Mansions

by Whitney Bianca

  “Come back and sit.” I spread out the plastic on the table and then set the camera on top of it.

  “Does he have the rest?” She ignores me and turns to Bryan. “Were you there? Did you find her?” Bryan looks past her to me, his eyes blank. He remains silent despite her pleading. “Answer me!”

  “First, we have business to discuss,” I say. “Payment.”

  “Payment?”

  “Of course,” I say innocently. “I've decided the price of my time, manpower and services.” She stares at me and I can see it slowly sink in. She remembers our conversation outside the restaurant. She remembers that she owes me. She takes a deep breath and composes herself. She's a society woman, after all. She may've been born in Wisconsin but she knows we're a far way from there now. She's powerful in her own way, not as cunning or smart as the other women I know, but she hasn't survived on her own this long for nothing. She'll be reasonable, which is exactly what I'd counted on. She steps back toward me and sits down stiffly, crossing her legs again. She purposely looks away from the items on the table, even though the pungent scent of the camera is hard to ignore.

  “Go on,” she says.

  *****

  I stare hard at the screen until my eyes hurt, trying to understand what's happening. I watch as Dorian slides a stack of papers over to Jessica. I can see my bag on the table. He has all of my things, but he never told me that. He never told me he went to my hotel. I suppose it shouldn't be a surprise, but I don't understand why he would keep things that mean nothing to anyone but me. My old duffel and my camera and even something as simple as a plastic comb? I don't understand what he's trying to tell me.

  The only thing I understand is how much it affects Jessica to see all of it. I want to scream to her that I'm still alive, that these aren't the only things left of me, but I can't. He knows I can't. This is the punishment he's planned for me, I realize. To see her hurting and not be able to do anything about it. I can only watch and suffer as he twists the knife, slowly. He wants me to feel completely alone in the world, with no one but him to rely on. He can take Jessica away from me, just like that. He can give her all the reasons in the world to give up on finding me. He can give her proof that I'm dead and make her think that I'm gone and am never coming back.

  He stares at me through the camera as Jessica glances through the document he handed her. He knows I'm watching. He knows how hard this is for me. And he's smiling, slightly, but it's there. I know it is.

  “This is what you want?” Jessica asks, drawing my attention back to her. “Why?”

  “Does it matter?”

  “Yes,” she says.

  “It's neglected. It's falling apart. It's a teardown that sits on prime real estate.” He shrugs. “Is that a good enough reason?”

  “I don't know.” She stares down at the papers in front of her and I would give anything to read them. I want to know what he wants from her just as much as she does.

  “You don't want the property.” He leans forward, pressing his hands flat on the table. “It's a burden to you. Just like it was to her.”

  “You don't know anything about it,” Jessica snaps back.

  “It was hers, wasn't it? It says right there on the paperwork. She obviously didn't give a shit about it or it wouldn't be in the condition it's in now. Correct?” He lifts an eyebrow. “You don't want it, Jessica. It'll be a drain on you. Property taxes, upkeep. Even preparing it for sale would be a hassle.” She doesn't answer, just continues to stare down at the paperwork. “Let me have it.”

  “What do I get?” She finally looks up at him. “What do I get for signing the manor away?” I suck in a breath as it finally becomes crystal clear what's going on. Dorian wants Hamina Manor. He wants the place that my father left to me when he died. He wants the one place in the world that I never wanted.

  And I have no idea why.

  “All of this,” he says, sweeping his hand over the table, at all of my things. “You get the things that matter, the things that meant the most to Adrienne.”

  “I want more, Dorian,” she says, setting her jaw. “You promised me more.”

