did say that a female officer took pictures of the bruising the first time the police were there, but she refused to let the officer see the marks the next time the cops came.”

“Was it the police or the Sheriff’s department that answered the calls? I’m not sure whether she lives within the city limits or not, or if she knows the difference between a deputy and a police officer.”

“I’m not sure, either. We’ll have to ask her.”

“Doesn’t matter. Quinton can get the report either way.”