Page 38 of Hotel Mallois

Used to this thing they've done so many times, for a fleeting instant, Katherine feels tempted to let it continue, but sanity immediately returns to her and reminds her that these aren't the lips she wants to feel, nor are these the hands from which she desires caresses despite always having enjoyed sex with Annie Cohen very much.

"Wait, Annie," she says placing her open hand on her chest while turning her face just in time to avoid the kiss the banker was about to give her.

Annie stops dead in her tracks, confused, and takes a step back to allow Katherine to move away from her. Shewatches her walk while processing what she's heard, trying to guess if she's serious or joking.

Katherine walks in the middle of that awkward silence to the cabinet where she keeps the wine glasses, while thinking about the best way to explain the new situation to Annie, but what comes out is a rather clumsy and dry explanation.

"We can't keep sleeping together."

Annie blinks and lets a few seconds pass.

"Were you serious?" asks the banker, still dumbfounded.

Katherine walks past and leaves the two glasses on the table in front of the sofa.

"Yes, Annie, I'm serious."

"Don't tell me you've got a crush on that maid who's been hanging around here lately," Annie blurts out with a rather contemptuous tone that greatly bothers Katherine, "because she's cute, Katherine, I won't argue with that, but that woman is..."

"Stop, Annie," Katherine cuts her off so sharply that Annie reaches for her glass and drinks the contents in one gulp, "be very careful with what you're going to say because this is serious."

Annie puts down her empty glass and takes Katherine's, drinks it too while the Mallois owner watches her with some perplexity.

"Sorry, I need to drink to digest this," Annie says.

"Do I need to throw you out of my house?" Katherine asks, not knowing how to take the comment.

Annie shakes her head so hard that the businesswoman fears the banker's perfect bun might come undone.

"No, I'm sorry, I just didn't expect it. We're talking about you and a cleaner, Katherine, understand that it's hard for me," she asks and sits down.

Katherine refills both glasses.

"I understand, as long as you speak about her with respect. Sometimes I feel like you forget where you come from."

Annie's greenish gaze intensifies so much when she raises it to focus on the woman who has been her lover for months that Katherine has the sensation of seeing a green meadow through her.

"I assure you I don't forget, Katherine, I'm very clear about my origins."

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that, it was wrong," the hotel owner apologizes.

"No, you should have because you're right," Annie says, surprising Katherine, "it's been so hard for me to enter this world where appearances, power, and money are everything, that sometimes I behave like a tyrant. As if I had more rights than the rest of mortals just for having achieved everything I have coming from such a dysfunctional and poor family that no one gave a dime for me."

Annie reaches for another glass, but Katherine crouches in front of her and stops her when she sees her intention is to empty it in another gulp.

"Drink slowly, this one, enjoy it with me, as friends," she asks putting a hand on her knee.

Annie draws a frustrated grimace that makes Katherine smile, but nods.

"I must admit it sucks that I can't fuck you anymore, but if you like that woman and it's serious, I'm happy for you, really," she finally says.

"I know, thank you."

"What's her name?" she asks when Katherine takes a seat beside her, "it's so I can stop calling her the maid," she jokes raising her glass.

"Jodie, her name is Jodie," Katherine smiles toasting with her friend.

Two hours later and somewhat impaired by the wine, Annie leaves Katherine's penthouse after finishing the meeting. Jodie isn't even spying on her at that moment, but chance makes them cross paths on the main floor. They see each other from afar and when their gazes connect and Annie notices that wariness in who she now knows is named Jodie, she winks at her with a touch of mischief she can't help and continues walking toward the exit.

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