Wife's Bitter Revenge Against Neglectful CEO Husband-Chapter 45: Snoring

It was four in the morning after falling into bed at two, and I was wide awake. It didn’t help that one of the new guys snored loud enough to wake the dead. Maybe after tonight, Father DiMarco could relocate him to another wing.

I gave up on trying to sleep and gave in to the urge to find a cup of coffee. I wasn’t the only one. Father DiMarco was cradling a steaming cup. Jake was in the kitchen making biscuits from scratch. Color me impressed.

"You’re making breakfast so early?"

"Morning, Teela. I couldn’t sleep."

"Me either."

"The snoring?"

"No, I have monkey brain. I can’t shut down. I thought I’d have a cup of coffee."

"That helps monkey brain?"

"Not at all, but it tastes good."

"I see. Priorities."

I poured a cup and mixed in a healthy serving of cream and sugar. "Need help?"

"No, I’ve got this. Keep Father DiMarco company."

It felt like forever since the good father and I chatted.

"Good morning, Teela. How are you today?"

"Wide awake and ready to rumble. You?"

"Well, I wouldn’t go that far, but I’m awake. I’m thinking of setting up a prayer vigil for the poor possessed soul in the other room."

"I’m so sorry about that. I guess we’ve really taken the tranquility out of your sanctuary."

"Nonsense. Tranquility is overrated. Besides, it’s for a good cause. The church is big into causes."

"Touche."

"Jake said you have a lead on finding the boys?"

"We do."

"Well then, I’ll set up the room next to Jake’s for them."

"You might want to hold off," Jake said from the kitchen door. "It’s not a sure thing. It’s just a lead. We reconned the place last night."

"What did you learn?" I asked.

"The building is a defunct elementary school. Most of the windows are covered by plywood. They have three guards patrolling the outside of the building, but based on the cars in the parking lot, there are at least twice that many inside.

"It was too late to survey the neighbors last night. We’ll head out after sunrise to catch folks before they leave for work. Well, I will. Sampson and Charlie, I want to keep on the down low. I’d like to see if I can get them hired on at the logistics company."

"Good idea. I can help with background checks if they need a fake ID. Hey, wait. We need someone in the front office who can access the records. What do you think? Do either of your guys have front office skills?"

"No, but they make terrific security guard material with their military background, and guards have keys and access to the building and security footage when no one is around."

"Good point."

"And you have front office access through the computer, yes?"

"I guess you’re right."

Father DiMarco said, "Perhaps I can help? No one knows me, and I minored in business administration. Best of all, I specialize in confessions. People tell me things, things that might not show up in the computer."

I exchanged a glance with Jake. "Father, from what we’ve learned, there could be some danger involved. We can’t put you in that position."

"You’re not. I’m volunteering. Listen, Stiff is financing the building repairs. It’s all arranged with the contractor, and Bea told me about your," he held up his fingers in air quotes, "tithing. You are more than generous. I want to pull my weight."

"You do pull your weight. You’ve put a roof over our heads, and how many people do you know who have in-home spiritual guidance?"

"True, but I like the idea of the Love List, and since I’m on it, I want to help."

How could I say no to that?

"Alright, if the rest agree, I won’t stop you. Jake, what is your vote?"

"As long as he stays under the radar and limits his activities to just listening. No hands-on."

Father DiMarco clapped his hands, "Good. Then it’s settled. Bea agreed last night, so that’s a majority. Oh, I need to update my resume."

He took off toward his study.

"How long until breakfast?" I asked.

"Half an hour."

"I can do a lot in a half hour. Call me if you need help."

Bea entered the dining room wearing a fluffy pink robe over polka-dot silk pajamas. The bunny slippers were a gift from me from our senior year in high school. I was surprised she still had them.

"Morning." Bea stretched and yawned. "I’ll back up Jake. Go stalk the Heavenlys."

I nodded. Bea knew me so well.

I was doing a deep dive into the Heavenly network, trying to piece together the subsidiaries’ relationships to the financial statements and cash flow.

I wasn’t a finance expert, but something seemed wonky. Heavenly Logistics had the lowest overall expenses and yet brought in a significant portion of the conglomerate’s income.

The half-hour turned into an hour. The hour turned into three. At some point, someone brought me a tray, and I must have eaten some of it because it was mostly gone when I broke out of my trance to the annoying tones of my alarm. It was time to dress for therapy.

I so didn’t want to go to therapy to face King after digging through his confidential records all morning. It turns out Night Shadows had a conscience. Besides, I’d barely scratched the surface for the current year.

I so needed help. Stiff had enough on his plate. So did Bea. That left my newly acquired slave prodigy.

I texted CK.

Cometkazee: Night Shadows, I miss you.

Night Shadows: How are your finance and accounting skills?

Cometkazee: Above average.

Night Shadows: Care to do some sleuthing? Do you have time with running your dad’s shop?

Cometkazee: I’ll make time. Is this related to my brother?

Night Shadows: I don’t know yet, but something feels off.

Cometkazee: I’ll hire a temp to watch the store. Send me the deets.

Night Shadows: Will do, and thanks. GTG.

I threw on a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt. Forget dressing the part of the CEO’s estranged wife. I just needed to get this over with. The combat boots gave me the strength to go without Jake.

I left the stupid knot ball on the dresser and had to go back for it. I’m not sure why. I hadn’t managed to untie a single knot, not even the first knot that I’d earned the right to untie legitimately.

To be honest, I felt like the ball was too limited for my relationship with King. I needed the ability to add knots. Lots of them, and not just square knots, but bowlines, half hitches, reef knots, and dozens of others.

And I bet I couldn’t untie any of them.

I tucked the ball in my backpack with my key fob, wallet, and laptop. Now that I had one again, I didn’t go anywhere without it.

Stiff was leaning against my car door when I got there. "Morning. Are you ready to go?"

"I’ve got a therapy appointment. Where are you going?"

"With you, of course."

"No, you’re not."

"Jake is tied up, so I’m taking his place."

"No offense, Michael, but Min could take you out with a single blow. He wouldn’t even have to use half his strength to do it."

"Hey, give me some credit. I can take a punch, I think."

I rest my case."

"Teela, let me do this. I’ll feel better if you’re not alone. Besides, it’ll give us more time together. I’ll take my laptop. We can work while you drive."

"I’m not going to talk you out of this, am I? Not and make it to my appointment on time." 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"Exactly! So, let’s go. We might run into traffic."

This wasn’t going to go well. Stiff didn’t like King. King didn’t like Stiff. Just showing up with Stiff was asking for trouble, and I’d be facing that trouble with no sleep and a brain full of numbers that didn’t make sense.

It would be so much easier if I could just come clean with King and have him explain it to me. He is my husband. I should be able to go to him for anything. We should be in this battle together instead of standing on opposite sides of a brick wall.

I made a mental list of everything I hoped to accomplish today as I drove. Stiff rattled on about potential new projects. I wasn’t listening. I trusted his judgment. And, yeah, I saw the irony in that. I married a man I couldn’t trust, and I turned down the one man I trusted above all others. In essence, that made me my own worst enemy.

"Damn, lunch. I forgot to pack a lunch." I would have banged my head on the steering wheel, but I didn’t want to get blood on my shiny new vehicle. Also, I was a little busy trying not to rearend some grandma who might as well be driving in reverse.