“Elena?” I say, wondering why the hell she’s here.
She looks from me to Ana. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you had company, Christian. It’s Monday,” she says.
“Girlfriend,” I clarify.
Submissives only on the weekend, Mrs. Lincoln. You know this.
“Of course. Hello, Anastasia. I didn’t know you’d be here. I know you don’t want to talk to me. I accept that.”
“Do you?” Ana’s tone is deadly.
Hell.
Elena walks toward us. “Yes, I get the message. I’m not here to see you. Like I said, Christian rarely has company during the week.” She pauses and addresses Ana directly. “I have a problem, and I need to talk to Christian about it.”
“Oh? Do you want a drink?” I ask.
“Yes, please,” she says.
I fetch a glass. When I turn they are both sitting in awkward silence at the kitchen island.
Shit.
This day. This day. This day. It just gets better and better.
I pour wine into both of their glasses and take a seat between them.
“What’s up?” I ask Elena.
Elena’s eyes dart to Ana.
“Anastasia’s with me now.” I reach across and give Ana’s hand a reassuring squeeze in the hope that she keeps quiet. The sooner Elena says her piece, the sooner she’ll be gone.
Elena looks nervous, unlike her usual self. She twists her ring, a sure sign that something is agitating her. “I’m being blackmailed.”
“How?” I ask, appalled. She pulls a note out of her purse. I don’t want to touch it. “Put it down, lay it out.” I point with my chin at the marble top and tighten my hold on Ana’s hand.
“You don’t want to touch it?” Elena asks.
“No. Fingerprints.”
“Christian, you know I can’t go to the police with this.” She puts the note on the counter. It’s written in capital letters.
MRS LINCOLN
FIVE THOUSAND
OR I TELL ALL.
“They’re only asking for five thousand dollars?” That doesn’t seem right. “Any idea who it might be? Someone in the community?”
“No,” she responds.
“Linc?”
“What—after all this time? I don’t think so.”
“Does Isaac know?”
“I haven’t told him.”
“I think he needs to know.”
Ana tugs at her hand. She wants out.
“What?” I ask Ana.
“I’m tired. I think I’ll go to bed,” she says.
I search her face to see what she’s really thinking, and as usual I have no idea.
“Okay,” I answer. “I won’t be long.” I release her hand and she gets up.
“Good night, Anastasia,” Elena says.
Ana responds, her voice frigid, and she stalks out of the room. I turn my attention back to Elena.
“I don’t think there’s a great deal I can do, Elena. If it’s a question of money…” I stop. She knows I’d give her the money. “I could ask Welch to investigate?”
“No, Christian, I just wanted to share. You look very happy,” she adds, changing the subject.
“I am.” Ana just agreed to move in.
“You deserve to be.”
“I wish that were true.”
“Christian.” Elena’s tone is chastising. “Does she know how negative you are about yourself? About all your issues?”
“She knows me better than anyone.”
“Ouch! That hurts.”
“It’s the truth, Elena. I don’t have to play games with her. And I mean it, leave her alone.”
“What is her problem?”
“You. What we were. What we did. She doesn’t understand.”
“Make her understand.”
“It’s in the past, Elena, and why would I want to taint her with our fucked-up relationship? She’s good and sweet and innocent, and by some miracle she loves me.”
“It’s no miracle, Christian. Have a little faith in yourself. You really are quite a catch. I’ve told you often enough. And she seems lovely, too. Strong. Someone to stand up to you.”
“She’s stronger than both of us.”
Elena’s eyes cool. She looks thoughtful. “Don’t you miss it?”
“What?”
“Your playroom.”
“That really is none of your fucking business.”
“I’m sorry.” Her sarcasm is irritating. She’s anything but sorry.
“I think you’d better go. And please, call before you come again.”
“Christian, I am sorry,” she says again, sincerely this time. “Since when are you so sensitive?”
“Elena, we have a business relationship that has profited us both immensely. Let’s keep it that way. What was between us is part of the past. Anastasia is my future, and I won’t jeopardize it in any way, so cut the fucking crap.”
“I see.” Elena gives me a hard stare, as if she’s trying to get under my skin. It makes me uncomfortable.
“Look, I’m sorry for your trouble. Perhaps you should ride it out and call their bluff.”
“I don’t want to lose you, Christian.”
“I’m not yours to lose, Elena.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“What did you mean?” I snap.
“Look, I don’t want to argue with you. Your friendship means a lot to me. I’ll back off from Anastasia. But I’m here if you need me. I always will be.”
“Anastasia thinks that you saw me last Saturday. You called, that’s all. Why did you tell her otherwise?”
“I wanted her to know how upset you were when she left. I don’t want her to hurt you.”
“She knows. I’ve told her. Stop interfering. Honestly, you’re like a mother hen.”