Page 15 of Unleash Hades
My hair was in a simple ponytail, when all the other television personalities around us wore coifs as chic as any member of the Royal Family.
I wore no jewelry. Not even a wedding band. Then again, neither did Richard… we were far too “cosmopolitan” for something like that.
“Couldn’t you have madesomeeffort?” he complained as he called up the elevator.
No, I couldn’t have. Because I had no intention of looking good for his benefit. Or the shareholders, for that matter.
“I’m a war correspondent,my love,” I practically puked out the words with a saccharine, fake sweetness that burned like fresh, heated caramel. “No one cares what I look like.” I ran a hand down his silk tie, as though I felt some great affection for him. Then I smiled, looking at him from beneath lowered lashes. “And you look good enough for the both of us.”
That had been my technique all along. Defiance, but with a compliment.
“Icare,” he said, his tone deep, and grave. “A man wants hiswifeto look decent. You are a reflection of me, after all.”
That’s how he saw people - based on his relationship to them. That was where he derived people’s value.
“I suggest you do a little better for these meetings.” It was a suggestion, and a command.
“Darling…”
“I don’t want to argue about this, do you, love?” He said through his straight, clenched teeth.
I froze.
He had used those words before.
He leaned towards me, placing his mouth near my ear. Like the reptile he was, he darted his tongue out, licking the shell of it as I shivered in disgust.
My husband was no more attracted to me than I was to him. I had worked hard on it. But he was attracted to power. He loved nothing more than to impose his will on the unwilling. That was his true aphrodisiac.
“Yes, darling. I’ll make an effort.” I pushed out in a whisper, because I knew - Iknew- that silence would not do. “For next time.”
Don’t shake. Don’t show him you’re afraid. Don’t show him anything.
Richard looked at his watch.
“Don’t wait up for me tonight,” he said. “I’ll be back to the office after dinner.”
Back to the office. Back to his mistress’ apartment. Wherever he was going, I was relieved.
“Of course,” I said, nonchalantly, as the elevator descended the long distance to the ground floor.
“And I might not be back for breakfast,” he added.
He was going to see his mistress, then.
A pang of bitterness pierced my heart. It had been almost fourteen years since Adelia. Fourteen long, lonely years…
“Hmm,” I said, acknowledging him. “The boys will be disappointed.” I was obliged to say that, even though it wasn’t true. “It’s their first weekend home.”
“I’ll see them later.”
No, he wouldn’t.
“That would be wonderful.” I smiled, as if we weren’t dealing in lies.
The elevator doors opened, and I stepped through.
We walked silently through the lobby, and I gave a curt nod to the security man at the front desk and said, “Have a good evening.”
