Bound by a Contract

na

ard for the tenth time this morning,

will make everything worse, but I

at it feels like to be

ree days since Alexander threatened me,

scale restaurant, Alexander with Simone leaving a nightclub, the tabloids are

every morning

d I don't know what

my own ears, my son is three years old and alr

ed in elegant script, his words from the gala echo in my head, you

before I can talk

nch offer

mmediately want

insane, Alexander will fin

utely, Café Noir downtown, 1 PM, it's qui

nder's schedule on the shared calendar his secretary maintains, ba

Julian's lunch, "I'm going to the foundation

er face, "Mrs. Harrington, be careful, t

on has been.

ld, "What do you

at the hallway, at a painting I

last year, I wasn't supposed to know but I ov

itor your movements,

ually sick, "He'

have told you sooner, I was afraid to get involved but after the o

ulders, refuse to l

reful, thank you for t

unglasses and a scarf over my hair, took side streets until I was far enough away t

t street, mostly students studying and locals reading newspapers, no pa

e stands when I walk in and that warm smile spreads a

sure you

across from him, pul

't sure

ders two coffees, then lean

want the real answer, not

s the last time someone asked me that

f pretending everything

Marcus says gently, "n

rrives and w

and actually listens when I

about lazy Sundays with my parents reading in the garden, he asks about m

fore everything fell apart,"

kids who might not otherwise discover it, I wanted to s

n is doing exactly that, you're giving children access

I say wistfully, "but it's something, it's th

arcus leans forward,

the programs

m pairing volunteers with struggling readers, about the scholarship fund we're building for kids who want to pursue

aughed more this afternoon than I have i

rcus says quietly, his hand reach

ot the gilded cage

hould, but I don't, his touch is warm,

"I can't leave him,

st, I would never suggest otherwise, but there are ways out of situations th

m h

d to me? You barely know me, I'm married to your r

of my hand, "I know enough, and maybe I'

watched the way you light up around them, the way you dim when your husband appears, you deserve

hest, dangerous and warm

er's name flashing on the screen, my

e are

d so fast my chair scr

I have to g

nds too, "

rd the door, "thank you for listening, I haven'

gain, three more texts from Alexander, all asking where I am, how does he know I'm

the time we reach the mansion my hands are t

calm my racing heart, trying to thi

oyer, arms crossed over his chest, still in his suit from this mor

deadly quiet, the kind of quiet

foundation office, I had

, takes a step closer,

not l

mpletely, it's a photo of me and Marcus at the café, sitting across from each ot

voice is pure ice, "and t