Queen of Blackmail

Natasha wanted to message Phillip, and she had no doubt that he wanted to do the same, but they agreed it would look too suspicious that they were suddenly regularly in contact with each other before she'd left for Germany, so they remained quiet. She hated not being able to respond to all the messages asking what had become of her. She knew her friends were worried crazy about her. But the more she stayed off the grid, the safer she would be. If the police were monitoring her account, they were doing it without triggering any alerts. They could monitor anything they wanted as far as she was concerned, as long as they never found her. She thought that after she got back home, she would broach the subject with Phillip about relocating to a country with no extradition treaty with the US. If she ever needed to call the police for some reason, she didn't want to be unable to because she was wanted. Finally, it was March. Natasha felt both apprehensive and excited as May drew closer. They'd gone on another road trip since then, agreeing not to fly anywhere because that put Natasha at risk. The less she flew, the better. Marion continued to flirt more and more, and this was something that disturbed Natasha a bit. It would be fine if she were single, but she wasn't. She also wasn't sure if Marion was getting more used to the fact that she was doing her chores for her or because she truly enjoyed her presence. Perhaps it was both. After all, Marion made it clear that it was OK if she accidentally fell asleep in her bed every now and then. After what seemed like an eternity, it was late April. Almost time to go. "I don't know exactly when it will be," Natasha told Marion one evening during dinner, "but soon I'll be heading home." Not surprisingly, Marion's expression hardened. Natasha put a gentle hand on Marion's arm and said, "Hey, it's been a fun year, and I promise to keep your secret if you promise to keep mine. Besides, I'll be back again someday." "Will you?" Marion finally said. "And do you really think it's safe to get on a plane and head back to the US, Natasha?" "Well, I made it here and I don't have a choice. I can't abandon my husband and home forever, and I can't legally become a citizen here either." "But you have money, and our routine has been working out just fine." "I agree, but we both knew I couldn't stay forever. Why would you want that anyway? You must miss having the place to yourself. Also, if you meet someone who moves in here with you, I wouldn't want to feel like the third wheel, and I'm sure my presence wouldn't be appreciated by you guys either." Marion set her glass down with a heavy clunk and focused her blue-gray eyes. "What if it's you I want?" "That's flattering, Marion, but nothing has changed." "What about all those times you flirted with me online?" "That was different." "Oh, was it now?" Marion asked sarcastically. "It wasn't that I didn't mean anything I said, but life online is a lot different from how it is in person, and we didn't exactly have the secrets we have now back then." Marion's eyes grew cold. "I could report you at the airport." "Yes, you could," said Natasha, feeling the first tendrils of genuine alarm growing in the pit of her stomach as much as she tried to hide it. "But then you would automatically be exposed. I don't think either of us wants that, so let's handle this in a civilized manner. Besides, what is it about me? What is it you've come to like more, me or all the chores I handle for you?" "Well, of course it's both," Marion admitted. "I wouldn't have as much free time if I had to do everything myself again, but I would also be very lonely and depressed. I would miss you terribly." "But you don't have to be alone," Natasha said gently. "You're beautiful, and you have a lot to offer. There's no reason you can't meet someone, whether it's another woman or a man." Marion continued to eye her coldly as if she was doing something wrong, and her leaving was an act of cruelty. "Why don't we compromise? I'll contact Phillip to let him know that I'll be staying with you another month or two." It was a lie, of course, but Natasha knew it was imperative and extremely crucial not to give Marion the slightest hint as to when she would be leaving or from which airport.