The Arrangement

22.1 | Fort Donovan-Cavanaugh

It had been nearly a week since Tracy moved back into the penthouse, and the heavy guilt she felt about leaving Jasmine was finally starting to lift. Her daily evening phone calls with her cousin, a stipulation Jasmine insisted on, helped ease the transition. Although Jasmine had initially been unhappy with her cousin's decision, her typically cheerful energy gradually returned to Tracy's relief. The 7 PM calls, though brief, became a comforting ritual that helped them both stay connected.

Life at Matthew's penthouse also took a surprising turn for the better. Matthew's attitude had softened, making him more pleasant to be around, and his staff mirrored this change. Alberic, usually lukewarm, greeted her return with a mildly chipper demeanor, which Tracy suspected was due to her appreciation of his exquisite culinary creations that she now finished since her appetite had returned. Rosa and Esme made greater efforts to engage in small talk whenever their paths crossed. Sebastian, with his boundless enthusiasm, reminded her of a golden retriever, always eager to assist her and spend time chatting.

Each day, Tracy found herself feeling more at ease, the penthouse no longer a place of tension or coldness, but more of a place that resembled a home. It felt warmer, more inviting than when she'd stayed there before. Matthew was also warmer, having kept his promise to spend more time with Tracy. He'd revised their contract to include one night per week for dates and reserving Sundays to stay in and spend time together.

Sunday had arrived, and it was just the two of them. After breakfast, they spent hours at the piano. Matthew patiently taught Tracy more of "Time Forgets..." and introduced her to classical pieces, the melodies filling the penthouse with a soothing ambiance. The time they spent together at the piano felt both rewarding and intimate.

After two hours, they decided to switch gears and assembled a large, 2000-piece puzzle. It was a labor of patience and teamwork that took them a few hours to complete, with moments of shared laughter and camaraderie as they matched the elusive pieces.

With the puzzle finally conquered, Tracy found herself at a loss for what to do next. She could sense Matthew's restlessness growing, his boredom and antsy demeanor suggesting there was something else he wanted to do, something she hoped to prolong.

"What would you like to do now?" Matthew asked, breaking the silence as they disassembled the puzzle.

"Um..." Tracy said nervously, placing the top on the puzzle box. She wanted to keep their day from slipping into an uncomfortable lull or a feral marathon of sex. "Wanna watch a movie?" she suggested, managing an anxious smile.

"Sure," Matthew responded, moving closer to her. "Let's watch a movie in your bed," he added, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her in. Tracy felt her heart race; she knew what that meant.

"Why my bed? We could watch it in one of the other rooms," she countered, trying to deflect.

"Your bed's more comfortable," he insisted, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

"Maybe later," she said, trying to steer the conversation. "How about lunch?"

"Alberic isn't here," he pointed out.

"That's all right. I'll make something," she offered, heading for the kitchen.

"I'm not hungry," he replied as he pulled her back to him. "Not for food anyway," he said, his voice dropping to a more suggestive tone.

Tracy's pulse quickened as she looked into Matthew's seductive eyes. Her mouth suddenly felt dry, and it became difficult to speak. "W-well," she said, trying to keep her voice steady, "Maybe you're thirsty. I'll get some water," she suggested, attempting to break free from his embrace and escape to the kitchen.