After the Rich Young Master Framed Me, I Rose Up

I skipped dinner, using any excuse to get out of there.

Soon after, Jack's barrage of calls and texts made my phone buzz non-stop.

[Chris, where's this month's cash? You haven't sent it yet?]

[Either show up with the cash or send it now. Chop, chop, no dilly-dallying.]

[Make me look bad in front of everyone, and you'll regret it.]

I was dying to see what he'd try next.

So I blocked him.

Undeterred, Jack harassed the butler for the cash. But the butler, forewarned by me, ignored him completely.

Out of options, Jack was forced to scrape together every dime to settle his extravagant two-hundred-and-thirty-thousand-dollar tab.

Yeah, that was what the meal cost. To think, I used to fall for his lies, letting him milk me dry. What a fool I was.

After everyone left, Jack came at me, livid. "Chris, what's this about cutting off my funds? That money's mine. You have no right!"

"Better square up now, or else."

Looking at his familiar yet distasteful face, I felt a wave of disgust.

Who did he think he was, flaunting his ego like that in front of me?

I met his anger with ice-cold indifference. "From now on, you and your issues are none of my concern. Not another penny. Now, get out of my house."

Jack's voice softened briefly, trying a different tack. "Come on, Chris, don't do this. Just settle up and then send me another two hundred thousand dollars. Jane has got her eyes on a purse, and I gotta get it."

I laughed, incredulous. "How is that my problem?"

Seeing I wasn't budging, Jack's expression darkened again. "You're supposed to look out for me, Chris. We're like brothers."

"I'm a Smith, you're a Hayes. We're not brothers, not by a long shot."

Used to living large on my dime, Jack couldn't handle being put in his place and snapped.

"Chris, you promised to see me through college. You can't go back on your word now."

"That's my money, and if you don't pay up, I'm taking you to court."

I snorted. "Forget the fact it was just a promise. I've spent enough on you to support an army."

"Walk away now, and consider that cash gone. Push me, and you'll owe me every penny back."

"I'm not leaving!"

Jack dramatically threw himself to the floor, playing the victim. "I won't leave until you pay up."

Did he really think that would work?

Pathetic.

Eventually, I had to have my bodyguards throw him out.

He fumed and cursed outside until I unleashed the dogs, sending him running for the hills.