Page 31 of Enthrall
Richard motioned he agreed.
Constance continued, “Bill’s done it twice before and he says he’s a new man when he comes out of there.”
The dog yapped toward the door.
A handsome middle-aged man appeared. “Did I hear my name being mentioned?” he spoke with the same Texan lilt.
Constance rose and so did Richard. I followed their lead and stood too.
The man’s stare fixed on me. “Why, Richard, you shouldn’t have.”
“Terrance.” Richard looked amused and proffered his hand. “How have you been?”
“Good,” he said, “and you?”
“Wonderful.” Richard patted his arm with affection. “You’ve been working out, Terrance.”
“Constance’s personal trainer.” He cringed. “I hate the bastard.”
Richard laughed with them.
We all took our seats again and Terrance sat in the other armchair, close to his wife’s. Terrance’s stare found me again.
I felt Constance looking at me too and yet she wasn’t in the least effected by her husband’s glaring. Over the last few weeks I’d mastered the art of hiding my reaction and prided myself on even hiding my discomfort from Richard.
“Those for me?” Terrance held his hand out.
Richard gave him the papers. “We have your NDA, the form for your doctor to sign off, and of course your special request form.”
I’d signed Enthrall’s non-disclosure agreement on my first day. I wondered if Chrysalis’s might be the same.
Terrance looked surprised. “Special requests. That’s new.” He placed them on the coffee table.
I tried to get in a discreet peek at them only to feel Richard’s disapproving glare.
“This is Mia,” said Constance. “She’s Richard’s new secretary.”
“Well done,” said Terrance.
Richard gestured. “Mr. Sullivan has been a member of Enthrall for six years.”
“Coming up for seven,” said Terrance.
“Now.” Richard looked serious. “Constance, I want to make sure you’ve given Chrysalis a great deal of thought. It’s not Enthrall. I’m sure the director’s been over everything with you, but once you sign these...”
Constance shifted in her seat. “I feel it’s one of those things I’ll regret if I don’t do it.”
“I’ve told her my first wife loved it,” said Terrance.
My jaw almost hit the floor.
“She did,” said Constance with a nod. “I bumped into her last week in Neimen Marcus. We caught up.”
“Ellen loved it too. My second wife,” said Terrance.
How many x-wives did this man have?
“Do you like spending time in Chrysalis?” Constance asked me.
