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“It’s strange. Before I had Emir, I don’t think I knew what true love meant. Don’t get me wrong, I love Jafar, but the love I have for my son is different. I’d do anything for him.”
“I think that means you’re a good mother, Ellie.”
“I hope so.” She smiles. “I couldn’t do any of this without Jafar, though. He’s been amazing through it all. He’s even supporting me in working at the Met while also starting a charity.”
“What kind of charity are you starting?”
“I’m not sure if you know, but I was sexually assaulted this past year. I was so lucky that the hospital I went to had a SAFE nurse and a program to handle situations like mine. After doing some research, I discovered that’s not the case around the country, and I want to change it.”
“What’s a SAFE nurse?”
She launches into an explanation about the program and the people who work with rape victims to collect evidence to hopefully capture the rapist.
“Next month is the fundraiser, and I’m hoping it gets national attention.”
“I would love to help in any way that I can.”
“Thank you.” She smiles. “Now, are we going to talk about your… situation with Mr. Van der Zee? I was quite worried when I saw the two of you together at Vilulf’s engagement party, but my husband assured me that the two of you had an…understanding.”
“We do. Have an understanding, that is.”
“Well, now I have to know.”
Maybe I shouldn’t say anything, but I’ve been so lonely with no one to talk to but Kieran. I start from the beginning, telling her about how my father sold me to Max Erics.
“I was so naïvely happy in my life. It never occurred to me that my father would ever do something like that, even though he’d already done it to my older sisters.”
“Max is the man who I saw in Vegas, isn’t he?”
“Yes.”
“Did Mr. Van der Zee kill him?”
Her blunt question reminds me that even though she’s sweet, she’s still a part of the Mafia world.
“He didn’t, though I wish he had.”
“So he saved you, and then what happened?”
My cheeks flame. “We came back to his house on Staten Island, and he made a proposition.”
“I see.” She chooses her words carefully. “And are you happy with said proposition?”
“I thought I was in the beginning.” My eyes water. “God, I don’t want to cry anymore.”
“I’m going to be blunt just so I’m not assuming incorrectly. Does your arrangement involve sex?”
“Yes.”
“Consensual sex?”
“Yes.”
“Good sex?” She giggles. “You don’t have to answer that. I’m just being ornery.”
“It’s good. Different from anyone else I’ve been with, but good.”
“And you’ve been intimate with him since Vegas?”
