I take Miss Still s phone and text him to buy condoms, to which I receive a scathing look from my wife. These two obviously won't be watching anime. The redhead is head over heels in love with Gray, and he with her. And I know where all this can lead, unlike Anastacia.
- Where are we going? Anastacia asks.
To kick your boss s ears, I whisper. This is a damn invasion of privacy.
I may be removed from the operation, Ana frowns. No one ever went against Fred.
I understand her fear. Miss Steele is afraid of losing the children and me. But I don t intend to release the cameras to Fersday. And even if Fersday says that he is removing Ana from the mission, I am sure that we will find a way to defend our family.
Ana's Pov.
An hour later we're sitting in Fred's waiting room, and I'm really nervous. What will he say? What will we tell him? I understand that he is worried, but cameras are still too much. I feel like my head is starting to hurt and my knees are shaking... Lewis looks at me and strokes my hand. I smile weakly at him and nod. And then his secretary looks out from Fred s reception room and asks us to come in.
Agent Hedwig, Fred is surprised. - What's happened?
What happened is that you American whores invaded our privacy. Eric called Anya this morning and, as I understand it, he surprised her with the fact that he knows the intricacies of our intimate life, Lewis answers for me. - Cameras in our house! What's this?
- Precautionary measure. I will not leave my children with the always drinking version of Vladimir Solovyov! - Fersday says sternly.
He doesn't see anything wrong with surveillance... No, it's not normal! My children and I should have a private life and it should not be touched!
- Fred, what about trust? Don't you trust me? - I scream in despair.
Fersday hides his gaze. I understand that it s hard for him, just like us.
- I don't trust him! Prothero is a monster, and I don't understand why you're still with him. Ana, if you care about your children, accept the fact that I will watch over you, Fred asks.
Well, I do not! This is too much even for the best spy organization in America!
- Never! - I whisper. It s easier for us to move to Escala than to accept this! If you set the conditions like that, then I refuse the mission!
Fred turns pale, and I turn on my heel and leave his office. I can t breathe, my head is buzzing. They were watching me and my children. They don't trust us, and my husband is considered trash...
I feel defeated and humiliated. There are tears in the eyes from resentment and injustice.
- Ana. Lewis s hands gently squeeze my shoulders. I smile weakly at him and brush away my tears.
- Everything will work out. You will cool down and talk, my husband assures me, leading me out of the American intelligence office.
They never followed us, Fred trusted me unconditionally. And now... - I snuggle up to Prothero and whine like a little girl. I rarely cry, but in this situation...
Lewis kisses my hair.
- Let's go to Sova. There you will rest, I will show you the rest of my possessions. And then we ll start buying the Escala, Prothero says tenderly.
A glass of Champagne, massage, manicure, pedicure, makeup... I relaxed a little and allowed myself to think about something that was not related to my asshole boss. The girls were very friendly to me and kept asking me what I needed.
Having changed clothes and cleaned myself up, I go to Lewis s office. Seeing me, he seemed speechless.
You re beautiful, he whispers, coming up to me and kissing my hand.
- Show me what else you have here. I saw a medical unit and a beauty salon. But there s probably a shooting range and sports facilities right there, I say with enthusiasm.
- You're right. Don't forget, we are not only prostitutes, but killers. Once upon a time, after I left Larkhill, I could not live without military service. I wanted to be of service to New England, not only as a leader, but as a soldier. I made this request to Sutler, and he gave me money to open Owl . In the beginning there was a purely spy network, the best in England. But then I got bored with my oldest profession and turned Sov into an elite brothel. However, we continued to spy and sometimes carried out assassinations, Lewis says coldly.
I'm cringing. The King of Larkhill moved his holdings here, and I understand what lies behind the beautiful facade.
- Do you want to see the shooting range? Lewis asks.
Yes, I would shoot at him, I say confidently.
Lewis grins and takes me by the hand, leading me out of the office and towards the elevator. We go down to the ground floor and he shows me what is on it. Sports complex. Everything here is aimed at developing strength and endurance. Equipment and gear are all state-of-the-art.
- Amazing! I say, looking in admiration at how several girls, apparently Owls, swim in the pool.
I m glad to hear such an assessment, Ana. You see, this is not just a brothel. You can come here and exercise or just relax. There is no violence or oppression here. Yes, sometimes young people come to work in my brothel because of difficult life situations, but they do it voluntarily... - Lewis says firmly. - I care about them. And if your boss comes to my club, I won t install cameras.
I laugh and jokingly push my husband in the side. Then he takes me to the shooting range. I'm absolutely delighted. It is huge, there are all types of weapons, including pneumatic ones.
- How about we shoot together? - I suggest.
With pleasure, the husband nods.
We take pistols and start shooting at targets. We accompany our training with laughter and caustic comments about my boss. I feel the tension of this day go away. I have never experienced such support from someone close to me
Although Fred cared about me, he saw me primarily as someone who would do anything for the interests of his country. But for Lewis, I am, first of all, a person with desires and interests.
An hour later we leave the shooting range, and Lewis leads me to his room. There we take out the laptop and watch movies, hugging and chatting. At the same time, I write SMS to the children and ask how they are doing. Christian and Elliot ask me what happened.
I tell them that I will tell everything. Having agreed to meet tomorrow after school at the Three Chocolates cafe, I made Christian promise that he would take Mia with him.
After that, I lie down next to my husband and close my eyes, enjoying his warmth and protection...
The morning greets me with rain and the absence of my husband nearby. I stretch lazily and, after lying in bed for a while, I write an SMS to the children saying that it s time for school. All three respond to me within ten minutes and post their photos near Eden. I smile warmly at the display and, getting up, go to Lewis s office.
So you ve almost already registered Escala for us? Gia, this is wonderful! No wonder I'm paying you! Can we come in on weekends? Great! I am glad to hear it! Lewis says cheerfully into the phone. When he sees me, he smiles and with his eyes tells me to sit down. He quickly ends the call and kisses me.
The housing issue has been resolved. I bought the Escala penthouse. The skyscraper is guarded, and there s no way that cunning Americans will get there, Lewis purrs.
They re not cunning, they re just overprotective, I whisper and hug my husband.
He kisses me passionately and his hands shamelessly crawl under my silk robe. I hug him and he carries me to his desk. He throws off the papers and puts me on the tabletop. He unties the belt and strokes my chest and stomach. I move forward to meet him and press his head to me.
Suddenly the office door opens and Dascombe appears on the threshold. He politely coughs into his fist, distracting me from Lewis.
Good morning, sir, Miss Steele. Sorry to interrupt you, but Leila Williams is standing in the hall on the first floor and asks to meet with Ana, the Young Man says guiltily.
Leila? They knew who to send..