The Creepshow: A Novel Page 8

  “Sorry, I’m just finishing up,” she said as he kissed her on both cheeks. That familiar scent of savon de Marseille and something lemony.

  “The necklace looks beautiful on you.”

  She blushed and touched her neck, feeling the smooth wood against her skin.

  “It’s a beautiful gift.”

  They gathered up the mounds of baggage in the hallway. “It’s Nelly, not me,” Wanda said. “Can’t travel light any more.” She remembered when they last went to Normandy, with only one backpack for both of them.

  “That’s OK, the trunk is big enough,” Max said with a grin that made her heart race.

  He’d rented a car, fully equipped with baby gear, and off they went under a sky that spelled snow.

  “We just have to get there before it starts,” he said as they sped along the highway.

  They talked about lighthearted, impersonal subjects the whole trip. She’d forgotten how easy it was to talk with Max, how he carried her thoughts so far from the office and work. No one else had ever been able to do that. Since her earliest days in the working world—at her only employer, Whilt—Wanda’s conversations often had revolved around her job or some related subject, such as the stock market or the economy. It was her comfort zone.

  But somehow, right away, Max had coaxed her out of it and into the world of normalcy. She could talk about paintings they’d seen at museums, or a soccer match they’d watched on TV, silly movies, food and wine, and the strangest fashion victims parading around on certain Parisian streets. The real Wanda—before only visible to Galina—had bared herself to Max.

  Two hours of small talk later, they’d passed the seaside village nearest to Max’s family’s house and headed up an incline facing the English Channel.

  The house had been built more than a hundred years ago, and in spite of windows that let in a draft, the unevenness of the hardwood floors, and the peeling paint, it maintained a sense of charm and comfort. There was one main room downstairs, heated only by a fireplace, three bedrooms on the next floor and a bathroom under the rafters on the top floor.

  Max’s parents owned the house, but Max and his brother used it more often than they ever did. Wanda had never met the family. Max’s parents lived in a rural area in central France, and his brother and family lived in the south. They hadn’t made it to Paris or Normandy at any point during Wanda and Max’s short time together.

  Wanda had been to the Normandy house twice before, two weekends in a row. On a rainy day, she loved to lie in the clawfoot tub and watch droplets of water land on the skylight, but on this particular occasion it would be snowflakes, which had started to fall the minute they walked up the driveway.

  Nelly got the first bath, and Wanda got the second, while Max tended to the fireplace.

  She poured in a scoop of relaxing, lavender bath salts—the treat she remembered to bring for herself—and sank into the warm water until it reached her chin. The wallpaper, with its little rosebuds on a cream-colored background, was old-fashioned and peeling. Her eyes wandered over it until they reached the skylight above her head. And there the snowflakes danced, at first melting on contact with the glass, then sticking, forming a glistening carpet. Thoughts of Whilt tried to force their way into Wanda’s mind, but she pushed them away. That place had taken over so much of her life. Didn’t she deserve a few hours of freedom? She switched to a jazz station on the small radio just within reach and allowed the music to transport her.

  By the time Wanda slipped into her terrycloth robe, multiple layers of white powder covered the skylight. She could hear Nelly squealing downstairs and Max laughing as she dressed. An unfamiliar room with a window opening to an unfamiliar view of the snow-covered lawn. Max would be staying in the room they had previously shared, with the large soft bed and a window overlooking the beach. He offered this room to Wanda, but she preferred as few memories of the past as possible.

