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“Seriously?”
“You know where to find her. Go. Ask. If she is nothing more than a casual fling, she won’t mind who you are. If he’s cheated on you both… Well, she might go off in a towering rage, but at least you’d know he was lying.”
True. However, Bridget made it sound so easy and my confidence had hit an all-time low. “I’ll think about it.”
The bell rang and I peeked over the counter, fearful that Stefan was back and he would see me in a distressed state. It was Al. I brushed the hair out of my face and plastered on a fake smile. Bless him, he didn’t ask, just walked on by to the back office.
* * * *
All Wednesday, I fretted about orchestra rehearsal. Did I go? My first reaction was no. Stay away and not face him. However, I had missed loads of practice over the winter and the others relied on me. The concert wasn’t far away. I had to maintain my professionalism.
I decided to go on my bike. I’d leave with plenty of time to ensure that if he did decide to pick me up, I’d already be on my way. Throughout the practice, I wouldn’t look at him. Instead, my eyes would follow the tip of his baton and nothing else. During the break, I planned to be wherever he wasn’t to avoid bumping into him. I’d either stay in my seat if he went for a coffee or hide in the side room behind the tall brass members. I plotted it all out. A pathetic, cowardly attempt at avoiding any contact with Stefan.
My scheming didn’t help my nerves. Bridget pottered about me, making sure I kept busy and distracted. I’d been tempted to ring my mother the previous evening and cry down the phone at her, but she wouldn’t have understood. Better shot of him, she’d declare, just as she did when I finished with Micah. My sister—a definite no—she’d tell me I had it coming and what was two weeks but a piss in the ocean of life?
Magda occupied my thoughts too. Did I or didn’t I confront her?
I arrived at the church hall on time, sorted out Nettie and my stand, listened to Cordelia run down her week of disobedient children and unsupportive husband.
I tried to evade looking at the conductor’s stand and podium. Impossible, given its central location. However, when I snatched a glance, I remained fixed on the podium. Debbie stood on it, armed with a baton. She nervously cleared her throat and tapped the baton on the stand, once, with a tiny flick of her wrist, the second time she rattled it loudly. Everyone went quiet. “I’ve an announcement. Unfortunately, Stefan has had to travel to Germany at short notice. A personal matter and unavoidable. He sends his apologies and hopes to be back next week. Now the real bad news, I get to conduct.”
There were polite titters of amusement at her joke. I sat stunned. He’d gone to Germany. When? The text messages had stopped after he’d visited the florist. He might have left yesterday or today. Either way he was gone.
I should have felt relaxed, the pressure off, but his absence bothered me. My lack of concentration showed. I failed to show off my improved solos and fluffed quite a few notes. During rests, when I should have been counting, I meandered over Monday. He’d kept secrets from me. My curiosity was getting the better of me and the image of a naked woman on all fours rose into my mind. Magda. His secret lover. She might have the answers and explain his sudden departure. I’d bottled out of visiting her, but now my courage grew. Tomorrow, I’d finish early, hop on my bicycle and visit that salon again. Would she be there and would she see me? Only one way to find out.
Chapter Twelve
“I would like to speak to Magda.” I tried to sound super confident, but my legs had turned to jelly and my voice wavered. I cleared my throat. “Please tell her it’s Callie.”
The receptionist pushed her spectacles back up her nose and stared down at me. “Is she expecting you?”
“No,” I said, fearing she would greet my honesty with a brush-off.
“Wait here.” She trotted over in her ridiculously high heels to a door at the back of the salon.
A few minutes passed before the receptionist reappeared, waving me over. “This way.”
The office she led me to mirrored the elegance of the salon, complete with modern furniture and more large canvas portraits. I took it in with one dismissive glance because I wanted to focus my attention on the woman on the other side of the desk. She rose to greet me. A tall woman with flowing black hair and a figure, which she’d encapsulated in a refined business suit, I would have killed to have—curvy in all the right places.
“Callie, I’m so glad you came to find me.” She held out her hand and pointed to a chair. “Please, sit.”
I hovered uncertainly. So far, things hadn’t happened as I’d expected. I could rule her out as the injured party. She didn’t exactly leap at my throat in anger. Quite the contrary, she behaved impeccably, if a little awkwardly, fidgeting with the buttons of her jacket. I sat, crossing my legs and arms protectively. My insides churned with nervous energy. Now I was here, I didn’t know what to say to her.
“I had no way to contact you,” she said, sitting back down.
“Why are you glad?” I asked bluntly.
“Because I want you to understand about Stefan and me. What we are together. Can I get you a drink?”
I shook my head. “You’re the woman he fucked instead of me.”
Whether my coarse language offended her, I didn’t care, but she stiffened and shuffled back in her seat. “You’ve not been with him long, have you? He’s a complicated man. Introverted, until it comes to sex. Have you noticed how he likes it?”
Her interrogation was way off the radar of what I’d expected from our encounter. “I suppose you could say he’s in charge,” I blustered, recollecting my last punishment fuck.
She laughed gently. “Yes, you could say that. He is a Dominant.”
I raised an eyebrow.
