I faltered.This was hard. My heart wasn't in this familiar game. Her fear was a reflex to a creature like me. Her mind remained unbroken ... and I fou...d that I didn't want to do it harm. This was Maria all over again. These sisters had a strange power over me.I took a step back.Now I just wanted to sleep ... I just wanted to not think for a while.I wanted to forget.Cariel stared at me. Her mouth wasn't moving, but her eyes told a story of disgust.Maybe she was right. Even if I didn't rape her. "I see you're wearing a necklace with a crucifix on the end." Yes, sir." Get in here now," he said. It was not a request.Heart palpitating, body temperature rising, I did my best to play it cool as I walked into Rosen's office, making sure to walk slowly, not aggressively, and placing one naked foot directly in front of the other, causing my hips to swivel in the way that men like.I was surprised to see a much younger man in Rosen's office, seated in a chair opposite from him. The younger man. And that means thinking things through a little at a time. I think I know what you want most from life, and from our marriage. But I'm not sure you know, yet. All right?"I nodded."You saw that I've been having an affair with Ben. It hasn't been for too long. Maybe three or four months. He's been hitting on me for years, and I've been turning him down for years, but he's a man of enormous persuasive charm, and I confess it, one afternoon when the office had closed down, and I knew you were. Always insisted I call her mom, I think she felt sorry for me and tried to be the surrogate mom that I didn’t have since my own mom remarried and moved out of the country. I was over Tony’s house every day since my dad worked long hours. Mrs. C. didn’t mind since Tony was an only child she liked having me over keeping him company. Growing up next to Tony I got to see a lot of Mrs. C. and let me tell you she aged well. She must be around 42 or 43 years old now. She is not what you call.