Chapter 2 Richard's Furious Because I Spent Money On Another Guy

Her voice was so loud that my colleagues started giving me strange looks. I was exasperated. I had explained to her more than once that being a fan just meant liking a celebrity and spending some money on their endorsements.

But my mom never listened and kept scolding me. "Spending money on men is pointless! You should be the one letting them spend money on you, got it?" Just as I was about to argue with her again, I heard a familiar voice on the other end of the phone. "Mrs. Reynolds, has Tricia gotten a boyfriend?"

Why was Richard at my home? Startled, I immediately hung up the phone.

The restaurant we picked was pretty popular, and we had to wait over an hour for a table. While we were waiting, a crowd suddenly started gathering. I glanced over and saw Lanny trying to make his way through the mob.

Well, no wonder the place was packed-it's a hotspot for celebrities, and fans love to flock to places like this.

Lanny saw me and headed my way, with a swarm of fans trailing behind him. It was a little intimidating.

Wearing sunglasses, he looked cool, but in reality, he was a total goofball. "Tricia, you're here at my restaurant? Aren't you worried Richard will get angry?"

Back in high school, Lanny and I were in the same class. He was great at math, and Sandra and I once went to his house to do homework.

He casually put his arm around my shoulder, like we were just buddies, and neither of us thought much of it.

But when Richard found out, he beat Lanny up.

Ever since then, the two couldn't stand each other.

I sighed helplessly. "If I'd known this was your restaurant, I wouldn't have come."

I was a fan of Lanny-I went to his concerts and bought his endorsements, but I rarely paid attention to his personal life.

One time, he recognized me from the stage and said he'd just give me a ticket next time, but I turned him down.

Being a fan meant spending my own money; otherwise, it was not called being a fan, it was just being friends.

Lanny handed me a membership card, saying I could eat at his restaurant for free from now on.

I took it, thinking that if my mom ever really cut off my funds, at least I'd have a place to get a free meal.

After dinner, I got home and saw Richard standing outside my door.

I instinctively tried to retreat, but he was quick and called out to me. "Tricia, come here."

For some reason, I always felt guilty around Richard. All I ever wanted to do was run away. "Richard, why are you here? Have you eaten yet?" He sneered, and despite it being hot, I felt a chill down my spine.

"If I didn't show up, how would I know you're out here spending time with some guy?"

I opened the door and explained that it was all just a misunderstanding. But he wasn't having it. He kept pressing, demanding to know who the guy was.

I refused to tell him, thinking if he found out I'd spent money on Lanny, he'd beat him heavily.

Then he gave me an ultimatum. "A kept man can't make you happy. Break up with him immediately."

As I stood up, the card Lanny gave me fell to the floor. I quickly bent down to pick it up, but Richard was faster.

He stared at me, eyes full of rage. "You don't even have money for yourself, and you're out here paying for his meals?"

I was speechless as he stormed out of the apartment.

Two hours later, Laurence, Richard's assistant, called me, practically in tears. "Tricia, what did you do to upset Mr. Stewart this time? I had just finished getting ready for bed when he called me back to the office to revise the proposal. I can't be on call 24/7!" I often visited Richard at his office, so I had gotten close with his secretaries and assistants.

Since starting my internship, I knew all too well the pain of being forced to work overtime.

Besides, they always gave me useful information-I couldn't just leave them hanging.

I called Richard, and he picked up on the third ring, clearly still furious.

I was trying to think of a way to coax him without making it obvious, but he was impatient. "Say something." My mind raced. Flattery never failed.

"Richard, I heard you're still working overtime? You work so hard! With you in charge, the company is sure to thrive!" He didn't seem impressed.

"If I didn't work my butt off, where would you get the money to spoil some guy?"

Seeing that talking wouldn't help, I bought some snacks and headed to his office.

When I arrived, the lights were still on, even though it was already ten o'clock. The tension in the air was palpable.

Before I even reached the conference room, I could already hear Richard's angry voice inside.