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“Hi, handsome.”
A sick feeling rolled through his stomach.
The phone he was holding was the house line.
The one Stella answered.
Only a small handful of people had the number.
“How dare you call me at my home!”
“Is that any way to talk to your latest victim?”
“We both know you got exactly what you wanted,” he barked. “You called me. You came over. You know exactly what you said to me.”
“Why are you so upset? Aren’t we having fun?”
A confused frown crossed his forehead.
Had the whole thing been a joke to her?
Was she really just playing a freaky sex game?
Taking a deep breath and doing his best to control his anger, he began to speak in a low, measured tone.
“Sue, I don’t know what your story is, and I don’t care, but it’s going to stopnow. Don’t call me ever again. Not here, not at my apartment or at my office. Do not try to see me, not at my office or on the lot. Not anywhere. If you call or cross my path you’ll find yourself unemployed. Is that clear?”
He waited for a response.
There was none.
He held his breath.
For a moment he thought he’d succeeded in scaring her off, but suddenly she laughed. A deep, throaty, from-the-heart-laugh.
“There’s nothing funny about any of this,” he snapped, ”and I meant every word.”
“You’re hilarious,” she retorted with a giggle, then her tone turning solemn, she added, “It’s entirely possible someone will end up unemployed, but it sure as hell won’t be me.”
Before he could respond the line went dead.
His head was spinning, and he was having trouble breathing. Staggering across the room and pouring himself more whiskey, he downed it in one swig. It was then he remembered she hadn’t been in any of the personnel files. How could he fire someone who wasn’t employed?
Gritting his teeth, he tried to quash the fury and fear rippling through him.
A dull pain began throbbing in his temples.
He needed sleep.
Putting down his glass, he left the den and climbed slowly up the stairs to the bedroom. At least he could take comfort in the safety of his house. Even if she had his address she wouldn’t be able to get to him. He lived behind gates.
But as he collapsed on the bed he saw his entire world under threat. His rising career, his marriage, the perfect life that he’d so carefully and cunningly built. For the first time in his life, he had no idea what to do.
* * *
STELLA HADN’T PLANNEDon ending up at Matt’s. She’d taken off her shoes and walked aimlessly on the hard, wet sand, letting the ripples kiss her feet. When she’d looked up and found herself at the front of his house, she’d walked tentatively towards the terrace and stared up at the open doors. Only seconds passed before he stepped out.
“Marilyn!” he exclaimed, running down the steps. “It’s great to see you. Can you come in?”
