Castleton

  Lexington Subdivision

  A little later

  Mayor Gunther's Residence- Master bedroom

  Simon rolls from atop Maryna with a loud chuff. The mayor squeezes both eyes shut, desperately trying to catch his breath. For her part, Maryna lies back on the mattress. She stares blankly up at the extremely grotesque popcorn ceiling.

  'Not anymore grotesque than my life,' Maryna mentally chides herself.

  Simon finally gets his second wind. He places one arm around Maryna's bare shoulders and leans to kiss her left cheek.

  "God...You were so good to me, Mary. I had fun. Didn't you?"

  Maryna nods agreeably, shifting her eyes to meet Mayor Gunther's. The mayor takes his opportunity to kiss her full lips.

  "We'll have to do this again sometime. Real soon."

  Maryna nods a second time. She politely slides from underneath Simon's outstretched arm and prepares to get up. Simon sits up on the mattress first, admiring Maryna's nude form from above. The quiet housekeeper maintains only minimal eye contact, biding her time until she is free to leave.

  Once Maryna is upright, she presses a hand to her chest and leans over the bed. Grabbing up her discarded underwear, she quickly stands up.

  "Mary, wait..." Simon calls.

  The mayor reaches for his wallet on the end table. He opens it up and rummages inside the middle section. With a grin, Simon hands Maryna a one-hundred dollar bill. Maryna's eyes widen and she energetically shakes her head from left to right.

  "No, Mister Gunther. I can't accept that."

  "Why not?" Simon says. "Just think of it as an advance. For next time. Here. Take it. Take the money. It's yours."

  Maryna anxiously plucks the bill from Simon's hand. As she does, he uses his other hand to grip her wrist. Fear courses through the housekeeper and she considers leaving the money and fleeing.

  "You're so beautiful, Mary," Simon declares, eyes narrowed to small slits in his otherwise blank face. "I don't know why I never thought to ask you before. Well, now...I'm glad I did."

  Maryna nods and turns away from the bed. She puts on her underwear as she walks across the room. Her uniform dress is in the foyer. She will need to retrieve it. Just in case Maxwell decides to make a nightly visit. He's taken to doing so more often in the last couple of weeks. Simon's voice halts Maryna again before she reaches the bedroom door.

  "Why not use the master bathroom, Mary? Relax. Molly won't be back until she's had her fill. We have all night. And afterwards, I'll grab you something nice to wear."

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  "I...I really should be getting back to my chores, Mr. Gunther," Maryna says, refusing to look back. "I was performing laundry when we...I really should put the clothes inside the dryer now."

  "Call me, Simon...Mary," Simon declares in a soft whisper.

  Maryna glances over her right shoulder, fear and frustration in her expression. She shakes her head emphatically.

  "I don't think that is approp--,"

  "Only when Molly and the other staff are not around. Of course," Simon continues.

  "Of course, Mr. Gunth....Simon," Maryna utters and hastily leaves the room.

  -

  -

  Molly slams the rear passenger door of the idling limousine, not bothering to allow the driver to help her out. Angrily storming up the porch stairs, Molly goes over the events of the last couple of hours in her mind.

  "Lying bastard!" Molly roars, rummaging in her purse for the house keys. "That dumb sonofabitch! Fug! I left my damn keys. Goddamn it! Where the hell is Maryna?! Maryna! Maryna!?! Get your fugging ass out here and open this damn door! Do you hear me? Goddamn it!"

  Simon answers the front door instead, his eyes large and full of accusation. He peers over Molly's head at the dark limo parked less than thirty feet away. The stoic limo driver stands beside the front passenger door, watching the goings-on. Cinching his white robe tighter, Simon grips Molly's left elbow and yanks her towards the house.

  "Hey!" Molly shrieks in protest. "Get your damn hands off of me, Simon Gunther! Who the fug do you think you are? Ow."

  Simon pays Molly's angry words no heed. He pulls her inside the house and slams the front door with jarring force. Molly immediately slaps her irate husband across the face and attempts to stalk away. Simon maintains his hold on her arm, twisting it threateningly. Molly squeals in pain and slaps him again.

  "Let go of me, you asshole! Just who the hell do you think you are! Fug off, Simon!"

  Simon grips Molly's chin with his opposite hand, squeezing it between his fingers. The mayor's eyes narrow and he hisses directly into Molly's flushed face.

  "Who the hell do I think I am? I'm your dear old husband, Molly," Simon rasps. "The guy who pays your exorbitant credit card bills every month, and pays for that damn limo outside. So you can whore around, and make me look like a jackass, in style. I'm also the guy who paid good money to make certain parts of your colorful criminal history disappear. I'm the damn mayor of Castleton, Molly. I could make you disappear. For a very long time. Like I told you earlier...Before you ran off to be with whatever Tom, Dick, and Harry you managed to scrounge up this time...I've put up with your sleeping around long enough. The entire police force thinks I'm a fugging laughing stock because my wife can't seem to keep her damn skirt on for more than twenty minutes at a time. That's why you wanted the security detail dropped, wasn't it? So you and Max...Or whoever else...Can fug to your heart's delight. Don't look so surprised! You thought I didn't know? I'm not as dumb as I look. But your screwing around ends tonight, Molly. Or you go away for a long long time. I think you know I mean it."

  Molly is prepared to answer, her bottom lip trembling with sudden fear. However, Maryna chooses that exact moment to stroll into the living room. The housekeeper is fresh out of the tub and her uniform dress is only partially buttoned. She is also barefoot. One shoe lies under the couch; while the other shoe was lost somewhere in the hallway--during her and Simon's turbulent journey to the master bedroom.

  Molly and Maryna make brief eye contact before Maryna looks away. Molly angles her head to glare at Simon. Simon's face is still twisted with anger but some of the fire has gone out of him.

  "Hmmm," Molly mutters, tapping a slender finger against her upper lip. "And what have you been up to, Simon? I wonder. And...What happens when Simon says...Do a little strip tease for me? Does little Maryna do exactly what the big boss man wants? Is that how this works, Simon?"

  Yanking her arm from Simon's grasp, Molly offers Maryna a sly wink. The shamefaced housekeeper only stares at Molly, words failing on her lips.

  "Don't worry, Baby," Molly says in a low whisper, sarcastically patting Simon's right cheek with the palm of her left hand. "Your secret is safe with me. I'm just gonna have a nice soak in the hot tub. You coming, Simon?"

  Simon issues a low sigh as Molly swaggers away from him. He spares a quick glance in Maryna's direction. The pretty housekeeper kneels beside the table where his shattered cellphone still lies on the floor. With a loud huff, Simon turns to follow Molly up the hallway.