Page 95 of Emerald

“Yes,” I say, pulling out my phone and we exchange numbers just as we hear a knock at the door, and moments later, Pedro and Manuel walk in.

“I knew our women would get on.”Pedro grins.

“You were right, Pookie. I like her,”Anna says, smiling adoringly at her husband.“I think we’re going to be the best of friends.”

“I knew it.”Pedro smiles triumphantly.“Manuel would like to take his woman home, sweetness.”

Anna’s face falls, and she starts to pout.“Can I take her home? It’s been too long since I’ve hung out with someone my own age.”Manuel stares in surprise at me and then defers to Pedro.

Pedro walks over to where Anna is sitting and kisses her head.“Aw, my princess. How can I ever deny you?”He proceeds to pat her cheek.“Manuel, I hope you don’t mind that my wife has fallen for your girl.”

“I’m honored,”he answers.

“You should be, she’s a tough nut to crack.”Pedro chuckles.

“Pookie,”Anna gives her husband her best baby voice.“Why don’t you and Manuel go back downstairs and continue hanging out with your friends? I was just about to show her my closet.”

“You’re willing to send me back down there with all those whores?”Pedro grins.

Anna smiles.“Of course, my love, I was being unreasonable earlier. You know how I get,”she says, standing up and wrapping her arms around his neck.

“You like keeping me on my toes that’s for sure.”Pedro grins down at her.

“You wouldn’t have it any other way.”She giggles.

“No, I wouldn’t.”He leans forward and kisses her.“Come on, Manuel, let’s do what the women say, unless Carmen doesn’t like to share?”Pedro looks over, testing me.

“I have no control over what Manuel does,”I state.

“You know they are going downstairs to fuck whores?”Anna snips at me.

I look up at Manuel and I can see he is waiting to see what my answer will be.“Your wife has explained what my duty would be like in this life, I am happy to share.”

Manuel’s face lights up, as does Pedro’s, who is back standing beside him, he claps his friend on the back.“She is perfect.”He grins at his friend.

“I think she is, too.”Manuel stares down at me as if seeing me for the first time.

“Go, we have serious girly business to take care of,”Anna says, shooing the boys from her room.

“Fine, have fun, my love.”Pedro waves.

“I’ll text you,”Manuel adds as he closes the door behind them.

“Manuel is so hot,” Anna sighs, “and he’s a great lay, too, don’t you think?” I still. What did she say? She sees that I’m stunned. “You’re not jealous, are you? I thought he was just a mark.”

“No, I’m not jealous, but when the hell did you sleep with him? Does your husband know?” I question her.

Anna bursts out laughing. “Oh hell no, he would kill me over that. Manuel is led by his dick. He was staying the night while my husband and Domingo were away, I crept into his room because I was needy. That is when I realized the power I had as the boss’s wife. I demanded he fuck me. He tried to resist but then I told him I would tell my husband that he tried to force himself on me, of course that did the trick and he fucked me. He’s good, we did it over and over again.” She giggles as if I would find that story adorable. “And now I just click my fingers, and Manuel does it whenever I need it. Sorry.” She winks at me.

That doesn’t seem consensual nor something my Anna would do. She’s always been timid when it came to men and a prudewhen we spoke about sex. Not that I should be judgmental.The job changed her, she’s not the same Anna you used to know, just like you’re not the same Elena you once were.

“I’m like, finally, the women get some power. It’s exhilarating, having that much power over a man, watching him get on his knees for you knowing you could extinguish his life with one word.” She smirks.

I don’t know what to say to that confession. “Wow, that’s some power,” I add.

“Right?” She chuckles. “Come on, let me show you my closet. You are going to die.” And the smile on her face reminds me of the Anna I used to know as she drags me through the parlor room and then through another door that leads us into the world’s largest closet.

“Oh my god, this is insane.” I gasp.

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