“Don’t you want to keep our secret?”

Ah. There it is. That’s why she’s here.

I remain with my back to her, looking across the grounds of The Manor. Beautiful grounds. Trees bursting with lush green, every blade of grass in place, the beds spilling over with spring blooms. Everything is so perfect. Except for the woman behind me, whose talons are encroaching.

I feel her hand on my bicep, and I look down at it, my nostrils flaring, my temper rising. Not perfect. I move away and turn around, making sure I keep my eyes up. “Are you saying, if I indulge your every pleasure, my establishment and I will never be mentioned where your husband and divorce battle is concerned?” Let’s see how far she thinks she can get. Let’s see if I really do need to remind her of the contract.

She smiles. God have mercy on my soul, it makes me want to slap it off her face. I didn’t think Coral could be beaten in the underhanded stakes, but Freja is going lower than a snake’s belly. “Well, I wouldn’t put it like that, but . . .” She shrugs, rolling her shoulders and sending her coat to the floor. My eyes remain on her face. “In a nutshell, yes.”

I nod, my lips straight, and I approach her, watching as her body starts to tighten with anticipation. I get as close as I can without touching her. Breathe in her face. Start lowering slowly, my eyes never leaving hers. She’s trembling. I fucking hate it.

I snatch her coat up from the floor, rise, and shove it into her chest. “I’ll take my chances,” I say flatly, backing away, giving her a look that spells out exactly what I think of her. Scum. We have an iron-clad contract that prohibits her talking about The Manor in a court environment, and if she’s forgotten that, she will be completely screwed. Blackmail me? That is not happening. “Now get the fuck out.”

Her eyes are wide and surprised. It’s an insult. “Have it your way.” She fights her way into her coat, roughly tying the belt, and I laugh under my breath. If I truly had things my way, I wouldn’t be such a monumental fuck-up. I wouldn’t be in this fucking situation.

“Goodbye, Freja,” I say with a finality she can’t question. “And for the record, I had you pinned as a classy, dignified woman,” I add, watching her face fall. “I’m sorry to be proven wrong.” I stride to the door and swing it open, not being a gentleman, but just wanting her gone. Again.

The moment her heels are over the threshold, I slam it shut, kick it hard, and dump myself on the couch, closing my eyes, suddenly exhausted.

Fuck everything, but especially fuck me.