Bound by Contract, Freed by Love

and a cold wind battered the half-opened window. I glanced at my hand on the chilled glass. I remembered Elena Hart, the woman who had a

stillo, my chauffeur, came in bowing. Two bodyguards followed him.

loor numbed my socks. The interior design was modern and minimalist. White sofas, glass coffee tables

itcase. She wore a short gray dress, simple, just enough to impress m

nd. "Welcome to Arcadia Heights," I said to her. My

ag. She seemed extremely fatigued. I hadn't b

lease sit down," I said to her, p

the floor next to her. She placed her hands in her lap. I ga

o her. She gazed up at me. I could see the rise and

coffee table. I opened it to page one. "First rule," I informed

r lips compressed. Then

. You're going to be yourself, but in public, yo

around one anothe

tions that I ask you to. Board meetings, press conferences, dinner pa

up and down as she swall

remuneration. You return to square

superficially. I relaxed my tone. "I don't want to sc

rop back. Her eyes

st the glass and leaned against it. "You will be working tomorrow at nine

aced her hand on her belly. "Board meet

or you at eight thirty in the conference room.

ed. "Ver

orridor. "I will esco

corridor with additional gray and white abstract paintings ador

A wall desk. A large closet with mirrored doors. An unadorned

told him. "Your belong

three dresses, two shoes, a stack of blouses. She put them folded on the bed. I was

o need more clot

ront of me, ha

ented. You'll have at least five di

e changes? That s

be wearing the same thi

clearing the bed. She reached into the desk drawer and inserted a framed pho

is safe," I

to me. "You

l you'd pay cash. They'll ope

eyes watered. She sw

ked back from the window. "Dinner at eight

r hand on the frame once more. "M

omorrow eight thirty, Percival. N

her lips stubbornl

living room. I followed behind her silent footsteps through t

I looked at the contract on my desk, expecting its terms to be tested. I thought of El

y office door to the left. It was shut. There, on the

photo of a smiling family on a hot summer day. I leaned against the

e doors slid shut and the car started downward. My face stretched across the metal walls-black, tal

my car. It was a black sedan with tinted glass. I opened the d

, "where would you

. "Take me to m

The car departed t

ugh tomorrow. Board meeting. Meet

o mistakes

for a minute. I pictured Elena'

se and a huge determination to save

rld of power and strength. I wondered if she

e was coaxed onto my lips

down building with intimate lights on either side. I recognized it-my own club, for specia

r and took a deep breath. There was old wood and leather in the air that welcomed me through heavy doors

malt scotch over ice-and he filled it into the glass. I lifted the glas

wafting into my mind. Two years of wedlock. Two years of watching he

rents that I had caressed seconds earl

The scotch bu

red behind me

and friend. His temples had grayed ou

I said. "Goo

glass I'd handed him.

om I'd just entered. "Y

nt up. "Elena Hart. T

ed. "T

elligent. I have read her file. She stud

is fearless. She si

rward. "She signed

." I sipped again. "At

ly whistled.

begins tomorrow. I would

l coach her for the board meeting. I will educat

on his shoulde

ou know that I would

odd

nd stood up. "I will see