Page 245 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 2

Anna nodded.

The man smiled and motioned to a limousine behind him. “If you are ready...”

Anna slipped into the back of the long vehicle, nerves churning a million miles an hour. The limo pulled into the street and Anna pushed the button to lower the partition between the front and back of the car. “Where are you taking me?”

“The Library Hotel, Miss.”

“There’s a Library Hotel?”

“Yes, Miss.”

“Is it . . . part of the library?”

“No, Miss. It’s a block away from the library. The hotel’s theme is the library. The floors and rooms are decorated based on the Dewey Decimal System.”

“Wow.” She thought for a moment. “Do you know why he picked this particular place?”

“No, Miss.”

Anna stared out the window. A psychopath wouldn’t choose a library-themed hotel, would he? He had to be cultured to even consider a place like that... right? Anna couldn’t imagine a more romantic rendezvous, even if he hadn’t planned it that way. She resolved to just enjoy herself. The old Kurt might have done something like this, but not anymore. She still hadn’t heard from him, and that stung.

Not long later, the limo pulled up in front of a tall, narrow building. Stained-glass windows surrounded the gothic marble archway at the entrance. When she walked inside, she felt like she had, indeed, walked into a library. Dark wood paneling covered the walls, and shelves of books surrounded her.

She crossed her arms over her chest after a few men flashed seductive smiles at her, remembering what little she was wearing. She looked like a prostitute. And she would have to go home like this tomorrow. Oh, this was not a good idea. She turned to leave, but Simon appeared at her arm.

“Miss Katrina. I’m so glad you came. Right this way.”

Anna flushed, but allowed Simon to guide her to the bank of elevators. She couldn’t help but stare at the foyer of the hotel. “It’s beautiful.” She glanced sideways at him. “How did... he... choose this place?”

Simon grinned. “He had a feeling you might like something... unusual.” He pushed the call button for the elevator.

“Does he have a name?”

“All people have names,” Simon answered with a smile as they stepped into the wood-paneled elevator. “You may call him Mr. J.” He pushed the button for the eighth floor.

“Mr. J?”

“Anonymity, Katrina.”

“Oh. Right.” Mr. J? What did the J stand for? Jones? Johnson? Jerk? Anna smiled at the last one. “Have you worked for him long?”

“I have known him for more than half my life.”

“Is he a good man?”

Simon smiled. “One of the best I have ever known.”

Tears burned her eyes and she looked away, doing her best to wipe them away subtly. People had referred to Alex as that many times. Oh, how she missed him!

The elevator doors slid open silently, and she followed Simon down the hall. “Eighth floor... eight hundred,” Anna murmured to herself. “Literature.”

“Smart girl.” He stopped at the end of the hallway.

“Mystery.” Anna read the plaque next to the door and grinned. “I love it.”

“He will be pleased to know you approve.” Simon produced a black silk scrap of fabric from his pocket. “You will wear this the entire time you are with him. If you take it off, I will be forced to contact your fiancé and tell him of your escapades.”

Anna gasped.

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