“Eva made him out to be a monster.” Gina draws a breath. “The gaslighting, for example. Bobby didn’t do that. They were having an affair. Bobby acted like they weren’t when they were at work because that’s what you’re supposed to do when you’re being unfaithful. You’re supposed to pretend.” Gina pauses. “I know you disagree.”
“I do,” Alice says. “But I respect where you’re coming from. And I’m very impressed by your initiative. And I appreciate you including me in your plan.”
“It won’t work without you.”
“And you’d trust me? Knowing how I feel about this place.” Alice twirls her index finger in the air.
“No one’s making you stay.”
“Have you not met our mother-in-law?” A faint smile tugs at the corner of Alice’s mouth.
“Leave her to me. You have my word you’ll be able to live anywhere you want.”
Alice sits up a few inches. “Gina Dewar, breaking with tradition?”
“I think it’s time for new traditions.” A pause. “And yes, I trust you. We’re… different. That’s an understatement, I know. And I don’t always like you, but I trust you. In fact, you might just be the only person in this family who hasn’t lied to me.”
“Good,” Alice says. “Because I’m in—on one condition.”
“I’m listening.”
“Did Calan tell you that he and I had a talk about Malaika?”
Gina frowns. This is the first she’s hearing of it.
“You know she went into the city with him that day?” Alice continues. “She didn’t tell me where she was going.”
“He didn’t tell me, either.” Gina has made it very clear to Calan that he is never again to go to New York without her permission. She needs to know where he is at all times. It’s a matter of safety.
“Well, I learned a little bit more about their expeditions.” Alice clucks her tongue. “And here’s the thing: I think Malaika’s time as our au pair has come to an end.”
Fifty-Six
Malaika
Saturday, November 2nd
He isn’t bad-looking, but this is oddly not a relief. He has blue-gray eyes, an aquiline nose, and a square jaw. He is wearing a bespoke dark suit over his average frame. If she had any doubts about what she has signed up for, his demeanor would’ve blown them to the wind with the power of a tornado. His eyes are scanning her figure, appraising her like she’s a sports car. He introduces himself as Lucas.
He orders them two G&Ts. Malaika downs hers in what seems like seconds. He orders her another one. She takes her time with the second drink, sipping it slowly. Not because she’s worried about getting drunk, but because she is nervous about what comes next. He’s saying something about photography. A hobby of his. Normally, this would interest Malaika. Now, it does not.
“I got us a room,” he says.
She’s still halfway through her second G&T, but this does not seem to matter.
Malaika nods and follows him, not trusting herself to speak. She now regrets not having chugged the rest of her second drink. She should’ve taken something, like Andy had suggested.
Once they are inside the elevator, Malaika notices him inserting a card on a slot and pressing the button for the fourth floor. She can feel her resolve waning as the elevator rises. She eyes the emergency button. What will he do if she were to press it now and dart off as soon as the doors opened? A ridiculous thought, of course. She can just leave. No emergency button needed. Still, her eyes stay glued to the red key.
“After you,” Lucas says, once the doors open.
She walks out onto the floor’s thick carpet.
“This way,” he says, walking briskly to the left.
Outside the room, he inserts his card into another slot. A metaphor for what they will do. The thought sickens her. She tells herself to stop being a baby. This is business. A means to an end. It doesn’t have to be a big deal. There is no need to be so prudish, so moralistic. It’s sex. She’s had sex before.
They make their way inside the room. The decor is lavish, slightly larger than the ones at the Euler, but a lot more luxurious. A Yankee version of Versailles. Andy had said she was lucky. Most of these things take place in seedy hotels, he’d said. But this guy is a class act.
“J.T. told me you’d be nervous,” he says.
Malaika has never met J.T. She had only dealt with Andy. She wonders what Lucas will say if she were to confess to this. Probably, he wouldn’t care.
She stares at him, hoping the tension boiling inside her will subside.
“It’s cool if you don’t want to talk much,” Lucas clarifies. “But there are a few things I’m going to need. I’m going to call you Alex. Or Alexandra. When you do speak, make sure that your voice isn’t too low and play with your hair a lot. Alex does this thing where she twirls her hair, you know.” He moves his finger in circular motions in front of his face.
“OK.” Malaika clears her throat when she realizes she sounds like a screeching mouse.
“That’s perfect,” he says with a pleased smile. “There’s an outfit for you inside the closet. And put your hair up in a ponytail.” He pantomimes the gesture, as if the hairstyle will be challenging. He probably thinks she’s an idiot. “I’m stepping out,” he continues. “I’ll wait a few minutes and then I’ll knock, and you’ll be Alex. We’re dating, but no one knows. You’re excited to see me.”
He turns around and heads out of the room.
Malaika walks to the closet and opens it. Inside, she finds a pair of white, cotton panties, an oversized PRINCETON sweatshirt, a red scrunchy, and a pair of white ankle socks. She searches for a pair of pants or shorts but finds none. Is Alex his ex-girlfriend? It creeps her out, the idea of this man paying Malaika to act like someone else because
