The Erotic Secrets Of A French Maid

Scowling, Emma rose and headed to the door.

Should he even ask his question or was it unfair?

'Hello?' Emma said into the intercom.

Russ couldn't make out the response, distorted by the electronics, but after a quick, helpless glance at him, Emma buzzed the caller in downstairs.

'I'm so sorry,' she said, her hands clasped and distress on her brow. 'It's Daphne. Her boyfriend kicked her out. I told her I'd always be here if she needed me…'

'You don't have to apologize,' he said, silently consigning Daphne to the lower reaches of hell. 'I understand.'

'What were you going to say to me, before she interrupted?'

He shook his head. 'I should go,' he said, standing. 'Daphne will need you to herself.'

'Russ,' Emma said, grasping his arm. 'Don't go. Not yet. This can't be good-bye, not like this. I'll settle her in and then… maybe we can go for a walk or something.'

The door buzzed.

'Stay?' Emma pleaded. 'Please?'

He couldn't refuse the look in her eyes. He nodded.

Emma dashed to the door.

There was a fluster of female drama in the foyer and he waited it out, his discomfort rising with each weepy, high-pitched sound from the unseen Daphne.

The hysterical voice was suddenly silent. Russ turned around and saw Daphne in the living room.

'Daphne, you remember Russ,' Emma said.

'Of course.'

Russ held out his hand. 'Nice to see you again.'

As if automated, Daphne shook it. She turned to Emma. 'Am I interrupting? I'm interrupting, aren't I?' She looked around the apartment and noticed the table with its half-eaten meal. 'Oh God, you were having dinner.' Her expression became panicked and she backed toward the door, her hands waving in apology. 'Emma, I'm sorry, I'm ruining your date with all my private garbage!'

'Don't be silly,' Emma said. 'Sit down, will you? Are you hungry? Would you like some wine?'

Daphne looked again at Russ.

'Please, stay,' he said, knowing he could say nothing else.

'Are you sure?'

He nodded.

Daphne's lower lip trembled.

'Wine?' Russ asked quickly, hoping to forestall the incipient emotional outpouring.

Daphne nodded, looking miserable, and plopped down onto the futon.

Glad to have something to do, Russ headed to the kitchen for a fresh glass.

Then someone knocked on the apartment door.

Russ halted, not sure he'd heard it.

The knocking came again, more firm. 'Emma?' a man asked.

Russ turned around and met Emma's eyes. She shrugged and shook her head. 'Maybe it's Derek? Daphne, did you tell Derek where you were going?'

'No!' Daphne squeaked. 'I hope he thinks I got run over by a truck and am lying on a highway somewhere, and that he'll feel guilty about it for the rest of his life.'

The knocking came again.

Russ, could you get it?' Emma asked, wrapping her arms around Daphne, who promptly fell blubbering onto Emma's chest.

Maybe he could make an escape while he was at it. He went to the door and pulled it open.

Kevin stood staring at him.

'Kevin! What the- What are you doing here?' Russ asked in surprise.

'I'm confirming my suspicions-that's what I'm doing here!'

Oh, shit. 'Which suspicions were those?' he asked coolly.

'Fuck off, Russ.' Kevin pushed past him into the apartment, and was brought up short at sight of Emma and Daphne on the futon.

'Kevin? What are you doing here? How did you know I lived here?' Emma asked in surprise.

Daphne's face appeared over Emma's shoulder, eyes and nose red, hair mussed. 'Christ! Who's here now?'

'I-' Kevin started.

Daphne huffed out an angry breath and got up, dashing for the bathroom, casting an evil glare at Kevin.

'I didn't mean…' he said to Emma.

Emma shook her head and stood. 'Bad timing. I really prefer to be phoned before someone drops by, if you don't mind. How'd you get in the building?'

'I followed behind someone. I wasn't sure you lived here; it was just a hunch. I had to see for myself.'

'See what for yourself?'

Kevin looked from her to Russ. 'Had to see that my friend had betrayed me in the worst possible way.'

Anger and guilt stormed within Russ, with no answer he could give. The truth was so much worse than even Kevin could guess.

'Russ, you knew I felt something for Emma,' he went on. 'So why's she living in your apartment? You're the guy she said she was seeing, aren't you? You couldn't tell me that? If you were going to screw me, the least you could do was be honest about it. Did you think I couldn't handle it if she preferred you to me?'

'I didn't want him to tell you,' Emma said, stepping forward. 'I didn't want to come between you two, since I knew that this wasn't going to last.'

Kevin pulled his chin in, looking at Emma. 'Not going to last?'

'I wanted a fling, and he was convenient.'

Her words, spoken so harshly to Kevin, confirmed what Russ had been trying to deny: that the foundation of their relationship was flawed. To build anything upon it was to invite ruin.

Kevin's face fell as he took in Emma's words. 'But… if that's what you wanted, why wasn't I good enough?'

Emma smiled sadly. 'Because you wanted something more that I would never be able to give. Knowing how you thought of me, how could I let Russ tell you that he was having sex with me, with no intention of a more serious relationship? You would have hated him, when it was me you should have hated, for seducing your friend. I'm the one you should be mad at, not Russ.'

Kevin scowled, looking back at him. 'You didn't have to take her up on the offer!'

'I shouldn't have,' Russ said. 'I was weak.'

'Goddamn it! I expected more from you, you with your careful morals. You're a fucking hypocrite, you know that?'

Russ's jaw tightened against Kevin's disappointment. 'I have flaws like everyone else.'

'You do a fricking good job of making people think you don't.'

'Oh, shut up, will you?' Daphne said, emerging from the bathroom and glaring at Kevin, her red-rimmed eyes and flyaway hair adding Satanic fervor to her words. 'You're just pissed because he got to screw her and you didn't.'

'Who are you?'

'The only person here who's not trying to spare your candy-ass feelings. You knew you didn't stand a chance with Emma, so what did you do? Started stalking her. You're a sicko, you know that? You ought to be locked up.'

'I didn't stalk her!' Kevin protested.

'Then what are you doing here?' Daphne shot back, plainly glad to have found a male target for her angst. 'Christ, it's no wonder she didn't want to go out with you. She oughta get a restraining order!'