He had no interest in getting into a fight about his wife. In fact, he made it clear to Faith that Alicia was an off-limits topic, but her folded arms and the ever-present pout signaled she had other ideas.
“Not tonight, Faith. I have a lot on my mind.”
“That’s your excuse every time. I’m tired of it. What are we doing, Eliot? You won’t leave her, but here we are, yet again.”
“I said not tonight, Faith.” He growled, impatiently. “You never had a problem with this arrangement in the past. What’s changed?”
He slipped out of bed, crossing the floor naked as he headed for the bathroom. He took a quick shower, toweled off, and returned to the bedroom. His navy-blue Brioni suit and dress shirt were neatly draped over the back of a chair, and he dressed quickly. Faith sat up in bed, her elbows propped up against her knees.
“You have to tell Alicia. It’s time.”
“The answer is the same as the last time you floated that ludicrous idea. An unequivocal no.”
“Then why are you here, Eliot?” she shouted. “If Alicia is so wonderful, why do you want me so bad?” She let the sheet drop provocatively, but it wasn’t going to work.
He glared at her. “My wife is none of your concern. You made it clear from the beginning that you couldn’t care less how our arrangement might affect her. As usual, you only cared about what you wanted. Get this through your head. I’m not leaving Alicia, not for you, not for anyone else.”
“You want to have your cake and to eat it, too, is that it?” she asked bitterly. “Your perfect little family to show off to the world, your friends, and co-workers.” She looked at him through flat, narrowed eyes. “Or maybe it’s because she doesn’t satisfy you. That’s why you keep coming back for more. Isn’t that right, Eliot?”
He drew in slow, steady breaths. He refused to get angry or defensive. He wouldn’t allow her negative energy to dictate his actions.
This little, one-bedroom, luxury hideaway in Chestnut Hill offered the anonymity he needed for these meetings, and the sixteen-mile drive to home and eighteen to the office made it a perfect location—not too close, but not too much of a drive, either. He had given Faith his time and energy, two of his most valuable resources, and he made no further demands of her. Yet, it wasn’t enough.
He walked over to the bed and sat next to her. In a calm, moderated tone, he said, “Faith…” The girl’s eyes glimmered with hope. “You know I love spending time with you.” He lifted her chin with his index finger, looking her dead in the face. “But you don’t get to change the rules because you’re greedy and overreaching. I never promised I would leave Alicia for you nor did I spin some fairytale about us having a future together. So, if this arrangement no longer works for you, you’re free to walk away.”
Her eyes glistened. The chin tremors reminded him of a petulant child about to throw a major tantrum.
She screamed, “You’re a cold-hearted bastard, Eliot. I hate you!”
He would never relent, no matter how many times she acted out. Faith saw his wife as her competition and couldn’t stand it, couldn’t fathom why Eliot stayed with Alicia, when he could have a beautiful, glamorous doll like her.
With unusually large brown eyes, a small gap between her front teeth, and a curvy figure, Alicia didn’t qualify as gorgeous by society’s narrow standards. Eliot didn’t care. What attracted him to Alicia was her undeniable radiance, a creamy cinnamon complexion that emitted a luminous glow that made it seem unreal. But what cemented his profound love and affection for the woman was her big heart, a heart as vast as the ocean. And when Alicia smiled, daisies bloomed, he was convinced of this. She was an integral part of his existence that extended beyond his heart. She was in his blood, his veins, every cell of his body.
“Grow up, Faith,” he said as he stood to leave. “Stop behaving like an entitled little brat.”
CHAPTER 6
“I spoke to Kat, yesterday,” Alicia said to Eliot, as she placed a jug of milk into the refrigerator. He leaned against the kitchen island, sipping his gourmet coffee. They’d had this morning ritual since the early days of their marriage. Coffee together in the kitchen before he took off for work. Sometimes she convinced him to have a proper breakfast with her and the girls before he left.
He pulled a face. “I thought we put the issue behind us.”
“We did. But I wanted to be clear that it can’t happen again. It’s not something I could stay quiet about. She’s my best friend, Eliot—a face-to-face chat was the only way to get things out in the open.”
He placed his mug down on the island. She ambled over and stood next to him.
“How did the meeting go?” he asked.
“She admitted she avoided me out of embarrassment. That the whole incident was a drunken lapse in judgment never to be repeated. She’s dealing with a lot at home,” Alicia added.
“How so?” He took another sip of his coffee, his curious gaze fixed on her.
“Maxim thinks she’s a terrible mother.”
“Ouch. That’s gotta hurt,” Eliot said. “She overcame so many obstacles to get the business where it is now. Maxim’s rejection must be a slap in the face.”
“Exactly. I sense the pressure of running the agency and the issues at home are getting to her.”
Eliot added, “As an only child, I can’t imagine how he must feel, both parents working long hours. Missing that maternal presence in his life. On the other hand, Kat’s not only responsible for making the agency profitable, but she also has employees who depend on her success for their livelihood.”
“No wonder she flipped
