Sondra tried another direction. “Why haven’t you taken my calls? Are you trying to break contract?” She hissed.
Addie held her phone to her face, scanning her emails. “I’ve been busy. But then again you of all people should know that.”
“Look, Addison, I understand that I put you in a difficult position. But in this line of work one has to be capable of handling her emotions and putting them aside when the situation calls for it.”
“And?”
“And . . . act like an adult about it.”
Addie dropped her phone and looked Sondra dead in the eye. “Look. I completed the session. I did what you wanted. I followed your rules. I’m not sure why you’re here. Am I missing something?”
Sondra folded her arms and thought carefully about what to say next. “I’m here because you wouldn’t take my calls. You were fantastic, Addison. You pulled it off. He wants to see you again. Tonight.”
Addie’s eyes grew wide. She clenched her jaw. She was this close to losing her shit. “Fuck you, Sondra. I agreed to six clients. Not seven. So tell me, are YOU trying to break contract? Because I dare you. Hell I beg you. Just try me.
“Addison, he asked to see you from here on out. Said he felt a connection that he’d never felt before. This is HUGE! Don’t you have anything to say? Aren’t there any questions you want to ask?”
“No.” Addie replied.
She stood, suddenly changing her mind, and walked towards Sondra, her face growing hot. “Well, actually, there is. How could you?” Addie stuck her finger in Sondra’s face, forcing her backward. “I have bent over backward for you . . . for this agency. And you throw me under the bus? Just like that? You could’ve told me. You could’ve warned me! Months ago! You know—said something along the lines of stay away from that one. He’s trouble. You’ll fall in love. Only he won’t love you back. BECAUSE HE CAN”T!” She had Sondra backed into a corner. Addie wiped the angry tears from her eyes and looked Sondra up and down with disgust.
A smile played at Sondra’s lips. Addie realized she wasn’t worth it. Clearly, she enjoyed the sick games she played.
“I didn’t need to warn you, Addison. You weren’t the one I was worried about, because you’re stronger than you think. And you were seeing my star client. You were helping him. That’s why I chose you for Seven. You have the ability to connect with people on a level I’ve never seen. You draw them in and hold them captive. You helped William on both a personal level and as his Mistress. Look, I know I fucked up by not telling you beforehand, but I needed you to understand. I needed you to see for yourself.”
Addie cocked her head to the side, her face twisted in disgust. “What is there to understand?”
Sondra sighed, wondering whether she should tell Addie the truth. In the end, figuring it was now or never. “Fifteen years ago, William Hartman became my first client. It didn’t start out that way. We were . . . together . . . sexually. He was different then, Addison. A different man than the William you know. He was strictly dominant. He wouldn’t even allow me to touch him . . . during the act. He couldn’t make eye contact or speak so long as he was undressed. He was rough, abusive even. And I had been dominant my whole life, so, as you can imagine, the two didn’t go over too well. Things were . . . pretty intense. At the time, I had just started to get into BSDM. Anyway, to make a long story short, you could say that I made it my personal mission to ‘turn’ him. The surprising thing was that my forcing him to submit opened him up. He enjoyed it and eventually it helped him talk about what had happened to him as a child. We decided that since I’d helped him, maybe I could help others. And that’s how Seven was born. William is the financial backer and part owner. But if he knew—had any inkling at all that you were involved—well it would be the end of it. Probably the end of me, too. He loves you, Addison. He told me as much. And he’s lost without you. It wasn’t fair to either of you, really. You needed to know. You needed to see the truth. The truth is that it is possible for people like William to love, but it’s because of Seven. It’s because of the work that we do there.”
Addie felt sick. “What is it that you’re asking me, Sondra? Because I’m not going to keep lying to him.”
“I understand. But what I’m saying is that if you’re going to cut William out of your personal life, then fine. But don’t cut him out as your submissive. He’s too weak right now. He has come so far and he’s still fragile. William is a dear friend. And I care about him.”
Addie was furious. The worst part was that she wasn’t sure whether it had to do with what Sondra was asking her or whether it was picturing the two of them together that infuriated her the most.
She stood, walked to the door, and opened it. “I have nothing left to say. Please leave.”
Sondra didn’t budge. “Addison, I understand that you’re upset. And this is probably a lot for you to take in. But please do consider what I’ve said. Just take some time and let it sink in, ok?”
