Cheque Book

*Chapter 34*
"Darling."
"Yes, my goddess?"
I glanced up after studying the duplicated ledger of Reginald and looked at Frederick who was standing beside the door, looking so gallant in his knight uniform. "I need you to take something from Timothy right now. Then bring it here."
Frederick looked like he wanted to ask a question as if he wanted to know what he needed to do there but he halted himself and bowed. "I will do that, my goddess."
I nodded before he left and returned my gaze to the ledger notes. I stroked my chin, trying to decipher these expenses written here.
It had been days since I had been investigating Reginald's ledger. There were some amounts here that were left questionable. He had a lot more expenditures than me. He was using some of his wealth to purchase some contraband... contraband that was related to me and the other one was... against the royal palace?
But I couldn't be certain of this since I needed to investigate this matter.
If Reginald was committing treason against the royal lycan family, I just need some evidence and bring it to the royal supreme court. With this situation, it would be easy for me to file a divorce.
Or perhaps, if my assumption was wrong or if Reginald wasn't really committing treason...
"I can make him commit one," I murmured, clearing my throat when there was a condescending smile that wanted to appear on my lips.
This was the conclusion I reached so far. In order for Reginald to commit treason, I need to forge every transaction that should happen here.
But I need to confirm what needs to be investigated. I need to summon my watchers and hire an informant to know the people listed here in Reginald's ledger. I need to be certain that I wasn't wrong about this matter.
I kept the ledger notes and the other parchments to my secret compartment in my chair. The chair I was sitting at is specially built for this crucial matter.
Then I decided to go and walked directly to Reginald's study room. I didn't dare to knock on the door as I opened it and saw him reading some documents while wearing his spectacles.
"I see you have come here to ruin my day, Novalie," Reginald said nonchalantly.
I came inside while cocking my head from side to side. "Well, just by seeing your face right now already ruins my day, Regy." I started to roam around his study room and raised my hand to glide my fingertips to the books as I passed them by.
"If you have no business to consult here as the Luna of my pack, you might as well leave now." He hissed and snapped back.
I chuckled. "You're so hot-tempered, dear husband. Is it bad to pay you a visit?" I turned around when he slammed the documents to his desk to grab my attention. "Relax, Reginald." I rolled my eyes.
"I know you, Novalie. You have come here to annoy me again." He squinted his eyes. "What do you want and you come here to bother me?"
I gasped, faking a surprise. "You know that I need something from you?" I fluttered my eyes. "That is so sweet, Reginald!" I exclaimed.
"Shut up!" He growled. "State your business!"
I chuckled one more time to add more fuel to his already ignited annoyance. "Well..." I paused to prolong his agony. It was a victory because he looked impatient right now. "I want to take the blank cheques that are under my name as Novalie Westervelt."
Reginald arched his eyebrow. He looked at me in disbelief. "What's with the sudden interest?"
"I want to use it." I went to the couch and sat there, crossing my legs.
"That's odd..." Reginald scoffed. "You said that you are too disgusted to even use the wealth coming from the House of Westervelt since you have your own wealth as you always bragged to me."
I shrugged. "Well, people change, pal."
"Why? Is Argerich Consulting undergoing bankruptcy which is why you need your allowance you never touched for three years?"
"My business is still alive and well. Also, is it that bad that I make my decision to take what is mine in the first place? As the wife of Viscount Westervelt, it is my right that I have an allowance regardless if I never touched it." I crossed my arms over my chest. "Or perhaps, you cannot bestow them to me because you touched them already, am I correct?"
He shook his head as he sighed. "You are quite chatty and always jump to conclusions." He stood up and reached for one of his drawers to look for something. "What are you going to do with your allowance? You know I am going to track them down in your ledger."
"Just some fanciest gowns..." I shrugged. "Or I can use the funds for my birthday this coming spring."
He turned his head, glaring at me. "You are commencing a party here?"
"Of course, I do." I rolled my eyes.
"How much are you going to spend for that party?" he asked, looking hesitant.
