Christy was doing her best to remain Michael’s irresistible lover. But what she really wanted to do was hide under the covers and sleep for eighteen hours. The sex-for-capital scandal just wouldn’t go away. The company’s stock had dropped five points since the story hit the papers. Even though they’d denied everything, the Journal just ran an article where another of Katherine’s ex-lovers claimed Christy had offered him sex if he’d invest in her company. A bad picture of Christy appeared on top of the story. Why does the paper print lies like that? And couldn’t they have used a more flattering photo? she wondered. It was all so humiliating. A few board members expressed concern about Christy’s ability to lead.
On top of that, Brownie was micromanaging her project. Christy told her that if she could build a three-hundred-million-dollar company, she could run a fifth-grade graduation. But Brownie was having none of it. Every comment she made seemed to imply that Christy wasn’t cutting it as a Colby Mommy. And then there was Renata. Christy had managed to outsource most of her care. Eve was scheduling a few hours a week for the two of them, but it wasn’t working. Renata just didn’t want to be with Christy. They ate lunch together yesterday and barely spoke. Renata’s class had a science fair on Monday to which all the parents were invited. Renata asked Nectar to come but didn’t mention it to Eve, so she couldn’t schedule it on Christy’s calendar. Mrs. Smart called and chided Christy for not being there. Next week, Colby was having a special mother-daughter assembly. Christy would have to write a letter to Renata extolling their special bond. But there was no bond to extol yet. Christy was lost. Mrs. Smart had made a point of telling her not to send Nectar or Eve in her place.
Michael stepped out through the door of his plane, beaming at her before he realized she wasn’t looking at him.
“Beegee, I can’t believe you met me here,” Michael said, breaking Christy’s train of thought. “And you brought me an Amstel. I love you.”
Dammit, she thought when she realized she had missed her chance to flash him. He took the glass from her hand, then kissed Christy with the passion he’d shown when they were first married. She returned the sentiment as enthusiastically as she could. Christy would have given anything to feel amorous at this moment. If only she weren’t so tired. When Michael finally let go, Christy stepped back and discreetly opened her coat, revealing his prize.
“You are so sexy,” he said.
“Come in the car and let me show you just how sexy I can be,” she whispered.
Anthony put Michael’s bags in the trunk as the couple piled into the backseat. “I’ll put up the partition,” Michael said, pressing the button to raise the soundproof privacy window.
Michael downed his beer and opened his wife’s coat, burying his head in her breasts. “God, how I’ve missed these.” Christy closed her eyes and moaned as though she was turned on even though she was thinking about firing Rick Slotnik, who was doing a terrible job making the sex scandal disappear. Michael pulled Christy’s coat off entirely and admired her body. “Mmmm, you’re so hot.” She moaned as he ripped off his clothes. In a frenzy, Michael kicked over the ice bucket. Christy made fake orgasm sounds, all the while wondering which of Katherine’s ex-lovers would come out of the woodwork next and why they were claiming to have had sex with Christy. Was it possible that Katherine was behind this? She felt Michael’s heart pounding as he lay next to her.
“You are a goddess, Christy,” he said. “I thought I might be losing you. You just haven’t seemed so glad to see me lately.”
“Oh, honey, I’m sorry. I’ve been distracted. But that doesn’t mean I haven’t been lusting for you since you left,” she replied, trying to sound all hot and steamy. She hated faking it with Michael, but the alternative was worse.
“I can’t wait for next week,” he added.
“What’s next week?”
“You know, you and me, Chamonix. Climbing Mont Blanc.”
Oh no, Christy thought. I totally forgot. “That’s next week…?”
“Finally, we’ll be alone. No work, no responsibilities, no cell phones. It’ll be fantastic.”
“I can’t go.”
“What? Why not?” There was genuine disappointment in Michael’s voice. He sat up and reached for his clothes. His hair was as scruffy as a pound puppy’s. It was Christy’s favorite look for him.
“Things are just too tenuous at work, babe. And I’ve got that mother-daughter assembly on Wednesday. Mrs. Smart said I had to be there,” Christy said, putting on her coat.
“Oh, if Mrs. Smart said you had to be there, then I guess you do.” She could see Michael going to a very dark place.
“Michael, please. I’m trying to do right by Renata. I’m trying to run my company. I’m trying to be a good wife to you. I’m doing the best I can.”
“Beegee, you said things weren’t going to change. Well, they’ve changed. We should think seriously about boarding schools. At least get Renata off your plate.”
“I don’t want to get her off my plate. I just want to figure out how to be her mom. I have no idea how to do it, and I can’t make everything slow down. Give me time. I’m not used
