All I want to do is protect her. With our enemies constantly looking for a weakness, the risk to her life is ever increasing.
Leo arrived at the parking lot, and I climb out of the car and head toward the private elevator. We still don’t speak as we ride up to my floor. Terrance is there, holding himself firm. I nod in his direction, relieving him. Leo would take over now.
I hear Anna’s laughter as I enter the apartment. This is why she’s so popular within the casino. She is pure seduction. She has this way about her that puts everyone at ease.
Entering the main sitting room, I can see Adelaide is not at ease. This is a surprise to me. My wife is so nice, she is so calm and collected, and yet here she was, showing no signs of easing up on Anna, who was just trying to be a friend to her.
“Mr. Belov,” Anna said. “Are you here to stay?”
“Yes.”
“I will get going then. Same time tomorrow, Adelaide.”
In response, she simply smiles, but it’s not an actual smile. Just a small widening of her lips.
I leave Adelaide and head toward the door to let Anna out. She’s pulling on a jacket.
“How is she?” I asked.
“Sad, mostly. She’s having a hard time, I think.”
“She will warm up to you.”
Anna put her hand on my arm. “She might not. Some wives don’t like it when men bring in other women to care for them. There’s a competition and jealousy, even when there’s no need to be.”
I stare at Anna and wonder if that’s how she sees herself, as competition. Her mask is in place, and I have to wonder if she still enjoys her job.
“Anna, do you have a problem?” I asked.
“Not at all. I’ll be back tomorrow.” She gives me a smile and I watch her leave.
Heading back into the main sitting room, Adelaide is sitting with her back to the main windows, and this is another reason I’m searching for a house. She hates heights.
“You’re being very rude to Anna,” I said. I came into the room and sat down beside her.
“I don’t need a babysitter.”
“I need someone to take care of you so I know you’re not overdoing it.”
“So, you pick someone from your casino, or is it really a brothel? Yeah, I know who she is.” She shook her head and shoved the blanket off her lap. “I can take care of myself.”
“You’re more than capable of taking care of yourself. I like having someone here when I’m not, and I can assure you, Anna doesn’t work in any of our brothels. She does work in the casino, and saves us quite a bit of money, I might add.”
“Then what about Leo?”
“No, not happening.”
“Why? What did he do?”
Her memory of the day still hadn’t returned, and for that, I was glad.
“Anna will continue to take care of you.”
“Are you fucking her?”
This made me pause. “What?”
“You’re determined to have her take care of me. You’re both clearly close and I see the way she smiles at you. With her working in one of your casinos, I guess she’s close to you all the time. Knows what you like … intimately, huh?”
Her face was red and I saw the tears glinting in her eyes. I don’t know what caused this, but I had no attraction to Anna.
“I’m not having sex with Anna.”
“I don’t care if you are or aren’t. It’s none of my business.” She stood up and I noticed the small action made her wince.
The doctor had said her recovery would be based on her ability to rest and, well, Adelaide was proving to be a very difficult patient.
“You’re jealous,” I said.
“I’m not jealous at all.”
She tried to brush past me, but I capture her arms and stop her. I have no idea why I’m so happy, but I have a feeling it’s because Adelaide is feeling jealous, and that makes me very fucking glad.
“I need to use the bathroom.”
There’s more to be said, but for now, I simply drop a kiss onto her nose. There would be time later.
Adelaide