Felix does not answer Amara’s greeting or her half-hearted attempt at a smile. Instead, he walks toward her, holding out his hand for the money. She drops the three purses into his palm, and he turns around, spilling the coins over the desk. The hard clank of falling metal jars on her nerves. He counts it by scraping each penny over the wooden surface, not remarking on the fact she has given him yet another overpayment. His total silence makes her nervous, as he no doubt intends.

“If you don’t want to chat today, I’ll be leaving.”

Felix speaks to stop her moving, as she knew he would. “I don’t like the rules of your game.”

“What game is that?”

“How many clients do you have now?” He jabs his finger at her to emphasize his words. “How much money is Victoria bringing you in each month?”

“Why should I tell you anything about my business?”

“You were keen enough to brag before. She’s obviously worth more than we agreed. I’m not sure six thousand sesterces was enough for her.”

“Well, that’s too bad for you,” Amara says, growing angry. “Because that’s what we signed in the contract.”

“You’re not leaving.” It is a command, not a question.

“You don’t own me anymore. I’ve paid you more than this month’s installment. You have no reason to keep me here.”

“There are many reasons.” He tilts his head and smiles, so that she almost hopes his mood might be shifting, until she sees the cruelty in his eyes. “Posh boy doesn’t know you are here. That’s a reason. You don’t want him to find out. There’s another reason. Don’t you think?”

“I thought you weren’t going to threaten me anymore?”

“That was last month,” Felix says, with his most charming grin.

“I’m not here on my own. I can call for the men I brought with me.”

“Yes, your two hard men next door.” He nods, as if seriously considering her threat. “The smart one who’s almost skinnier than you are, and the brawny one without any brains. I’m fucking terrified by the thought of either of them taking me on.”

“What do you want?”

Felix puts his hands on her waist, cautiously, as if testing what she might do. She grips his wrists, making it clear she will resist him. “I don’t care what the contract says. I think you need to pay me more, the way you’ve always paid me.”

“No.”

“I’ve waited long enough for you. I want proof you’re not stringing me along.”

“What about winning my trust?”