Ruthless by Shelia M. Goss

this time he’d been telling her that he wished he could be with her, but his job was actually his first priority.
    Fine. She was tired of sitting around the house, being Delilah’s maid and waiting eagerly by her cell phone for calls from Uriah. She was going shopping, and Uriah had better hope he had enough money to pay the bill when it arrived. She retrieved his gold MasterCard from underneath the socks in his dresser drawer.
    He didn’t know she knew about his hiding spot. Yes, she had found it some time ago, but she’d vowed never to use the card unless it was an emergency. Her sanity was an emergency.
    Delilah was lying on the couch, reading one of her books she had lying around.
    â€œDelilah, I’ll be back. I’m going to the store.”
    â€œCan you pick me up a book? I’m enjoying the New Day Divas series. One of the characters reminds me of myself.”
    â€œI should have all the books already. Just check my bookshelf.”
    â€œI did, and you’re missing the latest one.”
    Sheba realized she had been so wrapped up with missing Uriah that she had slacked off on her book purchases. “I’ll swing by the store and see if they have it.”
    â€œIf they don’t, let me know so I can order it from Amazon,” Delilah yelled.
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    Four hours later, Sheba returned to the house, carrying several department store bags. She had so many bags, she had to make two trips to the car to bring them all in.
    Delilah walked in her bedroom. “I hope you have something in there for me.”
    â€œI did see a cute outfit I thought you would like,” Sheba said. She rummaged through one of the bags. She held up a purple satin blouse and black jeans.
    Delilah inspected them. “Thanks, sis. Did you remember the book?”
    â€œI sure did.” Sheba found the bag with the books. “I also found books by other authors you might like.”
    Delilah removed some of the books. “I haven’t heard of some of these, but if they are anything like the book I’m reading now, I can’t wait to read them.”
    â€œWe can both read them and discuss them later,” Sheba said.
    Delilah read the back of one of the books. “Oh, before I forget, your hubby called you.”
    Sheba froze. “Did he leave a message on the answering machine, or did you answer the phone?”
    â€œI answered. I thought it could be you calling or something.”
    â€œWhat did he say?” Sheba stopped unpacking the bags.
    â€œHe thought he had the wrong number at first, but I assured him, he didn’t.”
    â€œAnd ...” Sheba’s heart rate increased.
    â€œHe wanted to know what I was doing at his house and why you weren’t here.”
    â€œDid he sound upset?” Sheba asked.
    â€œHe wasn’t upset until I told him that I had been here for a few weeks, and that it wasn’t my fault he didn’t know what was going on in his own house.” Delilah placed the book she held back in the bag.
    â€œDid you have to be so mean about it?”
    Delilah said, “Are you keeping secrets from your husband? I wasn’t aware he didn’t know I was here.”
    Sheba went back to removing the items she’d bought from the bags. “Mind your own business. What goes on between me and Uriah is our business alone.”
    â€œI’m just saying, sis. You act like y’all have the perfect relationship, but if you’re keeping secrets, what’s perfect about that?”
    Sheba tried to control her rage. She clenched the bag tighter. “Look, Delilah, Uriah and I are just fine. No, he didn’t want you here. You want to know why?” Sheba looked Delilah in the eyes. “He doesn’t trust you. He believes all the things people have been saying about you.”
    Delilah crossed her arms. “Well, there’s no love lost here. I don’t like your husband, either. So him and I have something