  She looked at her reflection. It was New Year’s Eve, and she was here in this charming place with Max. Her heart fluttered at the thought. She couldn’t waltz downstairs in a sweat suit. But she couldn’t see herself putting on a sequined gown and party hat. She didn’t exactly have a choice in the matter as she looked at the contents of her bag. She had hastily packed one “dressy” outfit, and now as she looked at it, she realized it would be perfect for the occasion: a short, simple gray cashmere dress. As Wanda dabbed on a bit of lip gloss, she listened to the happiness unfolding a flight below. And for a very long moment, she regretted she wasn’t part of it.

  ~~~~

  The fire had done the trick, turning the nasty chill into a warm toasty temperature that could lull anyone to sleep. It did so with Nelly, who after an early dinner and a small stack of stories was soon snoozing in Wanda’s arms. The shower upstairs switched on, then off, and minutes later, Max was next to her on the couch. Casual and sexy in an oxford shirt and jeans.

  “She’s out,” Wanda said, nodding at Nelly. Tiptoeing up the stairs in tandem, Max and Wanda set her down in the crib Max’s brother had set up for the family’s children. Wanda switched on the classical music station and the baby monitor, and watched as Nelly grimaced, wiggled and then settled into perfect slumber. Wanda smiled the wide smile that these days only came naturally when she looked at her daughter. Max caught her eye and took her hand. She didn’t pull away, only followed him downstairs to the open kitchen where he began reheating the stack of gourmet dishes he had bought at the shop down the street from his apartment. Neither of them were cooks by any stretch of the imagination so this was as fancy as they got.

  They continued with the superficial conversation typical of a new friendship until their second bottle of champagne. By then, they had taken their drinks to the fireside, and Wanda allowed her eyes to meet his, allowed the depths of her feelings to seep out.

  “I’ve missed you,” he whispered, leaning closer, his lips brushing her ear. She could have pushed him away, and it would have been over. But this was one battle she didn’t want to keep fighting. One battle that now, all of a sudden, seemed unnecessary. His mouth met hers, awkwardly at first, as if afraid she might change her mind. She smiled sheepishly, and so did he, their teeth bumping. “Let’s try that again,” he murmured. She brought her lips to his, ran her hands down his back, untucking his shirt, feeling his skin. Her heart pounded double time. The moment she had secretly dreamed of since he had left was unfolding. His scent of soap and champagne soaked into her as they sank into the couch, peeling off layers of unwanted clothing along the way.

  Wanda ended up in Max’s bed, the one they had shared more than a year ago. She woke up with his arms around her, his lips against her ear. Her eyes flew open as the memory of the night before flashed through her mind. She, Wanda Julienne, had actually spent a full evening as a human being focused on her personal life rather than as a Whilt robot obeying commands and fearing fate. As she realized this, the problems of the past weeks washed over her again.

  “You OK?” Max asked.

  “Why?”

  “You stiffened up just now. Are you regretting—”

  “No.” She turned to face him and melted once again as her eyes met his. “I’m tired of regretting things.”

  “That’s good, because you’re probably going to be stuck in close quarters with me today.”

  She knitted her brow.

  “Look out the window,” he continued. “We’re snowed in.”

  Chapter 15

  Wanda shouldn’t have taken the call. She knew that. Wasn’t seeing Louis’ name flashing across the screen enough of a warning that if she were to answer, she would ruin her weekend? Yet somehow, as if under a spell, her finger swiped the screen, and Louis’ voice echoed in her ear.

  “Wanda, I know you’re off tomorrow, but I need you back early. Raymond is passing through last minute, and you have to be here for a meeting about the Asian funds.”

  Wanda pulled Max’s oxford shirt more tightly around herself and paced in front of the blazing fi
re. Goose bumps rose on her skin, from the fire and from the words she was about to say.

  “Louis, I can’t.” Her voice tightened in her throat. “I’m snowed in, but beyond that, I’m traveling with… with a friend.” She felt her face go scarlet as she said the words. Max’s eyes were on her, then he turned away and carried a squirming Nelly to the window to gaze out at the snow.

  “Take a damn train, Wanda,” Louis said. “You have responsibilities here. Who you’re fucking comes last.”

