The moment I slipped out of the main dining room, I sought refuge at the bar near the secondary fireplace. I’d heard that decades ago, this corner was a whiskey and cigar club, which explained the lingering scent of aged wood, worn leather, and that particular, dubious aesthetic of old power.
The wait for Kelsey to make her move made my nerves fray. Earlier, I’d held onto a faint hope that she could somehow reverse the situation so I wouldn't have to endure another second with Peter.
But now, with the evidence Giorgia had handed me, I needed a way to orchestrate his arrest without collateral damage to my career. If Kelsey could manipulate him into a corner where he’d finally grant me peace, all the better.
I ordered a water. I needed to be at one hundred percent for tomorrow’s session, and that meant staying hydrated. Kelsey had been very explicit about what she expected regarding my diet the day before any BDSM practice.
It didn't take long for her security guard to enter the room; he offered a brief smile before taking a seat at a nearby table. Moments later, Kelsey followed. I settled the bill and made my exit. Once outside, I climbed into the waiting car and busied myself with my phone while I waited for her to join me.
The Rolls-Royce we were in had likely been handpicked for the sheer expanse of its passenger cabin. I opened my inbox and found an invitation from Kelsey to an event at her country estate, a strategic meeting to decide on party investments. As soon as she slid in beside me, I held up the screen.
"When exactly did you write this email?" I asked, a smirk tugging at my lips.
"On the flight yesterday. I kept it as a draft," she laughed, the sound rich and confident. "From what you told me about your angel of an ex-husband, I thought it might take more effort to bend him to my will."
"Did you really think I wouldn't be able to make him obey me?" I raised an eyebrow, challenging her.
Kelsey glanced at me sideways, her eyes dark with amusement. "No, Kitty. Not at all. I just happen to believe that blackmail and bribes are a much more efficient way to get things done."
"I'm not going to argue with you about Peter," I said, my voice weary from the confrontation.
She rose from the seat and crouched in front of me in the spacious cabin. She pressed a tender kiss to my knees before gathering my hands in hers.
"Look at me, Megan." I lowered my gaze the moment I heard my name; her green eyes were piercing, demanding my full attention. "I don't want to make you feel inferior, and I never want to make you feel small. I just want him to disappear so you can finally live in peace."
"It's okay," I whispered. Her fingers caressed my knee as she sat back down, patting her thigh in a silent, commanding invitation. "Isn't it... dangerous? What you're planning?"
"I'm not going to answer that." She patted her leg again, more firmly this time. I unbuckled my seatbelt and climbed onto her lap, instantly enveloped by the warmth of her arms around my waist. "How cold are you right now?"
"I hate the cold. I never wanted to endure another winter in the States," I admitted, leaning into her. "Why do you ask?"
"Because tonight, you’re going to sleep without a stitch of clothing. Our session begins the moment you step out of the shower."
"Yes, Reenaa," I breathed, the name feeling heavy and sacred on my tongue. "But first... I need to talk to you about something that happened yesterday. Something I can't keep to myself any longer."
"From the tone of your voice, it sounds serious. I'd rather you not make me wait until we get back," Kelsey murmured. She pressed a kiss into the hollow of my neck, sending a violent shiver through my entire frame.
"Giorgia Fognini came to my office yesterday." Kelsey stopped mid-caress, pulling back to look at me with a sharp, focused concern. "She handed me a dossier. Peter is involved in human trafficking, operations running into the United States and Eastern Europe."
"In exchange for membership in the organization, no doubt," Kelsey added, her voice darkening with understanding. I nodded. "Giorgia has a particular talent for convincing people to do exactly what she wants."
"There's not much I can do within the system," I admitted, my legal mind racing. "They could veto my nomination before the vote even takes place. I’m not saying this to protect him—God knows I’m not, but to protect my seat on the Court."
"We’ll let Vanessa handle the optics," Kelsey stated firmly, already weaving a web of counter-moves. "She can leak a scandal about the story of a brave judge who discovered her husband's depravity, divorced him, and spent months gathering evidence to report him. It’s perfect. It fits your narrative of integrity and justice."
I reached out, cupping her chin with one hand while my free hand traced the line of her neck. Damn it, even in the middle of a criminal conspiracy, this woman made me feel an insatiable, burning hunger.
"That makes sense. But... there's something else," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the hum of the engine.
"If you keep scratching my neck like that, the 'something else' will be me fucking you through this entire traffic jam," Kelsey countered, her voice thick with a mix of warning and want. Ilet out a nervous laugh, adjusting myself on her lap until I was chest-to-chest with her.
"She said you waited years for me, Kels. What does that mean?"
Kelsey’s expression hardened into something unreadable. She looked at me with an intensity that felt like she was memorizing my soul, then whispered for me to wait.
I held my breath, the anxiety coiling in my stomach like a living thing, until the car finally pulled into the apartment’s garage.
The silence followed us into the penthouse. Instead of the usual immediate touch, Kelsey sat down in the heavy armchair in the living room. She pointed to the sofa beside her, not her lap, not an embrace, just a cold, clear distance.
