The $600K Mattress Chapter 1

My wife gave my $600,000 mattress to her intern, Will.

Will immediately posted a picture on his social media, a blatant, gloating display.

“Thanks to Carol for looking out for me! No more sleepless nights. I’m going to sleep so soundly.”

The moment I saw it, I sent a message directly to my wife.

“Explain to me why my mattress has mysteriously appeared in another man’s bed.”

Carol called me instantly, her tone breezy and dismissive.

“It’s just a mattress, Nolan. Do you really have to be so petty?”

“If you like it that much, I’ll have someone buy you a new one. Is that so hard?”

I fought down the rage simmering in my gut, my voice dropping to an icy calm.

“You have ten minutes. I want my property back. Now.”

Half an hour later, Sterling Corporation’s stock had plummeted by ten points.

If she wouldn’t listen to reason, I’d have to use a language she understood.

* * *

Sterling Corp’s stock was in a freefall, but the first people to call me were my parents-in-law.

“Nolan, dear, have you and Carol had a disagreement?”

“We’re so sorry on her behalf. Please, have mercy on us. Let the Sterling family off the hook this once.”

I felt no sympathy, but I maintained a polite tone.

“This is between me and Carol. Have her call me to explain.”

“Otherwise, I’m not stopping.”

They knew my temper. They knew further pleading was useless.

“Find that wretched girl if you have to dig up the entire city!” I heard my father-in-law roar before hanging up.

She didn’t respond to my messages, and I didn’t bother contacting her again. If she refused to do what I asked, someone else would make her.

Sure enough, not five minutes later, my phone began to vibrate. I ignored it. I let it buzz again and again, letting the caller’s anxiety build with each unanswered ring. Finally, I answered.

A furious shriek assaulted my eardrum.

“Nolan Thorne! Are you insane? It’s a mattress! Are you really going to do all this over a damn mattress?”

“I told you I’d buy you a new one! Did you have to orchestrate this attack on my family’s company?”

“If my parents change their minds about me being the successor, you’ll lose out too!”

She was threatening me. I hadn’t realized the sweet, pliable woman I thought I married had fangs she was willing to bare for another man.

But she seemed to have forgotten why the Sterling family had chosen her as their heir in the first place.

I toyed with the jade stone in my hand, its cool surface soothing my irritation.

“That mattress was a bespoke, one-of-a-kind creation. There is only one in the entire world.”

“Furthermore, you gave away my private property without my consent. To a man. Do you think that’s appropriate?”

“You have ten minutes. Get my mattress back here, professionally cleaned, and in perfect condition.”

“Or Sterling Corporation will lose a lot more.”

There was a long silence on the other end, then a single word, bitten out through clenched teeth. “Fine.”

In the past, whenever she was upset, I would have rushed to comfort her, cooked her favorite meal, bought her a limited-edition handbag just to see her smile.

Now, I couldn’t be bothered.

Ours was a marriage of convenience, a business alliance. I never expected undying love, but I did expect a baseline of mutual respect. Since she couldn’t even manage that, I saw no reason to indulge her any longer.

The mattress was returned shortly after, meticulously cleaned. I didn’t coddle her. I walked to her closet, took several of her most expensive handbags, threw them in the trash, and sent her a picture.

“Consider this a lesson.”

She didn’t reply. She didn’t come home that night. It was a silent protest.

And I couldn’t have cared less.