  The Wanda Julienne of several months ago would have been shocked, but nothing had that effect on her today. Louis was looking for any opportunity to make her life miserable, to force her to her knees. Months ago, she might have been frightened. She might have searched for any form of transportation to take her back to Paris. She wouldn’t have cared if her private life was put on the back burner, as long as whatever crisis Whilt was undergoing was solved. But now, as Wanda sat toasting in front of the fire, she knew that loyalty wouldn’t pay off. And she wasn’t going to use Tricia as a role model and sleep her way out of trouble.

  “This is my vacation time, Louis, and my personal life comes first.” Her voice didn’t betray the trembling inside. “Next time, Raymond will have to plan ahead.”

  “No one defies Raymond Grant.”

  “Well, let me be the first.”

  Silence. Except for cries from Nelly, wailing at the top of her lungs.

  “Listen, I have to go, Louis. The baby is crying. I’ll see you in two days.”

  Wanda hung up before he could start another tirade meant to change her mind.

  “What was that all about?” Max asked as he transferred Nelly into Wanda’s arms.

  “Nothing,” Wanda said, settling down on the massive oak bench at the dining table. She ran a distracted hand through her hair, half untangling the web Max had created, and bounced Nelly on her knee.

  Max set two cups of coffee on the table, and a brioche, sliced in four.

  “You thought ahead,” she said, trying to sound nonchalant. She took a slice of brioche and started chewing, savoring the buttery flavor. But Max wouldn’t be distracted.

  “Tell me, Wanda.” His voice was gentle as he touched her arm. She wanted him to pull her closer, to talk about last night rather than the mess at Whilt. Her eyes met his, almost pleading to change the subject, but he wouldn’t budge. She sighed.

  “OK, look, Whilt has become more and more difficult—on everyone. But since I got back from maternity leave, things have taken a dive.” And then she spilled the story, not meaning to go so far, but Max’s kind eyes drew it from her.

  “You have to leave, Wanda,” he said after she finished, allowing herself finally to take a sip of coffee. “You can’t put up with that harassment!”

  “I can’t leave. Not right now.” She settled a calmed Nelly into the lounger with her rattles and turned back to him. “I have to support Nelly and myself. I have rent to pay, food to buy—”

  “You can move in with me.”

  “No, I’m not going to rely on—” And then she stopped, realizing what he had said. Her face went hot, and she looked down, hoping he didn’t notice the deep shade of red coloring neck to forehead.

  “I mean it,” he insisted, gathering her hands in his.

  “It’s too sudden. I need more time, and so do you. I can’t move in with you because I can’t afford not to! That’s the wrong reason.”

  “That isn’t my reason.” His words were soft, coaxing, causing a ripple of pleasure to run up her spine.

  It wouldn’t have been Wanda’s reason either, but she couldn’t allow such a major change, such a distraction, to arise at this critical time in her professional life. You’re still a damn fool, putting work before anything else, she thought. But she couldn’t fight that serious voice inside, saying, There’s a time for everything, and now is the time to handle Whilt.

  Wanda sighed and shook her head.

  “Max, I won’t rush things.” She aimed for assertive but wasn’t sure if it came out that way.

  She could see the disappointment in his eyes. “I have to take care of this my way, OK?” she continued, almost as if she were apologizing.

  “Wanda, this is serious. You can’t ignore it.”

  “I won’t, but I will take care of this myself, Max. I can handle it.”

  Max closed his eyes and pressed his hands to his temples. “I know you can, Wanda. I just… I don’t want you to go through this alone.”

  “It will be OK,” she said with a confidence she didn’t feel.

  “So what are you going to do?” He tore off a bit of brioche and popped it in his mouth.

  She shrugged. “Galina recommends refusing the Asian funds. I have the right to, according to my contract.”

  “I would follow her advice if I were in your situation.”

  “Because she’s a lawyer?”

  “Because she’s a lawyer and your friend. That’s a pretty good combination.”

  Max and Galina met on several occasions a year ago, when the two couples went out for dinner or for a drink. Those nights out had never happened with Wanda’s previous boyfriends. They had fallen into two categories: those who disliked Galina for her strong personality, and those who fantasized about sleeping with her. In both cases, it meant an evening out with Galina and her husband was impossible. Max fell into neither category. He seemed to genuinely like Wanda’s best friend and the role she played in Wanda’s life.

