Page 48 of Erotic Behavior (Observant Behaviors)
“Things are okay.I should ask you that.How are you?Has your situation gotten any better?”
“With Miles?No, not really, but Leo has been a huge help.He said Beckett called him and told him you needed me.What’s going on?”
Tears blurred my vision as I looked out the windows, and into the woods that surrounded us.“It’s nothing, Talia, I’m dealing with it.”
“Don’t lie to me, Rae, I’ve talked to you only once since this whole thing started, but I know when something bad’s happened.”
“I don’t want to stress you out with my drama.Tell me about you.”
I heard Talia take a deep breath.“Okay, I’ll go first.Miles is… difficult.Things are complicated here, but I’ve figured out ways not to make him mad.I don’t see him often, but when I do, it kind of sucks.His business makes him paranoid.It’s sad really, but from what I understand, he’s always been this way.There are some people that work here that are nice to me and of course I have Leo, but otherwise I’m just counting down the days until the end of my contract.Miles Carter was not the prince charming I was hoping for.”
“I’m so sorry, Talia, I’m so fucking sorry,” I said as the tears I was trying to hold back crashed into me like a freight train.“This is all my fault.”
“No, it’s not.We both decided to do this, and we knew the risks.”
“Are you married to him?”
“No, something went wrong with the paperwork.When he found out, he was enraged, but I think he’s forgotten about it now.At least it hasn’t come up in a while.One of his mistresses has been staying with him, so he’s left me be.”
“Hell, Talia, I can’t believe all this is happening to you.”
“It’s actually nice when they are here.He doesn’t try anything with me.”
What a fucked up situation I had gotten us both in.“I need to tell you something and I know you are going to be mad at me.I should have told you years ago, but I just couldn’t, and now it’s the reason we are in this mess.”
“What is it?”
“I found my dad.Back when mom was still alive, I tracked him down and met him.He was a horrible person.He runs some church, but it’s more like a cult.I spent a day there while he showed me everything, and it made me sick.The way he treated the women… it was just bad.I left that day and never heard from him again.”
“Rae, why didn’t you tell me?”
“I was embarrassed and honestly, I thought if I pretended it didn’t happen, then it would all go away.But it didn’t.Beckett and he have some kind of beef over real estate.Honestly, what Beckett has been doing is kind of amazing, but it angered my father and he had been keeping tabs on me.I just found out a few days ago that Beckett arranged for me to be at that auction.He wanted to marry me because of who my father was.Some shit about keeping one step ahead.I had no idea, and he swears he only told them you were a friend of mine.He says he had nothing to do with you being recruited and… well, I think I believe that part.”
“Okay.”Talia was quiet for a minute and I held my breath, waiting to hear anything that could clue me in on how she was feeling.“How does that make you feel, Rae?”
“Me?Why are you worried about me?You are the one stuck in California with a psychopath.”
“My situation is not your fault.I told you I made this decision on my own.”
“I know Talia, but if my mom…”
“Don’t even say it, Raven.I did for your mom what I would have done for my own.I loved that woman just as much as you did.None of this is anyone’s fault.I made my decision and I’ll be fine, eventually.”
I could hear Leo mumbling something in the background and she let out a soft sigh.“I don’t have a lot of time.Are you going to be okay with this information?”
“I don’t know Talia.I’m so mad at him, but I can’t bring myself to leave him.”
“You love him.”
“I think I do.”
“Does he love you?”
“He says he does.”
“Does he show it?”
“Yes.”