Addie didn’t need time. She already knew what she had to do. She motioned Sondra towards the door with a wry smile. “Tell Mr. Hartman his Mistress will see him this evening.”
Sondra looked stunned. “So we agree? Are you sure, Addison? I need you to be sure because you cannot mess this up. It’ll only set him back in his treatment.”
Addie looked her straight in the eye. “I’ve never been more certain in my life.”
Knowing she had a lot to do between now and the time she saw William later that evening, Addie hurried from one interview to next. She was anxious but excited, too. Having finally made a decision about the direction her life was taking, she felt good about moving forward.
With a few minutes to spare before her last interview of the day, Addie dialed Patrick’s cellphone. When he didn’t pick up, she left a message explaining that she was taking the boys to the beach for a few days, specifically that they were leaving this evening, and that she would call him when they got back. The last thing she wanted was for him to fly home once he’d received the paperwork: the paperwork that would legally separate the two of them. Addie hadn’t yet decided whether or not she’d file for divorce, but filing for legal separation wouldn’t hurt, given the fact that he was already halfway across the world. If Patrick didn’t want to be a husband or a father, it was high time he admitted it. Addie knew exactly what she was doing. She was giving him an out.
Thankfully, understanding why Addie needed to get away, Jessica had been than more than happy to loan Addie her family’s beach house located on South Padre Island. God, she was so grateful for Jessica, especially, these past few weeks. Jessica had always been an amazingly loyal friend. Addie could tell her anything and Jessica would listen, usually offering advice that made Addie laugh. She was always there for her no matter what. And while Jessica threatened to write it all down, swearing that it made great material for her first bestseller, Addie knew her secrets were safe. Because if nothing else, Jessica would at least give Addie the courtesy of changing her name.
Addie made a few stops for supplies before heading to her final interview of the day. It was located on a rural route, and even though she’d checked her map and the directions several times, she couldn’t find the location of the estate. Not knowing the area, she quickly found herself lost. She pulled up Google Maps on her phone, but being out in the middle of nowhere, her Internet wasn’t loading. Frustrated that she was going to be late, she called her assistant. When her assistant failed to pick up, Addie left her a message explaining that she was lost, gave her the address she needed to find, and asked her to call her back ASAP. Finally, out of options and running late, Addie called her potential client and explained that she was lost. Here’s to hoping they’d appreciate her honesty and forgive her tardiness and bad sense of direction. And although Addie was embarrassed, she was incredibly grateful when the man insisted on to coming to get her, allowing her to follow him back to the estate.
Addie checked her appearance in the review mirror and suddenly regretted having dressed so casually. She ran her fingers through her hair and was reapplying her lipstick as the black truck pulled up beside her. She smiled at the driver and he smiled back. The man in the driver seat looked familiar. Addie was certain she’d met him before. As she rolled down her window, she racked her brain trying to a put a name to his face. The man extended his hand. It was as Addie reached out to shake it that she noticed the look in his eye and the hair on the back of her neck stood on end. She attempted to recoil her hand, but her attempt was a just few seconds too late. She felt the jab as something cold and sharp pierced her skin. Unfortunately, that would be the last conscious thought Addie would have over the next forty-eight hours.
Scott Hammons was pleased with the work he’d done and knew God was pleased, too. He eyed Addison Greyer, naked and unconscious in the room he’d set up for the occasion. He’d given her enough Ketamine to keep her out for at least the next twelve hours or so. He walked over, checked her pulse, and injected a little Rohypnol for good measure. When she finally awoke, she would be dazed and confused, with little memory of how she’d gotten here. Everything was going to be perfect.
It had to be perfect. He had put a lot of energy into seeing that everything went according to plan. First, he’d rented this hellhole of a place: a small old farmhouse, remotely located, just off a rural road. Out in the middle of nowhere, it was the type of place where no one would hear screams or bother him while he carried out God’s work. He’d visited various hardware stores to buy the supplies he would need, mindful not to shop in just one place, always careful not to raise suspicion. He concocted the plan to secure an interview with Mrs. Greyer, even making up a fictitious name and address because he was a smart man. And that’s what smart men did. That is why God spoke to him. That is why God chose him in the first place. The idiots didn’t even bother to check him out.