Anna slumped down in the empty seat next to Lolly and looked over at Beatrice and Claudine, who were seated next to each other at the front of the plane. Claudine had the good sense to look away, but Beatrice met Anna’s gaze and mouthed the words, “I have no idea…” which was true, Beatrice didn’t have a clue who would release the revenge porn video for all to see. She had already texted several friends back in Greenwich and found out it had been sent to the entire school. It wasn’t obvious from the angle that the guy in the video was Vronsky, though everyone on the plane knew. But it was, without a doubt, the face of Anna K., eyes half-closed in lust, on full display.

Beatrice had the power to fix many a social faux pas, but something like this was beyond her control. Even if Beatrice wanted to, and she didn’t know if that was the case yet, there was no saving Anna K.

Anna started laughing, which was hardly the reaction anyone on the plane expected. It started as a giggle, a schoolgirl who had just received a dirty note from a friend in class, but then it grew louder into a crazed laughing fit. She looked like a deranged maniac, sitting next to a terrified Lolly, who was staring at Steven, begging him with her eyes to do something. Steven spat at Vronsky, who was still on the floor with his head in his hands, and then walked up the aisle. “Lolly!” he barked. “Get Anna’s bag, we’re getting the fuck off this plane.” Anna stood up when Steven grabbed her arm and followed him as he headed out the open door.

Still giggling like a psycho, Anna grabbed a bottle of Tito’s vodka from an ice bucket at the custom bar as she passed it. “I think I need this more than you, Bea!” she called back, erupting once again in laughter. “Peace out! Anna has left the plane…”

XXIII

Steven was relieved he’d let Lolly convince him weeks ago to accept the invitation of one of her mother’s friends who owned a place at the Lexington Club, instead of staying at the six-bedroom house Beatrice had rented for the week, which was also in the gated country club community. Their place, a two-bedroom bungalow, technically a pool house behind the main house, was down the street from where Beatrice and the rest of the gang were staying. His anger hadn’t subsided and Steven wanted to keep Anna as far away from Vronsky as he could.