Suddenly, a sparkle across the room catches my eye. I stride to Michelle’s vanity and sitting there prettily is the emerald necklace. The green gems wink, as if taunting me, and I swallow thickly. Is it telling me something? Have we lost the girl of our dreams, one day too late? What could have caused Michelle’s sudden departure? The large emerald glints again, and in a rage, I hurl it across the room where it smacks against a wall before dropping to the rug lifelessly.
But still, the green gem taunts me.16MichelleSitting cross-legged on one side of the bed, June stares at me in complete shock as I recount my story of the last few months. A plate of freshly made chocolate chip cookies – June’s treat – sits on the duvet between us, growing cold.
“And they handed Jensen a suitcase of cash,” I finish miserably. “I guess I was bought, like you would a car.”
“No way.” Her green eyes go round. “But I mean, how have you survived, Michelle? You still have this apartment,” she says, gesturing to the four walls around us. I gulp.
“They gave me an allowance of twenty-five thousand dollars every month,” is my whisper as I stare down at my duvet.
My friend’s eyes are as round as saucers.
“Oh my god, that much?” she breathes. “But how did you spend it?”
I shrug miserably.
“I didn’t really because they paid for everything. Clothes, jewelry, beauty products, and even my rent and student loans were paid for. The stipend was totally extraneous and I did nothing to earn it. I’d spend all day reading or swimming or shopping online and that’s all they expected me to do.”
“Wow! Living in the lap of luxury,” my friend sighs with envy. “You lucky girl.”
But I have to be honest with June. I tell her about the betrayal, and as I do, tears come to my eyes.
“But Junie, they’re married. I mean, I didn’t know! I didn’t even think to ask them. This whole situation was so bizarre, and I just assumed that Tom and Gabe were single. But obviously, nothing about this situation is normal,” I say, swiping at my cheeks with an angry hand. “I just assumed, and I was dumb, and now I’m paying for it.”
The normally chatty blond is completely silent now, her face etched first with confusion, followed by concern, and finally, wrath.
“Those jerks!” June practically spits the words, and I’m both grateful for her support and a little surprised by her fervor. “Who the fuck do they think they are?”
“Well it’s partially my fault,” I offer, feeling defeated by the whole experience. I grab a cookie and munch on the edge of it, not really hungry but wanting the distraction.
“How on earth is it your fault?” June demands as she folds her arms across her chest, her expression still enraged.
I sniffle again, biting at the cookie mournfully. “I didn’t have to say yes to Jensen. I mean, sure he was threatening me with all sorts of things, but I didn’t have to agree to his vile little plan.”
“That’s not fair to yourself – ” June protests, but I hold up my hand.
“Even if I felt pressure about losing my apartment, it’s not like I had to agree to go to Long Island. That was a choice.”
June frowns. “You can’t blame yourself for being curious, and for craving adventure, Michelle. A lot of girls would have gone. And,” June continues, “From everything you’ve said, it seems like these are two fascinating men. You just got swept away in the romance and mystery of it all.”
I nod at my friend’s line of thinking.
“Thanks, I think. I just wish I were a little more street smart. I mean, married? Really?”
June shakes her head.
“It’s not your fault, Mich,” my friend says. “They should have told you from the outset, and then you could have made your decisions from there. Not telling you is a major omission, and that’s not right.”
I wipe my eyes angrily again.
“But was I supposed to ask?”
My friend thinks for a moment.
“No, because who asks in this kind of scenario? Were they wearing wedding bands? Did you notice any sneaky behavior?”
I think back.
“No, neither Gabe nor Tom wore wedding bands. Ever. Which doesn’t mean that they don’t have them because some guys slip them off before meeting with a mistress. But there was no sneaky behavior either. They were present with me at the mansion, every day. I knew where I could find them at almost all hours. And we spent so many nights together, the three of us. They weren’t with their wives.”
June merely shakes her head.
“I know, honey, but New Yorkers can be strange. I’ve definitely heard of couples who have open marriages, where they tolerate the other person stepping out. It sounds like this could be it.”