  “I’ll see what happens when I go back to the office,” Wanda said. This time her voice was firm, and Max immediately nodded and brought his lips to her ear.

  “OK,” he said. “I understand. I don’t want this to ruin our weekend together. Let’s forget about Whilt for now.” His mouth settled on her ear, and she reached out to pull him closer. She was happy to push Whilt far from her mind. She wanted to forget about that place for a few more hours and prolong the feelings Max had stirred within.

  Chapter 16

  All thoughts of the holiday weekend evaporated as the heavy doors of Whilt Investment Services shut behind Wanda. The new year had started as she expected: with her fund performance in the toilet and Louis pouting as he passed her in the hall. Wanda spent the morning slouched behind her computer, executing trades, fielding calls and poring over financial reports. The tasks were the same as they had always been, but the atmosphere was so much different from years earlier. The feeling was tense, claustrophobic.

  Wanda thought back to Galina’s advice. She knew she had to refuse the new funds, but would she have the strength to do so? For days, she had been avoiding the whole subject. Even now, as she sat in front of her spreadsheets, she reassured herself by saying the decision hadn’t yet been made. First, she wanted to find out what was happening to Xavier’s funds.

  She glanced around the office at the heads diligently bent in front of computer screens. She knew better than to assume they were all busily working. She’d glimpsed plenty of Facebook screens that would quickly be minimized if Louis entered the room. She could ask any of these people about the funds in question, and months earlier, she probably would have. But Wanda’s trust in most of her colleagues was waning. They seemed happiest hiding from the problems, turning a blind eye or even criticizing their own colleagues if it could save their asses.

  She would talk with Maddie. Decisively, Wanda rose from her seat and made her way upstairs to the small corner office.

  Maddie swiveled around, a smile on her face.

  “Happy New Year, dear!” She walked around the massive wood desk and kissed Wanda on both cheeks. “Holiday went well?”

  Wanda nodded.

  “There is a disconnect between your face and your answer,” Maddie said, wincing. “Have a seat.”

  Maddie closed the glass door, and Wanda sighed, slowly releasing the tension that had built up in her body in the brief walk from her office to Maddie’s. Walking down those halls was enough to put her on edge.

  “Tell me.” Maddie’s voice
was kind and calm, as usual.

  “I was wondering about Xavier’s… replacement. That was the part of the story I missed.” She felt her face going hot, as if she had asked a question she didn’t have the right to ask, but she willed herself to end that weak behavior. If she couldn’t show strength in front of an ally, how would she possibly show it in front of the stars of the Creepshow? The thought almost made her smile.

  “Tricia Warren will be managing the emerging markets and appointing some local managers to take over those funds,” Maddie said, rolling her eyes. “It’s part of her promotion. You remember her, don’t you?”

  Wanda hesitated, her voice sticking in her throat. So Tricia was at it again, working her way up the corporate ladder.

  “I saw her when I was in New York but didn’t realize she was in line for a promotion,” Wanda said.

  “It’s only natural. Word has it she’s pregnant, and Jeffrey Williams is the father.”

  Wanda’s heart skipped a beat. Jeffrey was Raymond’s right hand man. That’s how Tricia knew about Raymond’s escapades—and everything else going on in those management offices, most likely. So Tricia’s plans to sleep her way to the top had worked, and more quickly than planned. Now, she was on the other side. No longer would Wanda trust her, spend the night at her apartment on a New York trip. It was one thing to fool around with those at Louis’ level, and another thing to be pregnant with a company executive’s child. Wanda shivered at the thought. Tricia had truly sold out. And at this point, maybe Whilt couldn’t trust her either—but that was Whilt’s problem, not hers.

  “You look shocked. You shouldn’t be. It’s par for the course.”

  “No… I’m… I didn’t know she was pregnant.”

  “She’s only about four months along.”

  “I guess their treatment of Tricia will prove they don’t discriminate against women who’ve come back from maternity leave,” Wanda snapped.

  “We’ll see when she returns from leave.”