  “You asked me to take care of this,” he says, his voice low. I can hear the danger behind his words, the need to control the situation. He wants what he wants, and he'll do anything to get it. Whatever it is. Apparently, he wants my father's house. He won't stop until Jessica agrees to give it to him and signs it away. I know that and I'm sure now Jessica knows it, too. “I took care of it. This is the price I've decided on.” He stands at his full heights and reaches for the items on the table. “Are these things not priceless to you? One of a kind?” One by one, they go back into the case, until only the camera is left on the table. He lifts it and picks up the plastic bag beneath it. He slides it inside, slowly, carefully, like he doesn't want to damage it, which is absurd, because it's already useless and ruined. Jessica watches him, sitting still, her back rigid. As he moves to put the camera back into the case, she throws up a hand.

  “Alright!” she says. “You can have it. You can have Hamina Manor.”

  *****

  I watch her sign on the line, watch how she signs her name with extravagant and innocent hoops and loops. She has a girlish signature. Feminine. I like how dark the ink looks on the white paper. How permanent. She signs quickly and shoves the contract away, and just like that, Hamina Manor is mine.

  My collection is now complete.

  “I appreciate your cooperation,” I say, handing Bryan the papers to tuck away somewhere safe.

  “What else do you have for me?” she asks, her eyes pleading. “You said there was more.”

  “Yes,” I nod. “I have something else.”

  “What is it? Tell me.”

  “It was more difficult to come by. Right, Bryan?” I ask as he returns to the apartment, closing the front door behind him. He raises his eyes to meet mine but says nothing. “It required a lot more effort. Like finding a needle in a haystack.” A flurry of emotion flutters across her face. She doesn't try to hide it and I find it fascinating to watch. All the women I know would rather die than show an emotion. Not Jessica. She couldn't stop it if she tried. Her face is like an open book. She's completely easy to read. “She was blown to bits,” I say matter-of-factly. “Believe me when I say it was difficult.”

  “It's a piece of her,” she whispers. “Isn't it?”

  “A full human being doesn't completely disappear into thin air, right?” I say, sliding my hands into my pockets. I'm getting impatient, but I have to remind myself to remain cool. I can feel Adrienne's eyes on me. I'm not sure I want her to know everything. I'm not sure I want her to know this part.

  “No,” she breathes. “I knew there had to be something left.”

  “I'm going to give you a choice,” I say. “You can have this case now and we'll be even and square. I will have fulfilled my promise to you and we'll both walk away.”

  “What do you mean? You said there's more.”

  “There is more, but it's not part of this deal.”

  “You piece of shit,” she says, standing again. “You're extorting me!”

  “I'm doing no such thing,” I say with a humorless laugh.

  “You're extorting me over my dead daughter!”

  “We had a deal, Jessica,” I shrug. “That's it. You asked me to do something for you and I did. I have something you want. Now I'm simply negotiating the terms.”

  “Tell me what you have.” She's shaking she's so angry. I can see her shoulders tremble, even under the thick coat. It's interesting to see her like this. I like it. It makes me want to push her further, to make her even more aroused.

  “Take off your clothes,” I say, keeping my tone flat. I want them all to think that I'm bored as hell by it all. Really, all I can think about is how Adrienne's reacting. She's watching all of it. It's difficult not to smile as I think about it. I can't wait to see her again. She's probably ready to claw my eyes out. She's probably plotting my death.


  “Dorian,” Jessica says sharply. “What did you say?”

  “You want the rest of what I have,” I say. “So you have to do something else for me.”

  “I already signed the paper,” she says. “I did what you asked.”

  “That's only part of it.” I shrug. “You didn't want that property. You haven't even been up to see it since her death. You didn't care about it, therefore it doesn't mean much to sign it over to me.”

  “It means a lot!” she says, taking a step forward. Her heels click on the wood floor, echoing in the room. “It was the only thing left. The home where she grew up. The home she shared with my late husband. And I gave it to you, in return for what you have. You made a deal!”

  “The manor was in exchange for her belongings. This is separate. We both have to give up something of equal value,” I say. “I have something very precious. Something priceless. And you want it, don't you?”

  “That property is worth millions,” Jessica hisses.

  “And how much is Adrienne worth?” I ask. “How much is a burial worth? A grave to visit?”

  “A... grave?” she blinks.

  “Yes, a grave,” I say. “Bryan is very thorough. He left no stone unturned.”

