Gretchen Rossi Slams Questioning of Slade’s Finances: EXCLUSIVE

Gretchen Rossi indulged in everything from champagne and charcuterie to pizza and pillow fights at Heather Dubrow’s fancy sleepover on The Real Housewives of Orange County Season 9, Episode 11, but the slumber party of her dreams took a nightmarish turn when the women grilled her with some hard-hitting questions about Slade Smiley’s finances.

The topic arose during a brunch at Heather’s Beverly Hills penthouse when Emily Simpson asked if Gretchen wanted to marry Slade. That’s when Heather chimed in to point out that when they first discussed the subject back in 2012, Gretchen was “financially” worried about tying the knot.

According to Gretchen, she’s since changed her stance, explaining, “I’ve been with him for 16 years and I know who he is. And I feel much more confident.”

So, Emily dug a bit deeper, asking if she and Slade “have everything financially separate now,” while Heather specifically brought up joint bank accounts.

RELATED: Emily Simpson Reveals a Jaw-Dropping Off-Camera Moment From Heather’s Sleepover (EXCLUSIVE)

“We’ve never done that,” Gretchen replied. “I’ve always liked to have my own money. My home is in my name. I’ve always been very strict about that. I never wanted a man to be able to control me financially.”

After further establishing that Slade “doesn’t pay rent” (since Gretchen covers the mortgage) and that the grocery bill “comes out of [her] account,” too, Heather finally asked point-blank, “Does he pay for anything?”

Visibly uncomfortable, Gretchen skirted a response, saying only, “I feel like this is weird questioning.”

The RHOC cast sheds new light on Slade Smiley’s debt and finances

The topic wasn’t put to bed completely though, as more of the cast entered the chat on The Real Housewives of Orange County After Show.

When Emily brought up how Gretchen “doesn’t love” discussing money-related matters, Gina Kirschenheiter revealed that she’s had conversations with her about how Slade’s finances took a hit during the 2008 housing market crash.

RELATED: Slade Smiley Debuts a New Look That Leaves Gretchen Stunned: “What in the Serious Hell?” (PHOTO)

“She had said, you know, that basically, when the economy crashed, Slade lost a lot,” Gina shared. “And I think s–t happens. If you lost everything, and that’s an explanation for what’s happening in your life, why can’t you just say that?”

Tamra Judge, meanwhile, pointed out that Slade has “had 14 years to rebuild,” prompting Emily to correct her math and say that the housing crisis actually occurred 17 years ago.

The RHOC cast claims Gretchen Rossi can’t marry Slade Smiley because of his “debt”

During RHOC‘s Sept. 18 episode, a flashback to 2012 confirmed Gretchen told Heather that Slade was “trying to get caught up on some of the back debt,” and she didn’t “wanna take it on” in a potential marriage. Despite Gretchen’s more recent assertions to the contrary, however, Heather believes that is still the case.

“No, I don’t think they’ll ever get married. She was very clear about it’s her house and her money and her things,” Heather declared on the RHOC After Show. “But the truth is, like, she told me she could never marry him.”

As Shannon Storms Beador countered, Gretchen and Slade’s decision to net legally marry after their televised 2013 engagement was “for the financial reasons, not that she didn’t care about him.”

“I get that, but then why propose with a helicopter?” Heather questioned. “I mean, you’re not marrying him.”

Either way, she concluded, “I’m happy that they’re happy. I love that.”

Elsewhere on the After Show, Jennifer Pedranti told Gretchen directly that she’d heard “the reason you guys couldn’t get married was because you were worried about finances.”

Gretchen’s response? “That’s not true.”

Gretchen Rossi slams the RHOC cast’s “ulterior motive” for questions about Slade Smiley’s finances

Reacting to Heather and Emily’s earlier grilling, Gretchen cryptically added on the After Show, “I feel like they were probing and trying to get information out of me. I felt like they had an ulterior motive of why they were asking the questions, let’s put it that way.”

As Heather explained to her during Episode 11, however, they found the topic so “fascinating” because their own finances were “so co-mingled” with those of their husbands, Dr. Terry Dubrow and Shane Simpson. 

“Gretchen and Slade’s financial situation is really none of my business, but it just never has made sense to me,” Heather elaborated in a confessional. “That’s why when Gretchen proposed to Slade, we all thought it was bulls–t. Why are they not legally wed? Why does she pay for everything and refused to put anything in his name? I don’t know.”

After sharing at the sleepover brunch that she and Shane also always had a joint checking account and never signed a prenup, Emily commented on Gretchen and Slade’s “strange situation” to a producer. 

“What is the arrangement?” she asked. “Does he work? If he works, what is he paying for? … Like, what has he contributed?”

As the drama continues to play out on RHOC Season 19, take a peek inside Gretchen and Slade’s life today.