The baby remained between friends as the mother looked on. “A baker’s dozen? Really?”
Candice shrugged innocently. “Fine. A healthy seven kids for you and the tycoon.”
Grumbling, Alicia accepted the baby into her arms. Not that she had held an infant since her little brother, but so much of it was instinct, right? Mother’s instinct? Inherent biology?
“Whoa!” Candice lunged forward to keep the baby’s head from dive-bombing over Alicia’s arm. “You gotta hold her head up!”
Monique was already out of her chair.“You don’t want to marry your kid off to mine! You want to kill her!”That’s what that look said, anyway.“I invite you into my house…”
“Sorry!” Alicia couldn’t figure out where to put her other hand. There was so much stuffing between baby and Alicia, and she was afraid to accidentally grab the blankets and nothing else. They thought it was bad that she forgot to support the head? Well, how about a baby slipping right out of its swaddling and smacking on the floor?Does that count as corporate assassination?
“All right.” Monique plucked her daughter out of Alicia’s arms and held the big baby against her chest. “That’s enough excitement for now.” As bad as Alicia felt about the catastrophe that almost happened, she had to appreciate getting a reaction of some kind out of the infamously impenetrable Monique Warner.
The servant returned to take the baby back to her bed. Monique sat down in her seat with a heavy breath.
“I’m sorry,” Alicia repeated. “I didn’t mean…”
“No harm done.” Calm was restored to the table. Some tea had splattered against the white finish, but as Monique said, no harm done. “I needed to wake up, anyway.”
“Well!” How this table had turned. Now, Alicia was embarrassed, and Candice was the one who had everything under control. “You have a beautiful daughter, Mrs. Warner. If Alicia is plotting a familial alliance in her womb, it’s guaranteed the grandkids would be the best looking.”
“I… thank you?”
“I am not plotting anything!”
“Are you gestating anything?”
Alicia shot her friend the hardest look she could muster.Really? In present company?Candice took the hint from Mrs. Moreau and went back to being silent.
“So,” Monique said, most of her carefully controlled demeanor now obliterated, “I don’t claim to know much about you, Alicia, but from the sounds of it, you’ve become quite the changed woman since marrying your wife.”
Well, that certainly was a topic change. “Suppose you could say I’ve gone through some changes since meeting her.”
“Yes.” Monique grinned. “You used to work at her club, as I recall.”
Alicia blushed.
“There’s no shame in it. That kind of place makes a woman feel certain things.”
“I’m sure.” Alicia knew. She knew what Monique was talking about, and it had nothing to do with the sexual atmosphere that claimed a person once they entered Midnight. Alicia hadn’t worked there long enough to find out more about the yearly demonstration the club hosted and made millions of dollars on. Monique and her Domme were last year’s star couple, breaking monetary records with one very public display of affection. They fucked in front of the whole club. There. I put it out there in the universe. Alicia died thinking about it. But if anyone had the disposition to handle that kind of display, it was Monique Warner, a woman who – by all accounts – thrived on the submissive lifestyle and even exhibitionism.There’s a tale for her kids.
Monique was not perturbed by what anyone at the table thought. “Your wife implied that you wanted advice about certain lifestyles. Is that your real wish as well?”
Alicia didn’t look at her. She looked at Candice, who knew what was going on, but was definitely a third wheel for such a personal discussion.
“Real quick,” Candice interjected. “Where’s the ladies’ room?”
The servant stepped forward to escort Candice down the hall. Alicia’s friend went, taking her purse with her. She was already reaching for her makeup case. Good. She would be a few minutes, as Alicia had hoped.
“Yes,” She continued the ongoing conversation, staring into her cooling tea, “it was my wife’s suggestion, but I’m following through out of my own interest.”
“I see. You are new to the lifestyle, yes?”
“I suppose it’s obvious.”
“Just because you’re new to the lifestyle doesn’t mean you haven’t harbored the ability to enjoy it for much longer.”
“I never thought about it before she brought it up.” Alicia paused, words floundering in her mouth. “If I may borrow your confidence for a moment…”
