“I’m here,” Penelope, the 58-year-old Jill of all trades, that didn’t ask too many questions and knew how to do as she was told, called as she walked into the building. She had iron-gray hair and skin so sun-damaged she looked far older than her 58 years, but she did her job. That was all that mattered.
“Good. I need you to go over the purchase orders that Leon’s been putting in for the last few months, see if you find any discrepancies.”
“You think he’s buying too much and selling it off on his own?” Penelope sat at her desk and turned the desktop computer on. With a slight turn and a flick of her wrist, she turned on the office coffee pot on a table behind her. Penelope was all about efficiency.
“Maybe.” Matteo stared at her for a moment and wondered how something like that could get by her. She was the accountant here after all. She didn’t seem worried though like she would be if she was in on it. There was nothing about her movements that betrayed any kind of guilt and Matteo knew that she was probably innocent.
Penelope was an accountant, not a project manager or planner. She’d have no clue how much material would be needed. “Look for large increases in supplies, you know, where they were buying three boxes of nails, they started buying 20. Anything like that.”
“Will do, Matteo.”
Penelope got on with her morning routine, and Matteo soon left to take care of other business elsewhere. He was supposed to have gone down to Louisiana in February to open his casino down there, but he hadn’t gone, because he wouldn’t leave Marie. He’d sent a representative from the family down in his place. He’d put off going back down there because he hadn’t wanted to take Marie back. He didn’t think it would be good for her, so he’d delayed the visit. He’d kept telling himself he would go down, but he hadn’t made it and now he wouldn’t leave her at all. Even if the contract on his wife was finally taken care of, he knew he wouldn’t want to leave her. Would it ever truly be over, he wondered as he watched the buildings pass as he drove through the city. This need to be near her, to protect her, from him and the life he lived? The bad that came along with living the good life.
He had a feeling it wouldn’t be.
The alert came on through his sound-system that he had a call and he hit a button on the console. “Hi baby, what are you up to?”
“Nothing, honey, just making breakfast.” Marie’s voice filled the interior of the car and he smiled automatically, totally unaware that he had. Her voice just made him happy.
“Do you need anything?” he asked, curious about why she’d called.
“No, just wanted to hear your voice. I did wonder something, though.”
“What’s that?” He’d picked up on the irritated note in her voice and wondered if this would be their first fight.
“Do you want me naked when you get home or dressed? Because I really, really need you.” Her voice, always sultry with that southern twang was even more alluring over the phone. His body responded instantly, and he pressed down hard on the gas pedal without meaning to. He eased the pressure of his foot as he regained control and chuckled.
“Why don’t you meet me at the door completely naked, Marie, and I’ll fuck you right there against the door?”
“Mm, that sounds lovely.” She purred down the line and gave a soft laugh of her own. “Or you could meet me in the living room so you can fuck me against the glass again.”
“Oh, you know I love that.” And he did, he loved fucking her there where he made his claim on her for all to see, although he doubted anyone could see them that high up.
“I do, indeed. So that’s a yes on nudity, gotcha.” She sighed before she continued. “Where are you going now?”
“I’m going to meet Anton for a late breakfast, then back to the construction office.” He didn’t like to lie to her, but she didn’t need to know he was going to make sure the shipment they were sending down to New Orleans was in order. Or what was in that shipment.
“That sounds nice. It’s fresh air anyway.” She sounded wistful, and he knew she wanted to plead with him to let her go out, but she wouldn’t. She had too much pride for that.
“It is. Look, I’ll bring something home for dinner, so don’t worry about that. You just be nice and ready for me when I get there, alright? I’ll send you a text when I’m in the parking garage.”
“Sounds good. Have a good day.” She forced a cheerful note into her voice, and it tore at his heart. She did need to get out at some point.
But not right now.
3
Two weeks later, Matteo came home to find Marie still in the bathrobe she’d worn that morning when she’d seen him off to work. That concerned him, was she getting depressed? Her bright smile chased that thought away and he went to sit on the couch with her.
She leaned over to kiss him and say hello. “How are you, darling?”
“I’m good now that I’m home.” He stroked her cheek before she pulled away to look at the screen of her laptop.
“I’ve bought a few more books and today I watched an entire series about these women that go crazy and get involved in some kind of money laundering scheme with this gangster guy. It was funny.” She pushed clean, shiny hair behind her shoulder and sat back, her feet tucked under her. “I can order anything I want online, it would seem. All I have to do is wait for it to arrive and the guards bring it to me. After they’ve inspected it, of course.”
“Of course.” Her smile was still in place but there was a brittleness to it that bothered him.
“It’s perfect really, I can even order groceries online. I never have to leave this perfect, safe place.” Her eyes turned to his then, their deep brown so unlike anything he’d ever seen before. It made him ache now, to see that hint of pain in those eyes. The perfect bird, in the perfect cage.
That was the accusation in her eyes, at least.
“I’m glad you’re finding ways to stay busy.”
“I’ve got the treadmill over there for when I need to walk,” she waved at the treadmill in the corner of the living room, “I have the phone if I want to talk to someone. And books and movies at my fingertips. Oh, and the doctor has agreed to make house visits, as has the counselor.”
“Good.” He nodded but he wasn’t sure if he wanted the counselor coming here. The doctor might be needed at some point, but the counselor? It might take some explaining to stop any questions they had about why Marie wasn’t allowed to leave the place.
“Trina came over for lunch, and she’s coming back tomorrow.” Marie slid down on the couch, her eyes on the darkness outside the glass wall. “I wish one of the windows would open.”
“What good would climate control be then?” he responded, guilt niggling at him. He knew what she meant, even if she didn’t say it. She wanted fresh air.
“You’re right. Shall we have dinner?” She got up from the couch and walked down to the kitchen.
He wondered if she’d been on the treadmill at all today, or if she’d put on clothes when Trina came over or if she’d stayed in her robe. He wanted to ask, but he didn’t want to make her feel self-conscious. He wanted to know if she was showing signs of depression, though. He decided to text Trina.