Chapter 10
The morning came and Ashley looked like shit. Her face was swollen and her eyes were black and blue. She was grateful it was Saturday and she didn't have to go to work. "Ashley I have to meet my father this morning than I'm going to talk to Glen. I'm leaving the gun here for you in case that bastard comes back. I know you know how to use it."
"Yes your father made sure of that. But I don't…" "No buts, if Tony comes back and tries to hurt you, I want you to use the gun. Ashley listen to me if he hurts you again I will make sure he doesn't do it again ever. So either way it goes he's a dead man."
"I'll be back in a couple of hours." "Spencer are those my jeans and shirt?"
"Yeah, they look good on me don't you think?" "I don't know Spencer they make you look a little chunky in the hips," Ashley said smiling.
"Ah! You're just jealous because I've got an ass to put into these jeans," Spencer said smiling back at Ashley than giving her a kiss on her forehead. "I'll see you in a little while. Get some rest."
/
"Alright, I'm here as requested, what did you want to see me about?" Spencer asked her father. "Sit down Spencer. Did you enjoy the entertainment last night?" Her father asked.
"I told you last night I did, Franklin was…" "Not that entertainment, I meant Tony and Franklin's performance. They were quite entertaining don't you think?"
"I don't know what you're talking about." "Here take a look at these it may refresh your memory." Arthur tossed a large manila envelope in Spencer's direction. Spencer's eyes widened, "where did you get these because if they came from Tony…"
"No Spencer I had my own private investigator following you around for awhile. The other one belonged to Tony. Here take a look at these pictures and if those are not convincing enough take a gander at this," giving his daughter the video camera, she views the tape for a few minutes than she raises her eyes to her father blushing and slumps down in her chair.
"Alright," Spencer said tossing the camera on her father's desk. "You want something from me and I can pretty much guess what it is but I'll just let you tell me what it is you want."
"Well I have a proposal for you. I'll let you continue your affair with Ashley, if you quit you job at the paper and join my company and work with your brothers."
"Dad I'm not interested in the import business." "That's not what you would be doing here. I told you I need a public relations person to clean up the company name. The public seems to think we are a bunch of gangsters, drug runners…"
"And money launderers," Spencer added.
"Spencer your mother will eventually find out about the affair you're having with Ashley and she will not be pleased. Now you're going to need a lot of help convincing your mother not to have Ashley killed or should I say removed from your life. And that's where dear old dad comes in. Your mother still listens to me. She does nothing without my say so. Just like right now. You know what your mother is doing?"
"No I don't know what she's doing." "She's with Aiden screwing his brains out," Arthur laughs. "What! How do you know that and does she know you know?"
"Yes she knows I know, I have given her, shall we say… my silent approval."
"Are we all being followed and spied on by you dad?"
"No not all just the ones I love and care about Spencer. So to help you appease your mother regarding your affair with Ashley you come and work for me starting immediately."
"Or what?"
"Or I won't be able to guarantee Ashley's safety against your mother. She can be such a bitch sometimes but I love her nevertheless. I on the other hand have no problems with you being with Ashley, you both can leave you husbands and get married for all I care as long as you're happy, but your mother is another issue."
"Shit." Spencer said with her head in her hands. "How can you just blackmail your own daughter?"
"Spencer I want you working in the family business, not on someone else's job. If I have to lower myself to blackmailing my own daughter than so be it. Well… what do you say?"
"Do I have a choice?" She said glaring at her father. "No…"
"Fine I'll work for you," a defeated Spencer finally said. Arthur sat in his chair watching his daughter, "is there something else you liked to discuss with me?"
"Dad… I have a problem and I need your help."
"Help with what Spencer?" "Tony beat Ashley last night when they got home. I was worried about her so I stopped by their house. He slapped her around and was about to…"
"About to what Spencer," Arthur asked scowling.
"He was about to rape her dad. I want him dead. I know you can arrange it."
"Rape her… that stupid bastard, how is Ashley?" "She looks like shit, face swollen, eyes black and blue. It makes me angry with Tony everytime I look at her."
"Where is Tony now?" "I don't know I blew off a piece of his ear with my gun last night and told him to get the hell out of the house."
"You took off a piece of his ear," Arthur said smiling. "Yes" Spencer said smiling at her father. "That's my girl. Does Ashley want him dead?"
"She hasn't said. I want him dead. That no good son of a bitch had no business laying his hands on Ashley. I don't care what she did that made him mad he had no business hitting her. I want him to hurt the same way he's made Ashley hurt. Let his clients see his face swollen and black and blue from bruises."
"Spencer calm down… those are your emotions controlling your thoughts. That's not what you really want. I'll get Glen on it to make sure Tony learns it's not nice to beat on women and if he still doesn't understand I'll let you take care of him."
"Me!" "Yes Spencer, you said you wanted him dead. What better person to do it."
"More blackmail dad?" Arthur shrugs his shoulders looking at his daughter.
"Fine if that what it takes to keep him away from Ashley I'll do whatever I have to do. He will never put his hands on Ashley again."
"Good girl I'll see you on Monday morning." "No!" Spencer said.
