I'm in bed with my laptop on the blanket in front of me and Pete's face is displayed all over the monitor. He's telling me about his meetings with all kinds of important people in New York. He's been rubbing elbows with some writers. Very good people to know in his business.
"So what have you been up to?" he smiles, adoringly at me.
I feel tears prick my eyes and a lump forms in my throat. I can't speak and I shake my head, turning the computer away from me. I can hear him saying my name, but I can't bring myself to say a word.
The guilt over what I've been doing with Vivien has begun slowly eating away at me. I know in my heart that Pete will leave me. Or at least he should. I know that it's not okay and that Vivien manipulated my thinking just a little.
Planting little seeds like calling him the four-year-boyfriend. But I can't tell him like this. Not when he's in New York and will surely turn away from me in a place where I can't hold him.
I turn the computer back and regain composure. Pete looks terribly concerned.
"I'm sorry," I squeak. "I just..." I swallow hard "miss you so much,"
"That's why you're crying?" he seems relieved and smiles a little. "I'll be home soon, sweetheart. Don't cry," he holds a tissue up to the screen and I laugh a little.
We say goodnight and when I close the computer I decide then and there: when he gets home, I am telling him. First thing.
I close the computer and my head bounces onto my pillow. It's cool under my head and feels so nice. I glance down at my stomach peeking out from under the blanket and see a light bruise. Vivien.
I close my eyes tight and somehow manage to fall asleep.
Friday morning comes and I know that when I arrive home, Pete will be there. I'm typing aimlessly and the cracking of a whip brings me back to reality. Only it isn't a whip, it's Vivien's voice. Loud. Powerful.
"Evey! Are you deaf?"
I jump and turn to her, standing from my desk. "Sorry," my cheeks redden and I trip over my own feet on my way to the ladies room.
I'm looking at myself in the mirror - at the bruise on my tummy - and, "is that from me?" Vivien smiles.
I shoot her a wicked stare and snarl, "You know it's from you. You also probably know that Pete will notice. You want him to leave me, don't you?"
She turns and locks the door. Not here, not at work. This is the office. She can't. I stand bravely and smooth my shirt out.
She walks over to me briskly and grabs my chin, "You think it's okay to talk to me that way, little girl?"
I pull away from her and this time she steps towards me and puts her hand on my throat. "Vivien, not here, this is the office. Your rules, remember?" I look up at her blue eyes and they are shooting daggers into mine.
"We aren't in my office, are we?" she pushes against my throat and repeats the question. I say nothing. "We are in the ladies room in the building where my office is located. And you're being a mouthy little bitch all of the sudden," she brings her lips close to mine, "Apologize."
I stare at her, wide-eyed. "No." She leans her knee between my legs and rubs up against me.
"Evey, I can see right through you. You're so excited right now that you're just hoping and praying that I don't feel how wet you are right now. You're thinking that someone could walk in at any moment, but that won't happen because if you'll notice, I locked the door. Now I want an apology or I'm not letting you walk out of here."
I swallow hard against the palm of her hand, "I'm sorry,"
She smiles and loosens her grip on my throat. "Good girl," she traces her fingers down my chest to the opening of my blouse and undoes a button.
"Vivien, please," I say looking away from her.
"What's wrong?" she licks from my cleavage up to my ear and bites my earlobe. "You don't wanna play anymore?"
I continue to look away from her and she undoes two more buttons. She cups my breasts in both hands and pushes them together. "That's okay," she licks both breasts, "I can have fun all by myself," she moves my bra and takes one of my nipples into her mouth.