Chapter 153

The aroma of evergreen and sandalwood lingers in his bathroom. It’s a pleasant, masculine scent. She takes a moment to inhale deeply and savor it like she did before. His striking eyes come to mind...and his broad shoulders...and flat belly. She sprays the bathroom mirror with Windolene and rubs energetically. Stop! Stop! Stop! He’s her employer, and he would never be interested in her. After all, she’s just his cleaner. Her last job in his bedroom is to empty the trash. To her disbelief she finds the basket empty. There are no used condoms. She places it back beside his nightstand, and for some inexplicable reason the empty basket makes her smile. Gathering up the laundry and her cleaning materials, she gazes for a moment at the two monochrome photographs on the wall. Both are nudes. In one a woman is kneeling, her skin pale and translucent. The soles of her feet, her behind, and the graceful curve of her back are all visible, and she holds her blond hair piled up on her head; a few s