  “What did you find?” her voice sounds so broken. If I had more of a heart, I might actually feel bad for what I'm about to do. But I don't. This is Adrienne's punishment. Jessica is just a casualty a war, a poor commoner stuck in the line of fire. But I can't have mercy on her. Winning this war is too important. “Tell me, please.”

  “How much more is it worth to you?” I ask, genuinely curious. Before, when I didn't know Adrienne as well as I know her now, I would've sworn that the two women barely cared for each other. The way Adrienne ran off to every corner of the world made me think that she didn't have a close tie to anyone. But now I know that that's what Adrienne does when left to her own devices. She runs. She hides. It probably hurt Jessica to know that Adrienne would rather be anywhere than be in New York City. I can see now that the love between them is complicated but stronger than I probably understand. The only thing I understand is that it's a strong enough bond that I can manipulate it. So I do.

  “How much do you want?” she asks. “I can transfer funds. I can give you anything I have.” I know exactly how much she has in liquid assets. I could ask for all of it and watch her struggle to decide between what's left of Hamina's money and what's left of his daughter. I have a better idea, though.

  “Take off your clothes,” I repeat. The room gets deathly silent as my words linger. Then she exhales sharply and presses the tip of her tongue to the corner of her mouth, like she's trying to decide what to do. For a split-second, I wonder if she'll tell me to go fuck myself. I wouldn't lift a hand to stop her from going, if that's what she decided. She can leave any time she wants. The deed to the Hamina mansion is mine already and Jessica's presence here alone is enough to punish Adrienne. The rest is just overkill, twisting the knife already lodged in Adrienne's heart.

  Slowly.

  “What happens then?” she asks. “If I... do as you say?”

  “We're adults here, Jessica,” I say, lifting an eyebrow. “You already know what happens.” She lets out a slow, jagged breath and I know then that she's going to do it. I know before she knows, probably. She drops her eyes to the floor and I can smell her defeat. It smells sweet. Not as sweet and addictive as Adrienne's, but sweet enough.

  “What about him?” she asks, shifting her eyes in Bryan's direction but not looking at him. He doesn't look at her either. Just stares ahead at the wall, expressionless, because he's a good soldier. I wonder if he's wondering the same. This isn't the first time I've played this game. He's probably used to it by now. But Cora liked it when he would watch, even if she would pretend that she didn't. Cora liked it when he would do other things to her, too, and so would he. Even if he didn't expressly say so.

  I shrug. “He stays,” I say. She's in too deep now, but the door is still open. She doesn't realize that it's about to close, though. The opportunity to put an end to my little game is almost gone. “Have another drink,” I offer. I return to the kitchen and refill her glass with more wine, pouring slowly. Jessica seems grateful for the distraction and brings the glass up to her lips. I watch her drink the liquid courage, a feeling of satisfaction rising in my chest.

  This is going to be good.

  When the glass is empty and she can't procrastinate any longer, she lifts her teary eyes to mine. I don't look away. She knows I'm serious. It's a game, of course, and a simple one at that, but I'm not playing around. She lifts her shaking hands and pushes her coat off her shoulders. It slides down her arms and she lets it fall all the way to the floor with a heavy thud.

  “Go on,” I say.

  She's wearing a soft cashmere wrap dress underneath, tied at her hip. The fabric is thick and rich and it drapes enough to almost hide how alarmingly skinny she is. She hasn't been eating properly, it seems. It seems to have gone beyond a socialite's natural inclination to 'diet' into something beyond. I'm used to the way society women keep thin; Selene's figure is always her top priority. My mother and grandmother were no different. However, Jessica is the thinnest I've ever seen her. I wonder if she notices how frail she's gotten. I wonder if she cares.

  She unties the dress and it gapes open, revealing her smooth stomach and her thin lace bra. I can see her rosy nipples through the fabric, even from where I'm standing. I resist the urge to glance toward the camera in the corner of the room. I know Adrienne's watching all of this. I know this is killing her. I also know there's nothing she can do to stop it. Jessica takes off the dress slowly, folding it over in her hands and setting it on the table beside her. Then she steps back and lifts her head to look at me, as if awaiting further instruction. A chill runs through me at her subordination. It's seems to come so naturally to her.

