Page 22 of Education with Dad's Best Friend
The shrewd woman chuckles, sensing my fear. “You see, I have a security camera hidden inside the air vent,” she says, pointing at the ceiling in the kitchen area, right above the spot where I kissed Elsie the first time.
Shit. I curse silently, although I’m unable to see anything camera behind the air grille. I recall the details that night. I kissed Elsie, and I touched her just a little, but it was enough to mortify me.
“I have the footage,” she says. “I saw what you guys did in the kitchen, right next to the counter,” she goes on. “I install cameras mainly to protect myself. You know, I work with clients that I can’t fully trust.”
I stifle the urge to discuss her irresponsible action of bringing strangers home while her daughter is around. “I’m sorry… I wasn’t myself,” I say instead, ashamed of what I did.
“That’s okay,” she says while reaching a hand to stroke my arm. “You don’t have to apologize to me. Elsie has the effect on men, and it isn’t the first time guys lose their heads about her.”
My blood pressure spikes. Who are the men she talks about? The men she brings home? Jealousy consumes me like a virus. Elsie is not safe here. I’ve got to take her away from this woman.
“Have any of your clients attempted anything inappropriate with Elsie?” I ask through gritted teeth. It baffles me she doesn’t look angry as a mother should toward a man who takes advantage of her child. Instead, she seems to be amused by the fact.
She narrows her eyes for a second, and then she mocks me with laughter. “Wow, Albert. You really have it bad for her. I saw the way you looked at her earlier. You probably wished you were eating her out instead of the dinner I cooked for you. And why did you go to the restroom during dinner?”
Holy hell. My cheeks burn. “What do you want? Fanny?” I ask through gritted teeth.
“You’re a college professor,” she says with a bitter smile. “I’m sure you’re smart enough to know what I want. I need money.”
I expected it but still find it incredible. Clearly, this woman installed the camera not for her daughter’s safety but for extortion. “Why are you short on money?” I’m enraged suddenly. “As far as I know, John pays you enough to afford a better place to live, and yet you settled for this slum and lower yourself to unrespectable jobs, putting both you and Elsie in danger.”
“Shut up!” she says. “It’s none of your business and you have no right to judge me! I made some bad choices with men and I paid for my mistakes. John hasn’t paid me enough because I’ve worked hard to raise his daughter. Elsie is the reason I can’t have a carefree life. I have to take her with me wherever I go. I have to make sure she doesn’t starve or get hurt. I might not have done a fantastic job, but you can’t blame me for everything. I’ve never allowed any of my clients to be close to my daughter. In fact, you’re the first man ever touches her!”
Damn. I wish I can put a bullet in my head. I’m such an asshole. Despite that, I argue. “Elsie is an adult, and I have her consent.”
“Yeah, but if I show the video to your employer or to John, what would they say?”
Fuck. I sigh. “How much do you want?”
“Not much. Two grand,” she says.
What? I don’t know whether I should laugh or curse at the amount. On the one hand, it’s quite a lot of money for a stolen kiss. On the other hand, it seems too little, so little that it cheapens my affection for Elsie.
“I’ll give you the money,” I say. “But I would like to have the footage first.”
“No problem,” Fanny says and goes into her room, returning with an SD chip. “Here it is.”
“How do I know you don’t have a copy of it?”
She shrugs. “I don’t.”
I sigh and pull out a check from my wallet, write the amount she requests and sign it.
After we exchange the check and the footage chip, Fanny smiles and circles her arms around my neck. “Do you want a massage?” she asks with a sultry voice, thrusting her chest forward. “I’ll make it good, and it’ll be complimentary.”
Jesus. I have a feeling she isn’t talking about a massage. “No, Fanny,” I say, blushing as I remove her arms from me.
She was going to let go of me when I see Elsie standing a foot away, her mouth agape. At the same time, Fanny leans over and puts her lips on top of mine.
I barely push her away from me when the door of the living room opens and I turn to look.
Elsie has dashed out of the house.
“Elsie!” I call and run after her.
The hallway is empty when I’m out of the apartment. The young man across the hallway stands there and looks at me curiously.
“Which way did she go?” I ask him.
