I don't want to be late to pick up Zoe, so I say goodbye, kissing Juliette at the door.

"Give her my love."

I rub my nose against hers. Finally, a smile.

I'm edgy all the way to the airport, and can't stop fidgeting as I wait in the arrivals hall. Zoe doesn't know about any of the plans that have been hatched today, and that's another hurdle.

And then, I spot her. My sister. Who I've only seen once in, what? Six months? How things have changed. How I've changed. My heart leaps when we lock eyes, and she runs to me, right into my arms.

She's sobbing, something I've rarely seen her do. Zoe can almost always take care of herself, a tough, wiry girl. Now, she looks tired. Older.

"I like your hair," I murmur, scrubbing my hand over her head. It's bright blue and about two inches long.

"Would you believe it? I got it done while I was waiting in Philadelphia at the airport."

"It looks great. You look great. How are you feeling?"

"Relieved. But other than that, I'm not sure. I know what you're thinking — did Willem hurt me? Did he rape me? The answer is no. We actually became quite close. It's complicated. How are you feeling?"

Christ, this isn't what I need right now, a sister with Stockholm Syndrome. The urge to protect her, to put her needs before everyone else's is strong. We walk, arm in arm, to a quieter spot in the corner of the airport, toward the sign that says BAGGAGE CLAIM.

"I don't have any bags, so let's go home." She grins at me.

"Kiddo," I grab her again and hug her tight. The time has come to put someone else before Zoe. "I'm sorry. We're not going home."

"What?" The confusion's written all over her face. "Why?"

"You're going to Jacksonville."

"Of course I want to see Ash. I called him from Philadelphia. But I need to get home. To our home. We do still have a home, right?" She cocks her head.

"Good. I told him you'd be in touch. And yeah. We've still got the condo and the other properties."

"That's what he said. He and I have a lot to sort out."

"Yeah, you do. I'm going to explain everything to you over dinner, but you're getting on a flight north in about two hours. I'm sending you to stay with him."

Two lines form between her eyes. "But..."

"No buts. I need to take care of some things here, and then I'm going to disappear for a while. You have to understand that I'm making Juliette a priority now. Making my relationship with her a priority. I'm sorry. I'm sorry this is so abrupt. I'll tell you everything while we eat. It involves Sebastian Engel, and it's not good."

She nods slowly, absorbing my sharp words. "Okay. Okay."

I run a hand through my hair. "Right now I need to make a call, though. Just hang tight, okay? Give me five minutes. I'm going to step outside."

"I love you. And yeah, you need to put Juliette first. And your health. You still look a little off. Handsome, but off."

My grin fades when I step outside, the humid air hitting my skin. I tap the number into my phone and remind myself to stay calm. My heart kicks in anger when Sebastian answers.

"Griffin! I trust that everything went well. From the looks of my bank account, it did." The sound of traffic is loud in the background on his end.

"Hey, Sebastian." Even saying his name makes me want to smash things. I focus, laser-like, on a group of elderly people getting into a van. I can't let him detect the hate in my voice. "Yeah, everything went well. Zoe's back in Miami. But I was thinking. Things went so smoothly that I believe we should discuss another deal. You mentioned you're getting home when?"

"Tomorrow, late afternoon."

"Would you want to meet for a drink tomorrow night? Or is that too soon?" Give him the illusion of choice...

"Tomorrow evening will be fine. Juliette might be there, though. I'm planning to have her over for dinner. But if you don't mind, I don't, either. I'm guessing she won't participate much in our conversation."

Fucker's already got plans for her. Is already anticipating drugging her. "This is business, dude. Business before women."

"Now you're learning. How does nine sound?"

"Nine sounds great. See you then."

My face is hot when I hang up. Just hearing that accent, listening to him say Juliette's name, makes me shake with white-hot rage.

I'm going to kill him, no matter what Juliette wants.

Hello Juliette.

I'm glad you have. Thank you for going to the doctor and getting the tests I requested. That meant a lot to me.

Before he answers, I send the photo. It's of me, lying in bed in one of Vee's see-through white negligees, asleep. Or pretending to be asleep. The morning light's perfect, all soft and golden. My legs are parted a little, and a hint of pussy is visible. Just a hint, because I want to tease and torment. Vee had to take the picture about fifty times because we kept cracking up at all the potentially stupid things I could do in the photo.

In the end, we went with a Lena-approved photo. An obviously, grossly sexual photo, knowing he couldn't resist.

What's this, my dear?

It is a very sexy photo. Thank you. It pleases me more than you know.

.

I like very much. If I wasn't about to have lunch with a colleague, I'd send you a photo of how much I like it

I cringe and stick out my tongue, like a cat that's about to retch. I never, ever, want a dick pic from Sebastian Engel.

I scrunch my face up and shudder.

"Well," I say out loud to Vee and Lena, smiling grimly. "We're on for tonight."

"I missed you. I'm so sorry about our fight. I've been doing a lot of thinking this past week."