  “Bra and panties off,” I say. I see her muscles tighten from head to toe, like she thinks I'm going to pounce on her. Keeping my tone as bored as possible, I make my next degrading demand. “Leave the boots on, however.” She nods slightly and obeys, her movements faster this time, like she wants to get it over with.

  She shoves her panties down her hips and kicks them off. Then she reaches behind her back and unhooks the bra and lets it slide down her arms. I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling. Her tits are nice, better than I thought they would be. She's had them done but the work is very natural. They're still smaller than Adrienne's, very discreet. I wonder if I should ask for the name of her surgeon. I'm sure my wife would appreciate the information. The laugh dies in my throat, though, as my eyes continue to travel downward. She's completely clean shaven, not a hair below her head. She looks smooth. So smooth. And she looks more beautiful then she's ever looked to me before. All pale skin and freckles and veins. I can see all of her bones beneath her skin. I can practically hear her heart pumping blood in her chest. The urge is so strong.

  I want to break her.

  But I can't. That's not the deal. This is Adrienne's punishment, not Jessica's. The woman in front of me has been punished enough. To go beyond what I have planned would just be cruel. I can be cruel, evil even, but there's a time and a place for that kind of action. I have no interest in Jessica beyond her usefulness to me. Breaking her would require making an investment in her but I know my limitations.

  I shrug lightly, letting the temptation go.

  “Lay down,” I say, pointing at the couch across the room. “On your stomach.”

  She works her jaw like she has something to say and I lift an eyebrow, wondering if she's going to protest. I wonder how far I can push her before she'll push back. But she doesn't speak. She pushes her hair over her shoulder and then turns and steps over to the sectional. I watch her lay down, watch how her body moves. The couch is big enough that she completely stretch out, but she doesn't. She folds her arms and keeps them close to her, like she's trying to hide herself from me but her compliance only makes me want
to demand more. To push harder.

  I move toward her but she refuses to look at me. I crouch down in front of her and I can't resist running my palm down the curve of her back and over her ass. Her skin is soft, but there's no padding beneath. I can feel the bumps of her spine and see the ridges of her muscles. Goosebumps break out on her flesh at my touch. My eyes dart to the camera again. I wish I could see Adrienne right now. I wish I could see her reaction as I touch Jessica. I'll see her soon enough, but I'm impatient.

  “Just get it over with,” she says, and I can tell she's trying to be strong. Her voice shakes, though, giving away her nervousness.

  “How long has it been since you've been with a man?” I ask. She scowls but a single tear is already making its way down her cheek. She's already crying and the games haven't even begun yet.

  “That's none of your fucking business.” Her eyes flash with anger but it only makes me smile. I try to suppress it as best as I can, but it's rare that I feel this much glee.

  “I just want to know if he should take it easy on you or not,” I say, cocking my head. As what I said sinks in, the anger fades out of her gaze and uncertainty takes its place. I raise my hand to her face, running my knuckles down the line of her chin. “You thought it would be me?” I ask with a small laugh. Her mouth drops open slightly as she realizes what I'm saying. “No, Jessica.” I shake my head. “I'm merely going to watch.”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  “W-watch?” she whispers.

  “Yes,” I reply evenly. “I'm going to watch while Bryan fucks you.” Out of my line of sight, I can hear Bryan make a sound in his throat, ever so lightly, and I know he's just as surprised as she is. Well, maybe not as surprised, but surprised nonetheless. I make a mental note to up his stock options in the morning. He deserves it, for putting up with me and my surprises. There's not many like him anymore. Loyalty is paramount and he's never been anything less than professional. And now he's going to fuck Jessica Stockton-Hamina for me, because I have a bigger fish to fry. In fact, my beloved fish is already wriggling on my hook.