Convenience

Part 20

She was cool. Controlled. Composed. For several seconds they just stood. Time ticked on. Their gazes held.

Eventually David exhaled, "You're serious? You don't want half my assets."

That was simply not possible. She was bound to want access to that stream of income. She had to fight hard not to bark at him, given his obvious disregard for the honesty in her statement.

"I'm very serious." She stated succinctly. What was he expecting her to do?

"You could be rich, you wouldn't have to work, ever." He pointed out, as if that should have occurred to her earlier. She'd be a rich woman. She had to know that. Her financial gain from their divorce settlement would put her business in the shade.

"Do you like working?" Beatrice asked him.

"What?" He snapped.

"I said," Firmly she replied, "do you like working?" She repeated her question.

He nodded. "Yes." He ran his fingers through his hair. Now what?

"And you, Mr Cardoso are rich."

"Very!" He snapped again.

Beatrice nodded. "But that hasn't stopped you working? Has it?" She folded her arms, threw him a derogatory look and then reigned in her slide toward temper.

His eyebrows rose at her tone. David was impressed by the way she kept a lid on things.

"I like working." She told him flatly. "I make my own way in life. I have done for the last five years. I have had no need for you in my life in the past five years. I do not need you in my life in the next umpteen years. Neither, you or your money!" David snorted. She carried on, "I like working on my terms." Beatrice replied quietly. She had done exactly that for years. Not that he'd noticed.

Eventually, he said, "I see." David was nonplussed.

This was not how he had seen this meeting go. But then, she was not predictable in any sense. Because he barely knew her. For several long seconds David studied his wife. He was a good judge of character. He knew that. That's why his business had grown exponentially. He had found and employed people who had the skills to deliver the goals he had set. He knew people. He could read them. That was another reason for the success of his business. He knew when people were trying to play him. So how was it that he couldn't read his wife?

Was she serious? It just went to show how little he knew about his wife! She seemed more than able to handle herself. More than able to take him on. Not at all interested in him. That was unusual. He wasn't being immodest. Most women fawned all over him, mostly because he had ample finances.

In contrast his wife couldn't give a toss about him or his money.

"I don't want your money or any share of your assets." She confirmed his thinking.

Beatrice wasn't sure, but something in his eyes suggested he was just starting to realise that she might be telling him the truth. She wanted to ensure he knew exactly where she stood. The sooner this farce of a marriage came to an end, the better. For both of them.

She shrugged. "You want half of my assets. Fine. I can start over with what I have left after you take what you claim as your entitlement. I'd rather not waste it on paying lawyers to fight a battle I know I cannot win." That had his eyebrows quirking again as he read the challenge in her voice. "Just tell me the amount you want. And once you have that, we can wrap things up." With their gazes locked she said firmly, "I can make it on my own merit. I may have to start again from scratch, but I will make it. I started this business without you. I can restart without you." She told him in a tone of voice that showed conviction. "So, no, I do not want access to your money."

When would any sane woman turn down access to millions without raising a finger to earn it? Beatrice couldn't possibly know just how successful he'd become otherwise she would be fighting to have access to what she would no doubt see as her entitlement.

David was pretty sure she, like any sane woman, would contest him for a share of his millions.