"I still care deeply for you," she said. "There is," - She glanced over at Laura a "I have faith you'll come round to see I'm the right woman for you."

Laura had visibly paled. Her fingers clenched around her iPad, as though mulling over how to deflect this conversation.

"Laura informed me you're undergoing infertility treatment?" I deflected for her.

"Yes. Perhaps a baby..."

"Born out of love with parents in a healthy relationship, if you want my advice."

"Perhaps you might consider donating?" said Zie.

"Donating?"

"Your sperm."

I scratched my jaw, wondering if Richard might find this conversation just as startling later when I recounted it. Yes, it would be considered breeching confidentially, but I needed to be talked back off the ledge of insanity.

"Your current partner is infertile?" I asked gently.

"I'm dating a woman."

"I see."

"Perhaps if we explore why you didn't work out?" Laura said. "Cameron, would you share with McKenzie why those final days ended the way they did?"

I shot a look at Zie.

"You told me you would always love me," she said.

"Those were hard days for me too."

"Do you still love me?"

Laura sat forward and rested her hand on Zie's knee. "You don't stop loving someone just because you're no longer together, Zie."

This was totally out of line.

Laura was off her game, and I wondered if her current relationship was warping her perspective and skewering her analysis.

"Cameron?" Zie said.

"I care for you deeply. That's why I'm here. I want you to move on. Have the life you want."

"Mia isn't right for you. Your parents disapprove."

"And how would you know that?"

"Because I know your mom, Cameron. She'll hate the idea of you marrying Mia with her background. She's not one of us."

I glanced at the wall clock. The hands hadn't moved since the last time I checked.

"Loyalty is important to you," she said. "You don't tolerate infidelity."

"Zie." I stared into her eyes, wondering if she was prepared to take this all the way to truth.

"We had the kind of relationship that allowed for exploration," she said.

"Yes, but you took it too far."

"Cameron, you run the manor."

A threat to blow my private life wide open.

My glare left Zie and slid over to Laura. "Would you mind stepping out a moment?"

"It's best I stay."

My gaze returned to Zie, daring her to go there and reveal the existence of Chrysalis, share with Laura the intimate details of nights spent exploring the most decadent scenes, and even further into the darkest abyss of the psyche. The rawest memory of why we'd not made it.

Remaining focused and wary, I tried to pull this conversation back. "Zie, there are extraordinary private issues that we share. Perhaps if we talk in a private setting?"

"Laura knows."

My gaze shot to Laura "Knows what exactly?"

"About the Harrington Suite," said Zie. "And what we did in it."

"What you did in it," I corrected.

"I was young and easily influenced."

"No, Zie, you fully consented. You wanted to be in there. Chose to be there. If you recall correctly, I wasn't meant to be there that night."

That night. When I'd left work at 1AM with a 102.0 fever and had another doctor take my shift, stopping off at Chrysalis to find my lover in the Harrington Suite. Zie, the director's woman, had been the center of attention and immersed in the kind of vision reserved for hardcore films.

Standing in the shadows of that ballroom, I'd watched my fiance being taken by man after man in an endless orgy. A continuous fucking that had no end in sight. My thoughts spiraled, trying to grasp this surreal vision within what had felt like a fever-dream.

The days that followed had me nursing myself back from both the flu and the heartbreak of realizing we were over.

Zie had not only betrayed me but turned my house into a perversion, ruining all I held dear. This carefully managed sanctuary, this home I'd created for those who lingered on the edge of society, had morphed into an iniquitous mess.

"Are you going to pervert Mia, too," asked Zie.

"You're a nymphomaniac," I said softly. "Mia is not."

"Perhaps if we refrain from labeling," said Laura.

"Well, as her actions in the Harrington Suite are up for discussion," I said, "what are your thoughts on the issue, Laura?"

"I'm not here to judge, Cameron. Merely explore and find resolution for you both."

I shrugged. "I've moved on. What can I do, Zie, to convince you as well?"

"You fuck Mia every day," said Zie. "Countless times, if your appetite is the same as it was with me."

"And your point?"

"You're not enough for her."

I shook my head, annoyed with how she'd derailed this session.

"Mia and I are just fine."

"We were fine, Cameron. You and Mia have cracks in your relationship."

"And how would you know that?"

Zie's gaze left mine and she held Laura's stare.

Anger welled with her insinuation.

"All sessions are confidential," said Laura.

My jaw tightened. "If there has been any discussion of my private life-"

"I get you, Cameron," said Zie. "I'm the only woman who can fulfill you. Satisfy your predilections."

"McKenzie," said Laura. "You told me you were happy in your relationship now and it gave you the stability you need?"

Zie's glare stayed on me. "You're going to get hurt, Cam."

"What gives you that idea?"

Her eyes sparkled. "Mia's having an affair."

"What are you talking about?"

"You have no idea, do you?"

Laura's iPad was face down on her lap, her gaze jumping from me and back to Zie, her obvious loss of control overruled by her intrigue.

"Mia's always been close to Richard," I said.

"Not Richard," she said. "Though they were fucking once, weren't they, before you stole her?"

"It wasn't like that."

"Mia has a special friend at Charlie's. I imagine you thought her enthusiasm to work there was down to her charitable nature."

"You're wrong."

"He's one of the other volunteers." She looked triumphant. "They're quite the couple, apparently. Sneaking off to talk privately. Mia's a bundle of nerves when he's around. Like a schoolgirl."

"You're lying."

"I still have friends from when I worked there."

"One shift-"

Was all she'd fucking managed.

"Rebecca told you this?" I said.

"Yes."

Rebecca, the woman I'd entrusted to run my soup kitchen based on the fact she'd been the best candidate to take my charity cafe where it needed to go. She was to feed the homeless and provide a safe refuge when they ate their only meal of the day. And not take any bullshit. Apparently Rebecca also had a thing for gossip and had no taste in friends.

"What did Rebecca tell you exactly?" I said.

"All I know is that it's the only time you're not on Mia like a rash," said Zie.

"Got a name?"

"Nope. Apparently he's cute though. Tattooed and very hot. All the girls at Charlie's swoon over him. Rides a Harley. He's young. More Mia's age."

"Good luck with everything, Zie." I pushed myself to my feet, hoping I'd make it to the door without punching the wall.

"We're not done here," said Laura.

I strolled back toward her, picked up her iPad, and with several swipes on the screen I deleted all record of our session.

"Hey," said Laura. "You can't do that."

I handed it back to her. "Just did."

Taking a deep breath of reason, I headed for the door.

I'd just been exposed to lunacy in its purist form.

CHAPTER 20.

LINCOLN PICKED UP on this awkward silence.