Chapter 2
Two
Laci took care of the the broken glass from the vase in the foyer and completely cleaned the kitchen.
There were other rooms that needed attention, but she would have to get to them later.
The house was too huge sometimes. She washed three loads of laundry, then had to crash for a couple of hours.
It had been such a late night, and she was still hung over.
It was a relief to lie down and close her eyes.
“Laci, wake up,” a voice said.
She jerked away from the hand clutching her shoulder. It took a moment to put it together that the handsome face above hers belonged to Eric Renard.
He’d begun talking before she could really process what he was saying. She heard the words unacceptable and consequences. Those words combined with his grim expression were enough to tell her why he’d walked in unannounced.
She held out a hand. “Don’t lecture me. I already know I screwed up. It won’t happen again.”
“Get up and dress for a trip to the clubhouse.”
“I’m not going there.”
“All right,” he said, his dark blue eyes raking over her. “Then spend some time online looking for apartments in the city.”
“I’m not moving!”
“The community as a whole holds a greater than half stake in every property. Didn’t Colin tell you that?
The council can buy the house out from under you without your consent.
You’ll be given a fair settlement for the property.
Once the paperwork is complete the money will be yours free and clear.
I’d suggest that you buy a new smaller house elsewhere and bank the money, but you can do whatever you want. ”
She stared at him, feeling stunned. There had been hints over the past year that the council could ease her passage to the outside. She’d thought they meant they could buy her house to be helpful, not that they could seize it from her against her will.
“I don’t want to leave.”
“It seems like you do.”
“No. I really don’t. I was tired and I wanted to make it easier on myself, so I told my city friends to come out here. I’ll never do that again. It was a mistake.”
“You know it takes more than words of apology to make amends here.”
“Colin’s not here. What do you expect me to do?”
He folded his arms across his chest. He looked so forbidding when he did that.
“I expect you to let me act as his proxy.”
“As his proxy for what?”
“For whatever’s necessary.”
She scowled at him. “Who do you think you are?”
“The man that stands between you and eviction from this community. If you don’t want my help, you’re welcome to attempt to handle it on your own.”
He turned and stalked out of the room.
She wanted to let him go, so she could be left to her own devices.
She’d go back to sleep and forget everything until the following day, but her stomach lurched from the terrible feeling that Eric wasn’t bluffing.
She tried to imagine facing the council alone.
No way. But when she thought about being sent away she couldn’t breathe.
She jumped off the couch and raced to the foyer.
He had the front door open and was about to step out.
“Wait.”
He looked over his shoulder, brows raised.
“I do want help.”
“Smart,” he said, closing the door. “You’re a mess. Get ready and then get dressed.”
“I took a shower this morning. I’m not a mess.”
“There’s clean and then there’s properly groomed for the clubhouse.”
“I’ve never actually been in the clubhouse library. The couple times my punishments were witnessed it was here.”
“Even so. Are you telling me that Colin let you skip shaving your legs and plucking your eyebrows those times? Did you have wild uncombed hair and chipped nail polish?
Laci took a deep breath and exhaled. “No, Colin was really particular about that stuff. If you want me to get ready in a way that would’ve satisfied his inspection of me, it’ll take time. I’d need to have my nails done and to be waxed and—”
“There isn’t time for hours in a salon. Do whatever you can to get ready. We’re expected there in two hours.”
“Eric, I won’t know what to do in the clubhouse library. He never took me there.”
“You don’t need to know anything. You won’t be in charge of what happens there.”
She froze on her way to the stairs. “I won’t be passed around, especially not to men I don’t like. If that’s the plan, you bastards can forget it!”
“Watch your mouth,” he said, pinning her with a look.
She clenched her fists in frustration. She wanted to scream and break another vase…
or a hundred vases. Instead she slapped the wall with a palm before she turned and leaned against it, her arms folded across her chest, her head down.
“I can’t let John have me. Or Stu. I’m not a whore to be passed around. ”
“No one is going to pass you around for sex, Laci. Why would even think that?”
“Because people partner swap at the clubhouse.”
“Everything that happens at the clubhouse is consensual, just like everything that happens in the community. And most people do not partner swap. Only a very few couples do.”
She put her head in her hands. Eric walked to her and leaned down to bring their faces close.
“Laci, are you really sure you want to stay? I know this is the house you shared with Colin. You’re probably attached to it. But you can take his things with you and set up house anywhere. Do you think you’d be happier in the city with your friends?”
“No. Those people don’t really give a shit about me.
They’re thrilled I’m not painting. They’re thrilled to see me fail.
They came to see what a wreck I am, despite having a big house and a bunch of money.
They came to drink and smoke for free and to roll their eyes at the fact that I’m still sad. They’re jerks.”
“So why do you keep going to the city to hang out with them?”
“How do you know where I go?”
“I review your credit card statements.”
She rubbed her eyes, angry that they were damp with tears. “I don’t know. I thought I needed to get away, but it’s not better there. It’s not better anywhere.”
“It can be.”
“Think so?” She wanted to believe him, but her hold on everything felt so fragile. It was like she was clutching sand as the ocean crashed over her body and dragged her out to sea.
Once, a long time ago, she’d felt at home in Haywood Hills. It was hard to imagine feeling that way again, but anything had to be better than being forced out of the only real home she’d ever had.
She would take her punishment and then she would take her life back.