I bristle at the sound of her name. A thousand thoughts run through my head; none of them pleasant. I want to claw the smirk from her face with my long nails. How dare she?
I will my voice to be even, but there's an edge to it as I ask her how she knows my name.
"News travels quickly around here," she says simply and turns back to the mirror.
She touches up her hair, admiring herself as she does so. I want to yank it all out for what she did to Christian.
"You're disgusting," I say, unable to help myself. The reigns of control disappear.
She turns slowly, looking me up and down in distaste.
"Excuse me?" She says, her smirk faltering.
"You heard," I say clearly. "You're a perverted monster and you shouldn't be let around children."
She laughs then. A horse wheezy sound and I want to hurl myself at her.
"I'm not sure what Christian told you, but I can assure you he enjoyed everything I taught him. Everything we did together."
She says we as an insult to me. She's rejoicing in her memories of him. Taunting me. I don't fall for it.
"You seduced and sexually groomed a child," I say. "His enjoyment of it doesn't count. What you did was child abuse."
Her eyes grow cold then, her mocking expressions turning to venom. Nobody wants to be accused of such a thing, even if it's true.
"Listen," she says. "I don't know what you think you know, but I'll tell you now that it isn't much you silly little girl. What Christian and I had far surpasses anything you'll ever have with him."
"You're wrong," I laugh. "He loves me. He never loved you."
She smiles then. "That's sweet, you think that. He isn't capable of love sweetheart. Not in the romantic sense anyway. I'd leave now while you have the chance because he will leave you. You're just a trinket. A mousy little thing. He needs a real woman he can dominate. A real woman who knows how to satisfy an appetite like his."
I tense. I won't let her get under my skin.
"You know nothing about us. About him," I spit.
She smiles again. "Oh but I do. I know that you look exactly like all of his ex submissive's. Ask Christian about his type next time you're in bed. Types that resemble his dear old mommy he can punish with whips and canes."
I'm confused but I don't let her see that. She walks over to me and I step back instinctively.
"Look at you," she laughs. "Draped in clothes he bought you. A hair-do paid for by him. You can't buy class honey, no matter how hard you try. You're just a toy to him. Once he finds out you're never going to fully submit, it's all over. He likes a challenge and that's what you are. You're a game."
I want to throw things at her. I want to push her into the wall, yell at her that she knows nothing but she's getting under my skin and pulling at my insecurities. She knows this and taunts further.
"Has he performed a BDSM scene with you yet?" She asks cruelly. My silence is her answer.
"Of course he hasn't," she laughs. "Once he does, he'll never be able to stop. He's trying his hardest to keep this vanilla relationship with you but soon it won't enough. And if he doesn't get submission from you, he'll find it elsewhere."
The words cut through me like knives. The implication that he'd cheat on me…this woman is something else. She is truly vile in every way.
"Mark my words Anastasia, once he starts again, he won't be able to stop. It's what he really wants, really needs. He's damaged and broken. I'm sorry you had the misfortune to find him. You're a nice young girl I'm sure."
She steps closer. So close I can almost taste the perfume on her skin. "If you want my advice, leave him. Find a nice boy who can love you properly. You don't want a sadist honey."
With those parting words, she pats me on the shoulder sympathetically and leaves the bathroom.
My eyes fill with tears and I feel as though most of the air has left my body. There is a cloying feeling in the atmosphere, and I feel hot and claustrophobic. I have to get out of here.
The party is in full swing as I rush through the house and out the front doors. Nobody tries to stop me.
Out on the glittering front lawn, I sit down on a bench to catch my breath as I bury my face in my hands. There's a thousand things running through my mind right now. I feel ashamed for letting her get to me so much.
"Ana?" Christian's voice breaks through my thoughts and I look up at him with what I'm sure is puffy red eyes and tear stained cheeks.
"What happened?" He asks, aghast as he takes a seat and gathers me into his arms. "I saw you running out."
"Can we please go?" I say quietly.
"What's wrong?" He insists, angling my face toward him.
"I met your ex," I laugh, humourlessly as I wipe tears away. "The pedo one."
He stiffens. "I didn't know she'd be here. What did she say to you?"
"Please can we go?" I insist, not wanting to be here a second longer.
He searches my face for clues before nodding.
"I'll go and say goodbye and fetch my things." He stands and holds a hand out for me as he leads me to the car where Taylor is sat. I idly wonder what he's been doing all evening.
Christian opens the door for me, and I get in.
"I'll be back in a minute," he says, kissing my hand.
In the car, I go over everything Elena said. If he tries it with you he'll never be able to stop. I don't believe that. I believe our love is stronger than a physical need for BDSM. But a small part of me niggles at me. He didn't even want you to use ties. Would he really not be able to go back if he engaged in it with me?
A few moments later Christian opens the door and gets in beside me. Taylor drives off immediately and Christian pulls me closer to him.
"I spoke to her," he says. I can tell he's angry.
"I had a feeling you would," I confess.
"She won't bother you again," he says confidently. "I told her I'd tell everyone about us if she ever made you cry again."
I smile weakly.
"What happened?" He asks again, taking my hand. "Don't you remember what we promised? No secrets?"
I look up at him. His eyes are full of concern and I'm sure I look a state right now.
"She told me that I look like all your other submissives," I say. My voice is a little hoarse. "She says you used to use them as a mother replacement to punish. Small brown-haired girls. Is that true?"
He pinches the bridge of his nose, sucking in a harsh breath. And then he nods, and I feel my heart clench.
She was right.
I automatically pull away, but he doesn't let me.
"No, you have to listen," he says sternly. "She introduced me to that. She told me back when I was fifteen that I'd be able to release the anger I felt toward her if I chose subs that looked like her."
"That's disgusting," I hissed.
"I know. I haven't done it for years. Sophia didn't look like them. Ana, you bearing a resemblance is a complete coincidence, I promise. I clearly didn't pick you for inflicting pain upon did I? I've never hurt you. You've never been my submissive like those other girls."
I stare at my nails as I nod.
"She told me that I'm a gold digger," I laugh.
He shakes his head at that, running his fingers through my hair.
"A gold digger is somebody who asks for gifts, not accepts them."
I look up at him again. "She said the reason you won't do BDSM with me is because you'd never be able to stop. Because that's what you really need. And if you don't get it soon, you'll eventually find it elsewhere."
Anger flashes through his eyes.
"That's not true," he states firmly.
"Why won't you do a scene with me?" I ask softly, shuffling closer.
"You don't even know what a scene is," he laughs sarcastically and we both know he's right. I have no idea about any of this.
"Teach me," I say, reaching for his hand again.
"Ana stop. She's just getting in your head; you have no idea what you're asking for okay?"
"Just once," I whisper, now crawling on to his lap. His hands automatically come down to press against my hips gently. "I just...I want you to do it with me. I want to know what it's like."
He groans in frustration.
"Why?" He asks. "Isn't what we have enough?"
"Of course it is," I say, bringing my face up to cradle his face. "But I can see it in your personality. The way you dominate during sex naturally, even without it. It is a part of you. I want to experience it with you; just once. And if you want, afterwards, we can forget it. I'll never mention it again. I promise."
He sighs as he presses his forehead against mine. Slowly, he nods and I kiss him in return.