Cooing like a dove, I wrap my arms around Sebastian and try to fight back wave after wave of revulsion. He tugs me close and kisses my neck, making my skin feel like it's covered in scorpions.

"I'm so relieved to hear that, Juliette." His voice is a murmur.

I want to wrench myself out of his arms when he runs his hands down my back and squeezes my ass. I'm wearing a short, white dress. A preppy tennis-type dress.

"I love when your legs are bare and your hair is down. You look alluring tonight. Thank you for not wearing black."

"I'm done with black," I grin, leaning back so I can look at his filthy face.

His sharp blue eyes eyes twinkle. "Over dinner, you'll have to tell me all about your conclusions."

I nod in agreement and press my face into his neck. He smells like spice, but a menacing spice. Like something pungent.

"Such a good little girl. Come. Lena's prepared the salad you like, and my favorite rack of lamb. Have you ever had that dish?"

I know exactly what Lena's preparing for him, and it won't exactly be his favorite dish. But I shake my head, open my eyes wide and all innocent, and tell him I haven't.

As we walk down the hall, he describes his preferred lamb dishes, and where he's eaten them all over the world. I think it sounds gross, but whatever. I'm not here for the food.

I'm here for revenge.

"Let's eat in the dining room tonight."

"So formal," I murmur, as we walk into the large and ornate room. I've only been in this room once or twice, and that was back when I liked him and was impressed by his wealth. There are gilded accents everywhere, and of all the rooms in the house, this seems the most gaudy. A massive chandelier looms over us, and candelabras sit dramatically on side tables. Everything is lit with the glow of seduction or the white-hot blaze of perversion. It seems to me what a poor person would imagine a rich man's house would look like.

This all makes me hate him even more.

I'm relieved to see there are only two places set at the long table; I'd worried he was going to pull some shit and ask Griffin to dinner with us at the last moment. So far, everything's going according to plan.

"My dear," he says, pulling out a chair. He's obviously sitting at the head of the table, because he's in charge, while I'm to his right. His chair is even throne-like, with tufted, cream-colored velvet. My chair is daintier, fitting for his lady slave.

The bone-white china with a bold gold stripe is set formally, with a full spread of utensils. Next to my plate is a white box with a black ribbon.

"For me?" It's a chore to sound happy.

"Of course."

I sit in the seat and he takes his. As I untie the box, Lena walks in. I barely glance up at her.

"Ah, thank you, Lena. Juliette, our pre-dinner champagne is here."

I'm about to open the box. Lena sets the two glasses down, one in front of him first, then me. She'd told me that he'd instructed her to always, always serve him first, no matter who he was dining with.

Dick.

He thanks her, and she glides out. She never uttered a word.

He thinks we're both good little girls, playing our parts.

"To us," I say, smiling and holding up my glass.

"To us."

I'm about to take a sip when he lowers his glass. "My dear, wait. You've gotten less champagne than I. Please, take mine."

Shit. Lena's supposed to slip him the first of the sleeping pills in that glass. She'd probably filled his slightly more so she wouldn't confuse the two.

"Oh, no worries," I take a quick, large gulp of my glass. "Champagne sometimes gives me a headache, anyway. I'm not even sure I like it."

Sebastian sips and my muscles relax. That was close.

"You're so delightful, Juliette. Not many women would admit to not liking champagne."

I take another sip. I actually love champagne.

"So. What have you been thinking about this week?" He pushes his chair back and pats his leg. "Be a good girl and tell me."

So. Gross.

"Wait, I want to open my gift." I push my bottom lip out in a pouty, playful way, and he chuckles. I can tell he's in a good mood. He probably jerked off to my photo ... Gah. I can't even think about it without wanting to bathe in bleach.

Opening the box, I gently remove layers of scrunched up tissue paper. Inside is a trinket that's in the form of a butterfly. The wings are a rich red and blue. "Oh how beautiful." I don't have to pretend. Really, it's a gorgeous thing. I open the lid and a song tinkles out.

"It's a Piguet enamel music box. From Switzerland. I bought it at Sotheby's. A colleague from one of the drug companies took me to an auction. I also purchased a Rothko painting for the library. But that was also up for bid, and I thought of you, because it's so lovely. You're like an exquisite butterfly."

I lower the lid and the old-timey music stops. Too bad this precious little box will have to stay here. With a little squeal, I leap from my chair and into his lap.

"Thank you." I'm deliberately making my voice a little higher and more childlike tonight. I kiss him on the cheek and I want to retch when his big hand clamps around my knee.

"Such a good little thing. I'm so sorry about our fight. I never want to do that again, Juliette."

Here's where I lay it on thick. "I've been thinking about everything. It was wrong of me to shame you for your, your," I stutter. It's so disgusting to say aloud. "Your preferences."

He takes another sip of the champagne and sighs. "I'm relieved you said that. I've lived with these urges since I was young."

I trace his bald head with my finger. "I'm going to indulge you as much as you want."

