“I’m in love with you now?” she asks, her shoulders straightening. “Who said anything about love?”

“So you just want me to tie you up again, do you? Because there are hundreds of members of The Manor prepared to do that. Are you going to show up at their homes asking to talk?”

She wilts a little, looking away, and I find myself rubbing my forehead again. “Freja, concentrate on you for a while.” What am I, a fucking life coach? I laugh to myself, standing from my chair. “I have visitors.”

Freja rises, slinging her bag onto her shoulder, refusing to look at me. I feel like shit. Being sober brings on too many emotions I don’t know how to deal with. She turns and walks away, head held high, trying to claw back some self-respect. The door is pulled open from the other side, and Drew stands back, letting her through, ever the impassive gentleman. His eyes follow Freja’s path, a heavy frown falling into place.

He recognizes her. Great. “Hey,” I say, pulling his attention to me. I’ve never known a man to look constantly and consistently pristine. He’s been at work all morning and looks like his suit has just come back from the dry cleaners. And his hair? Not a strand out of place. His blue eyes look tired though. “Late night?” I ask, strolling to the elevator. Every night is a late night for Drew.

“What was she doing here?” he asks, catching up with me and getting in the elevator.

“It’s not what you think.”

“It’s never what anyone thinks,” Drew says flatly. “So what was she doing here?”

“She’s in love with me.”

Drew scoffs. “It must be so tough being a stud.”

I dazzle him with a smile that could light up the building. “Want some tips?”

“Fuck off.” He rolls his shoulders, pulling at his suit jacket, and I laugh. I’ve made myself clear to Freja. It’s one less thing to worry about amid the dozens of things for me to worry about. I only have to hope Mikael doesn’t find out I slept with his wife, find out I’m seeing the pretty interior designer who I just know he has his eye on, and tell said pretty interior designer that I slept with his wife. Actually, it’s not so much that I slept with his wife, as I didn’t know Ava then. Mikael knows what The Manor is and that’s bound to come up in conversation with Ava. Jesus, he might even think she’s a member. Sexually adventurous. Open to a come-on from him. Jesus.

So, yes. Mikael cannot know about Ava and me.

“If anyone around here is giving tips,” Drew says, “it’s me.”