"It is none of your business, Reginald. My allowance, my rules."
He squinted his eyes at me. "Be careful how you retort at me, Novalie. Do remember that I am still the patriarch of this house. I can do—"
"Blah... Blah... Right, right. Whatever you say," I butted in. "I spend whatever I spend."
He glared at me but I only smiled at him. "You bitch... You never change." He fished out the cheque book from his drawer and placed it on his table.
I stood up and approached him as I sat on his lap. I even caressed my hands to his chest as I knew that things wouldn't be easier if I got the cheque book. Reginald would always ask for something in exchange.
But it also bestowed me an opportunity to see what he was writing at the documents he had on his desk.
"Well, when are you going to find your mate, Regy? I am so eager to congratulate you." I smirked when I came closer to him but my face looked disgusted the moment I did this.
I felt like my stomach was churning out.
But Reginald was the one who pushed me away. "Just take the cheque book and leave. If I want you to fulfill your duty, then I shall summon you right away."
My lips curled up into a condescending smile. I tapped his cheek. "Good. Then I do not have to act like I am an obedient wife." I rolled my eyes before I moved out from his lap. Then I spun around to grab the cheque book and finally took a glimpse at the documents.
I furrowed my eyebrows and saw a deed of sale of a vehicle. Then I was surprised to see the insignia of Otieza Law LLC and the name of the lawyer.
"What on the Moon Goddess's name did you sell, Regy?" I asked, feigning ignorance. "Did you purchase another carriage?"
I turned at him and caught him stiffened before his face showed annoyance. "Leave immediately! Do not meddle with my business here!" He raised his voice.
"You are so hot-tempered. You need to relax." I shrugged and was about to leave when I saw something in the cheque book. I even had to check the cheque leaves before I checked the back of it. "It seems that the first ten pages of the cheque leaves are not here, Reginald." I turned at him earnestly. "This means that you touched my allowance which is not supposed to happen," I uttered coldly.
"Are you accusing me of using it? Did you scan it again for assurance?"
I smirked. This man... Did he think I am dumb that I did not know how many cheques leaves were in a cheque book?
"Twenty-five pages for every cheque book," I pointed out. "I have checked the supposedly personal cheque numbers here and the first ten leaves are not here. How many funds did you take?"
I counted three seconds and watched how his face turned into a bright red. "Be grateful that I even bestowed you a cheque book when you said that you never wanted to use my wealth! You ungrateful bitch, say your gratitude that I still kept that!"
"I want the ledger for it."
"What?"
"I want that ledger of my cheque book. I want to monitor it."
"That..." he paused. "I cannot do that..." His voice suddenly became meek.
"Why the hell not?" I arched my eyebrow. "Is this a matter of confidentiality? For the hell's sake, we are married, Reginald." I almost puked when I used that resort.
He furrowed his eyebrows as he scoffed. "And now you are using that term for me, Novalie?" He huffed. "How ironic..." He shook his head and looked at me like I had gone insane already.
I chuckled. Way to go, Reginald... I knew he didn't buy my sweet attitude towards him because I resented him. "I just want the ledger for the cheque book. That's all, Reginald. Is it that hard to bestow me the book account record for it? Or do you want me to go to the Federal Banks to ask for the bank account statement of our joint accounts?" I arched my eyebrow, challenging him.
His hand that was on the desk clenched. "Fine! I used some of your allowances! Happy?!"
"I want the ledger."
"No," Reginald said coldly. He stood up and slammed his desk. "You already got what you wanted, Novalie. You already have the cheque book you want! Why the hell are you interested in that trash ledger?!"
"Regy, if you perceive it as a trash one, then let me have it and examine it. I will see the value of it." I crossed my arms over my chest, trying to push his limits since he never intended to bestow me that ledger. When he silenced and looked fuming mad as he was about to speak, I butt in. "I shall take my leave. I lose interest in hearing your voice." I turned my back on him.
"Novalie!" He yelled my name in anger when I closed the door of his study room.