He groans. "Early on, as a boy, I was fascinated with the tale of Sleeping Beauty. I devoured the many versions of it, not just the Disney story. Then when I was a teenager, my sister had a sleepover with some of her friends. She was a bit younger. At the time I was probably seventeen. I stumbled upon one of the girls asleep in our living room. She had to be fifteen at the time. And she was so perfect, Juliette. I wanted her so much," his voice is strained, as if he's trying to hold back.

I know I'm trying to hold back the vomit. Instead I nod sympathetically.

"I wanted her so much. But I didn't dare touch her. I never got over the urge, however, and over the years, I found out that there are many men like me."

"That's okay," I purr. "It's what makes you unique. You're not going to hurt me."

He sighs. "Well, I've also been doing some thinking. I don't want to drug you too much. Addiction is a very real possibility. So we're going to have to come up with a plan."

I nod thoughtfully.

"And I also want you to experience some pleasure. Which is why I loved your idea that you'd pleasure yourself by looking at photos, or perhaps video, of us."

Pervy perv pervert...I make a soft mmmm noise and kiss his neck. "It will be fun to explore."

"Liebling, one other thing. I know you thought you loved Griffin."

I try to will my body not to stiffen at the mention of his name, and I'm only partially successful. I shift in Sebastian's lap as if I'm uncomfortable. It hurts to even think about Griffin while I'm keeping up this sick charade with Sebastian.

"But I will treat you so much better than he will. Griffin's a nice young man. Don't get me wrong. I don't want anything to happen to him, if I can help it. I also don't think he's good enough for you. I'll care for you in ways he can't. Financially, socially, educationally. It'll be so much better if you put him in the past and forget him. We'll let him deal his club drugs and he'll go on his merry way."

I nod. "I know. I've come to realize that over this past week. Griffin's brought me only pain and problems." There's some truth to that, I guess, and it feels funny to admit that out loud. Like I'm sharing a secret. "I did some hard thinking. It's why I went to your doctor. If I didn't want to be with you, I would have never gone for the tests."

"Ah, yes. I meant to thank you for that. Dr. Weiland called and said you're totally healthy. Which means I'll be able to experience you the way I want." He growls a little, and I see Lena walking into the dining room.

I fake a giggle and squirm off him, as if I don't want to display affection in front of her. "Sebastian," I say in a mock-chiding voice.

"Oh, don't worry about Lena."

With her usual frosty aura — of course, now I know why she's like this — she sets our first course down, a dish of gazpacho. I know the meal, down to every detail of the preparation. We'd gone over it three times with Vee, who provided the powerful sleeping pills that are in every liquid that he will ingest tonight. Sebastian takes a spoonful of the cold soup. Lena's already stealthily left the room, and he's talking about how delicious it is.

I steal a glance at his watch. It's seven at night. One hour until Griffin arrives.

By that time, Sebastian should be out cold.

It's ten minutes to eight and we're drinking our after dinner coffee. My earlier confidence in this plan is sinking. So much that I'm wondering if Lena is really slipping him the pills that Vee provided.

Is she fucking with us?

She was supposed to grind up the pills and put the powder in his champagne, his wine and the soup.

For some reason, Sebastian doesn't seem affected. I think he sounds a little sleepy because his German accent is a bit more pronounced, but I can't be sure. It's not like I can ask how he feels, or quiz him on whether he's tired. I don't want to raise any suspicion.

So I encourage him to tell me about his pharmaceutical conference in New York, and try to ask intelligent questions.

He reaches out and takes my hand. One of his eyes appears a little smaller, as if his right lid is closing more than his left, and I'm hoping that's because of the pills.

"I'm so appreciative of your intellect. Nadia, as much as I loved her, wasn't at all interested in medicine, or anything, really. You're really smart, Juliette."

Normally I'd feel a swell of pride at this kind of compliment, but all I feel now is anger. He's trying to groom and flatter me. I'm sure he doesn't think I'm smart at all.

"Thank you." I bashfully blink at my after-dinner coffee. He yawns, and I do a fist-pump in my mind.

Sebastian looks at his watch. "My dear, I have a quick meeting at eight. Why don't you get settled upstairs in the bedroom. I have another gift for you, it's on the bed. And here." He slips a hand into his pocket and extracts a blister pack of pills.

"I'd like you to take one of these. Only one. That way, you'll be nice and sleepy, or possibly asleep, by the time I get up there."

I look him deep into his blue eyes. "Ohh. A meeting? I thought I had you all to myself tonight."

"Just a little business. In fact, it's Griffin."

I frown. This I didn't expect. Why would he tell me that Griffin's coming over?

"Don't worry, Juliette. I won't tell him you're here."

"Thank you. I want nothing to do with him." I'm a terrible liar, and hopefully Sebastian doesn't sense my unease. A stab of pain goes through my chest, because even though Griffin has brought hell into my life, he's also brought long glimpses of heaven. And hopefully, once we're done tonight, we'll have more of that and less of the inferno.

I take the pill and wash it down with water. I knew this would be a possibility. I'm not afraid of being drugged, though. Lena, Griffin and Vee have my back. Once Griffin gets here, and once Sebastian falls asleep, the three of them will get me out safely.