Page 33 of Ruining Vanessa

She shrugs, sitting up to look at me. “It was okay. I—” A yawn interrupts her words, and she smothers it with the back of her hand. “I went through some of the books today.” She frowns.

“And?” I ask, curious about why she looks disturbed. Going through the books I gave her shouldn’t be that difficult. There are numbers about some of the girls being sold, but it’s disguised, so she wouldn’t realize what they were about.

“Something isn’t adding up right,” Vanessa says slowly. “I can’t find where the discrepancy is, but there’s… something.” She shakes her head. “I was supposed to take forensic accounting when I went back to school, so it’s not something I’m really experienced with, but I’ll keep looking at it.”

“Forensic accounting?” I grab the bag I’d brought along. “I thought you were planning to become a simple CPA in California. A very standard job.”

“It’s a requirement for my curriculum,” Vanessa explains. “It’s mostly just a way to track things down.”

I nod and pass the bag to Vanessa. “I brought you a souvenir, by the way.”

She takes the bag slowly and peers inside. “What’s this?”

“I was in Benton City today. I saw it and thought of you.” I watch as she pulls out the small assortment of soap, shampoo, conditioner, and lotions. They’re from an indie store Benton City is famous for, which happened to be on my way between meetings. I couldn’t resist picking up a gift for Vanessa.

These are better than the bath products supplied by the club.

Vanessa has never seemed vain, but surely what I brought will be welcome. It’ll be enjoyable to rub lotion all over her body, too, and run my fingers through especially silken hair. The gift is for her, certainly, but I’ll still benefit from it.

She sniffs one of the lotions, then another, taking her time as she goes through the items in the bag. “Thank you,” she finally says after a few moments.

I can’t tell what she really thinks of them, which is disappointing. It’s not like I expected her to gush all over them like a schoolgirl, but something other than a tepid ‘thank you’ would’ve been nice. I frown at her. “Do you like them?” I press, sitting down next to her.

“I do,” she says, and she offers me a small smile. “It’s much nicer than what I’ve been using. Thank you. I’m used to having… quality things for my hair, and I’ve missed having lotion.”

I smile back at her, then I put my hand on the back of her neck and rub gently. “Let me know if you need anything else. I can always put in an order for more items.”

“Can I have more clothes?” Vanessa asks immediately. Her muscles tense underneath my touch.

My smile slips away. “I’ll tell Giulio you requested it. He probably has a few things in mind for you to wear.”

She doesn’t look happy about that. She stares down at the bottles in front of her, popping open one of the lotions and using it on her hands and arms. “You mean schoolgirl uniforms and puppy play outfits? Or for me to dress like one of his snakes?” she asks, though the words sound more dejected than vitriolic.

I snort a small laugh. “I don’t think he has any snake costumes. I won’t tell him you suggested it. But, Vanessa, the last time you had a full set of clothing, you attempted to run. We’re being cautious.”

“It wasn’t a suggestion,” Vanessa mutters. “But no, don’t even tell him I mentioned it sarcastically or he’ll probably find one.” She sighs though, rubbing the lotion into her skin without looking up at me. “And I know why you’re being cautious, but that was before he told me about Stef. I’m not going to do anything to make life harder for her here.”

I want to believe Vanessa. She’s empathetic and caring, which is the reason I was drawn to her in the first place. But plenty of people… change, when kept in environments like this. Hopefully, she holds on to her pure core.

I let my hand trail down her back, along her spine. “Did anybody visit you today?” I ask, changing the subject.

She sets the bottle of lotion aside, then picks it up again to put the bath products in the bag I’d brought them in. “No,” she says. “Stef brought me downstairs for a little bit, but that was all.”

“You must have been lonely,” I say, leaning down to kiss her shoulder. “I missed you, too.”

Giulio would be laughing now, because we both know that Vanessa doesn’t miss us when we’re gone. But someday, she will. I put my hand on her hip to keep her from moving away from me.

She’s learning to pretend for Giulio. She can let me pretend, too.

“Damien… I just want to go back to sleep,” she tells me, shaking my head. She puts her hand on top of mine, trying to push it away. “Thanks for the gifts and all, but I’m really tired.”

I tilt her head so I can look her in the eyes. She doesn’t look any different from usual, and if the only thing she’s done today is walk around a bit with Stef, she hasn’t been doing anything strenuous. Since it’s close to midnight, she’d probably been sleeping for hours already by the time I arrived.

“I had a long day,” I tell her. “I had to negotiate with people who have high tempers and are very upset about your father’s convenient death, and how the Bellini women are now getting away with everything consequence free. Do you know how I stayed calm throughout it all?”

“What do you mean, the Bellini women are getting away with everything without consequences?” she demands, tensing as she tries again to pull away from me. She completely ignores my question. “I think we’re experiencing some pretty severe consequences, don’t you?”

I’ve seen the photos of what Victor Corvi has had done to our men, and I’ve heard the stories of the new person who clings to his side, ordering the vicious hits.

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