Page 34 of Bound By Flames

No limit.

Oh.

That’s sweet.

I take it, pay for my matcha latte and head to the mall next to it. “By the way, guys, you can call me Mia. Mrs Malone sounds so, um, old.” They nod and follow me as I enter the first store. After days of pure hatred over my fake husband, I decide it’s about time to take things in hand. And I guess this little black card is going to be my anger management outlet. I look around and spot the lingerie department at the back of the expensive store.

Perfect.Let’s start with it and work my way up to one grand. The buzz of my phone vibrates in my purse.

“Hey, sis!” says Kiara with her sweet voice.

“Kia! I was waiting for your call, so tell me everything. How was the ball?”

Ares

My phone rings while I’m in the middle of checking the last accounts Vox sent me. The name of my banker appears. Strange. The guy never calls me unless there’s an issue.

“Mr Malone,” a slight trembling voice says.

“O’Connor,” I grunt, hating to be disturbed for no reason.

“Hello, sir. I’m, um, I’m calling you to check if you are aware of the rather large purchases that have been made today.” His voice sounds strained and awkward.

“Large purchases, nope.” I grin, knowing exactly what’s going on. “I don’t have all day, shoot.” I shake my head, bankers and their fucking paperwork and long ass talk.

“Ninety thousand dollars has been used in different types of clothing stores, another fifty thousand in a jewelry shop, and another hundred thousand on a new car in the name of Mrs Mia Malone…” His voice is now almost inaudible, as if the guy was afraid of me bursting out of the phone to grip his throat.

“What about it?” I deadpan.

“The expenses, sir. They are… It’s a lot for only one day, compared to your usual—”

“Have you blocked the card?” I grunt.

Why the fuck is he making a fuss with this?

“No, sir.”

“Add more funds to it, make sure my wife can spend as much as she wants. And don’t call me for those fucking small matters.” Then I hang up ‘cause I may be softer with my wife, but I’m still a fucking asshole to everybody else.

I sit back in my chair, crossing my arms behind my head. Of course she’s going with the angry shopper kind of way. It’s alright with me. I have deep pockets, and spoiling my wife is alright with me as long as I’m the one who gets to see her smile at the end of the day.

She’s feisty, and that’s probably the first step on her to-do list of how to make me pissed. Only she doesn’t know I’ve been dealing with enemies waiting to put a knife in my back for years, so staying cool during a fire is kinda my thing.

Let’s see what she has in store for me next.

‘Cause I’m determined to win her over.

Bring it on, baby.

Chapter 9

Mia

I came back from my shopping spree one week ago with so many clothes, Ash and Shadow had to go back five times to the car to empty it. Ares wasn’t bothered when he came back, which really upset me because that was the whole purpose of it. I bought everything I could find. So many clothes, lingerie, shoes, jewelry, and even a car I won’t need because I don’t even know how to drive. The whole thing hit about three grand in just an afternoon.

I’m good, I know.

But he came home that night and just said, with a knowing smile, “Nice car, princess.” Then slept like a bear and left in the morning before I could wake up. It made my skin burn. I wanted to hurt him and he looked more amused than anything else.