I worked several years ago as a paralegal in a law firm. One customer is etched in my memory: he was an older man. He wore expensive suits and alligator shoes. His hair was dyed an unnatural brown and his skin was tanned but leathery. He drove a Ferrari, which he lovingly referred to as his “red horse.”
I still cringe when I remember his need for revenge. His divorce was an opportunity for him to take revenge, inflict pain, and assert his power. There were no limits to how far he could go: he hospitalized himself under the guise of being unable to walk, transferred ownership of his property and assets to his mother, and used a straw man for business purposes. “Nobody [messes] with me,” he said to me with an evil glint in his eyes. I will make my wife regret the day she was born.” Each of her setbacks filled him with great joy.
Somehow, while I was dealing with administrative matters, I became his best friend. He informed me of his outrageous plans and feelings and reassured me of my obligations to maintain confidentiality. In dealing with his divorce file.
Richard was hovering in the office, well past the end of his appointment and meeting with the lawyers. He showed his dominance with a crooked smile: “I hid all her makeup when I announced the breakup. She’s mine anyway – who do you think paid for her? Look how beautiful my ex-wife looks now without any makeup.”
“Richard? Can you leave please?” I said patiently but firmly, not wanting to share.
“You know, my dear, if you want to get ahead in business, you have to listen to your clients when they’re ready. I find you to be an amateur.” He smiled a little and scratched his chin with his partially severed index finger. “I’m not impressed,” he said, patting his velvet jacket.
Related: How To Recover From Being Raised By A Narcissistic Parent
I turned to look at him. “I’m saying this for your good,” he said. “Most customers don’t care enough to give you feedback; I say this because I care.” Maybe he was trying to help me further my career, and maybe, just maybe, he was just a misunderstood man with good intentions.
“How can listening to you criticize your ex and talk about stealing her makeup help my career?” I asked incredulously.
“If you make someone feel heard and you listen to them, they will do what you want,” he said. “You charge what you want and they’ll pay. That’s all people want — to be heard.”
I took his advice: I nodded, widened my eyes, and looked intently. At that moment I became close friends with Richard.
He continued: “Look outside, do you see my Rolls Royce parked outside? I didn’t get that by going to school and taking notes. I used people to get where I am today. He was proud. “If you help me with my cause, I will always help you make money. I will help you become very successful.” In this way, I was drawn into a world where money was king and emotions were cast aside in favor of payments, vulgar girls, and expensive cars.
Under the guise of giving me business and life advice, he started giving me some advice about investing money. “Do you have $100,000.00 to invest? If you don’t, don’t even think about making money, but if you do, you can make 30% on every dollar overnight. His advice was contrived at best, and was filled with unrealistic expectations.”, and threw a carrot in front of my face, knowing full well that I couldn’t achieve it.
“If you have high-caliber clients, I can make you hundreds of thousands of dollars overnight. Overnight!” He said excitedly and then stopped. “But you don’t have those clients.” It was a game that Richard enjoyed very much. He positioned himself as a financial and business authority, without having to give me any concrete advice.
Related: 4 Personality Traits Good Women Have That Attract Narcissists
After a short time, Richard gets tired of giving advice and soon returns to his original love: his deep love for revenge. As a newly divorced man, Richard was singularly focused on getting revenge on his ex-wife. In his own words, his ex-wife Julie was nothing more than a ruthless gold digger and a worthless woman. “She is evil and conniving,” he said.
Worst of all, he said, she tried to sue his mother for money. Can I imagine the absolute horror of dragging his elderly, frail mother into their divorce? “I can forgive her for cheating, I can forgive her for the divorce, but I can’t forgive her for suing my mother. I never cry, but I cried when my ex-wife’s lawyer was insulting my mother on the stand,” Richard said.
She later learned that Richard had connivancely transferred his assets, Ferrari, and cottages to his mother. On paper, his 82-year-old mother was the proud owner of a Ferrari and a Bentley. Richard asked his mother to lie to protect his assets from his money-hungry ex-wife. Commercial tenants were asked to lie on the platform; They were told to say that the rent checks had been paid to their mother. “Do as I say,” the tenant threatened, “or you will get into trouble.”
Richard even changed his mailing address to his mother’s house – he did not want to reveal his residence in his divorce proceedings. Instructing Richard to lie and offering his tenants a financial incentive to do so brought him great joy. “I’m very smart. I’m smarter than lawyers. My ex-wife will get nothing and will be financially drained.” He smiled happily and laughed. “You’re like me, Emerald. You have a taste for money.” I was surprised that Richard came to this conclusion – I barely said a word during our conversation.
Related: 4 Biggest Signs You’re In Love With A Clinical Narcissist
On top of his hunger for revenge, Richard craved unlimited power and money. He walked around in a tuxedo most days and expensive pointe shoes. He looked ridiculous, but he wanted everyone to know that he was rich.
One day, he came into my office and bragged, “I have more money than God.” The source of his wealth was still a mystery. Whenever I asked, Richard changed the subject.
“I am a businessman.”
“What kind of work?” I asked.
“Honey, if I’m making money, why does it matter?”
“What is your job?”
“You shouldn’t intrude into other people’s business. I do what suits me,” he answered aggressively.
“did you go to school?” I asked.
“I went to university to become an accountant, but quickly realized I could make more money than teachers, so I dropped out.”
“Did you make more money than them?”
“Yes, much more than that,” Richard smiled proudly.
If he could drive his Rolls Royce with the price tag stuck on it, he would.
Everyone had a price according to Richard. “You can buy loyalty. You can buy sex. The only thing you can’t buy is connection.”
His children were pawns of his insatiable thirst for control. Richard paid a science teacher to report to him his children’s every move in real-time. “I did it for my kids,” Richard said fondly. His son was once surprised to learn that Richard knew he had failed a math test. “I know everything. Honey, when you go to the bathroom, I know it,” Richard smirked.
Between his insatiable love of money, his quest for power, and his need for control, the most surprising thing was that Richard was incredible at reading people. He could accurately predict how people would react to situations, whether logical or emotional and how to deal with them.
However, if the slightest criticism was leveled at him, Richard would retaliate angrily. “How can I get a younger woman?” He wanted to know so badly. “You’re not Michael Douglas,” I said. “If Michael Douglas can do it, why can’t Richard?” Richard began to get angry, slamming his wrist on the desk.