"What! Spencer you said…" "I have to quit my job on Monday, I'll see you Wednesday bright and early."
"Fine Spencer as long as you're here. Go take care of Ashley. Oh one other thing Spencer have you been home? What kind of mood was Franklin in?"
"Damn! I forgot about Franklin. I don't know dad I haven't been home and Ashley has my gun."
"Alright take this one and use it if you have to." "I will dad, goodbye".
/
Let me call Ashley to see how she's doing. Then I'll stop by my house and get some clothes and see Franklin. Now I can get that divorce.
Ring, ring!
"Hello! "
"Ashley it's Spencer." "Spencer where are you? Are you okay?"
"Yes sweetie I'm fine I wanted to check on you before I stop by my house. I want to pickup some clothes. I'm going to stay with you for a few days. Tony hasn't come back has he?"
"No Spencer it's been quiet here. Be careful and hurry back I miss you."
"I miss you too baby. Goodbye."
"I'll see you when you get back Spencer."
Spencer's POV
What a mess this has turned out be. All I wanted to do was love Ashley. Now I have to quit my job at the newspaper and go to work for my dad, which I don't want to do. The only thing I want to do right now is to make Tony pay for what he did to my baby.
/
Knock, knock!
"Come in," Arthur says looking up from the papers on his desk. "Glen it's about time, what did you find out?"
"He's an informant dad. Aiden is talking to the Treasury Department or FBI I should say. The lady he met with is an FBI agent working with the Treasury Department. Aiden handed over a large manila envelope to her. He was in his office yesterday for four hours doing God knows what. Than he gives this chick a big envelope, he needs to be dealt with dad and soon."
"What do you suggest I do Glen?" "Have him watched a little longer so we can find out what information the FBI has, take away all his accounts except the unimportant ones so he doesn't get suspicious. I'll handle his other files."
"Good that sounds like a plan but first I have another job for you to do right now. I need you to locate Tony, Ashley's husband."
"Ashley's husband what for?" "The bastard beat her last night after he found out she was having an affair with your sister."
"Huh! How did he find out?"
"So you knew about your sister's affair. Why didn't you tell me Glen?"
"Spencer swore me to secrecy. She begged me not to tell you. I knew in due time you would eventually find out but not from me. If I knew any of your secrets dad and you make me swear not to tell anyone I would keep that promise."
"Fine Glen, go find Tony and explain to him why it's not healthy for men to hit women especially Carlin women or women who work for Carlin Enterprises."
"It will be my pleasure dad."
/
Spencer went home hoping to find Franklin packing his things, but he was not. He was outside by the pool relaxing. "Franklin what are you doing out here?"
"What does it look like Spencer I'm sunbathing." "I thought you would be…"
"Be… be what Spencer… packing, getting ready to walk out on you. I don't think so my dear. Tony can sometimes be a pompous ass idiot. It didn't matter to me that you were having an affair with Ashley. I'm having an affair of my own with… well that doesn't matter right now. Are you surprised Spencer?"
"Yes I am surprised Franklin. If you're having an affair what's the point of keeping this marriage together? We can go our separate ways."
"It's not that easy Spencer there are complications that have to be dealt with, so if you think I'm going to leave you think again. I'm not leaving and I'm not giving you a divorce. I like being married to you."
"But why not Franklin you don't love me. Doesn't the person you're having an affair with want you to be free of me?" "He doesn't hound me about leaving my wife and he likes our arrangement."
"HE! You're having an affair with a man?! Franklin are you saying you're gay?"
"Yes Spencer I'm gay. I'm surprised you didn't figure that out before we got married but I guess your mind was so consumed with Ashley it didn't matter if I touched you or not. Didn't you wonder why we never had a lot of sex? Just enough to appease each other."
"Franklin that's even more of reason to get a divorce… you're gay! Yes Spencer and so are you."
"I never told you I was gay Franklin." "Spencer, Spencer I am not blind, I see how you look at Ashley. Come on now one gay person to another."
"Franklin I don't want to be married to you, I love Ashley. I'm in love with her. I want to marry her once she gets her divorce from Tony."
"Tony's not going to give her a divorce," Franklin let slip out. "What do you mean he's not going to give her a divorce? How do you know this?"
"Never mind how I know, I just know."
"Franklin what do I have to do to get a divorce from you? How much do you want?"
"The only thing I want Spencer is you. I like the way we live. People thinking we have this perfect marriage. It's so much fun lying to all those pompous asses especially those on the board of directors. You know when Tony showed me those photos of you and Ashley I was livid. I thought I wouldn't be able to conduct the orchestra that night. But I was excited, my anger turned to adrenaline, I was pumped. Friday night's performance was the best performance of my career and I owe it all to you and Tony. You are my muse Spencer and I'm not about to let you go. Now if you're finished talking Spencer I would like to get back to my sunbathing."
Spencer's POV
I can't believe this I thought Ashley would be the one having a difficult time getting a divorce, not me. I guess my wimp ass of a husband in not so wimpy. Damn! How do I get this closeted gay man to give me a divorce?