The responding smile he gave me was worth it. “Thank you.”
It took me less than twenty minutes to get ready. I put on a black turtleneck, a long black skirt and black boots. I didn’t have time to do my hair, so I put it up into a messy bun along with some big earrings and a smoky eye.
“Do I look okay?” I asked Axel nervously, as he helped me put my coat on.
“You look gorgeous.” He paused and stared down at me. “Thanks for doing this.”
My husband never asked for anything. This had been such a small ask, and he was treating it like I was doing him some massive favor.
“Anytime,” I told him, meaning it. “Even if Giselle is there.”
The bad weatherhadn’t let up by the time we arrived at the restaurant. I was already dreading tonight.
Inside, I followed the hostess to the table but nearly stumbled when I saw how beautiful Giselle looked sitting at the table. Behind me, Axel protectively put his hand on the small of my back.
Introductions were made with the clients and drinks were ordered. Just like every other business dinner, I demurely sat back and quietly sipped my drink.
Giselle was making a lot of effort to include me in the conversation, which confused me. Typically she focused most of her charm toward the clients but tonight she repeatedly tried to make sure I felt welcome.
I found the gesture a bit baffling and although my responses were polite, they weren’t particularly warm.
Axel leaned in and spoke softly into my ear. “You can trust her.”
Our eyes met.
He spoke again, in a low voice. “I know you’ve had your differences but she’s one of the good ones, like Maksim or Anton and Oleg.”
I studied him. I knew something was up with my husband, but I couldn’t place what. He seemed more secretive. More worried about things that he wasn’t talking about. And now this cryptic message about Giselle.
It seemed so odd that he was trying to convince me to trust her, especially considering the history I had with her.
I shrugged and nodded, but I didn’t believe him.
Later that nightwhen we pulled into the driveway, Axel didn’t turn off his truck.
“Are you going somewhere?” I asked.
“I’m needed at work for a couple of hours.”
“Okay,” I said, gathering my bag to get out.
“Do you still remember the number?” There was a sense of urgency in Axel’s voice that I hadn’t heard before.
“What number?”
“The one I gave you with the key?”
I nodded. “Yes. I remember.”
“Don’t forget it. Practice it every night.”
The next morning,I was standing in front of the mirror, getting ready for school. Axel had left long before my alarm went off, slipping out with a soft kiss and instructions for me to have a good day.
Bang!
From the bed, Bandit stood, barking loudly at the tremendous noise that had just sounded downstairs.
I stood in the middle of the room, frozen, listening, trying to decipher what had happened. Had something fallen? Was someone fighting?
