Chapter 2

Renata drifted slowly up from sleep, where she had been dreaming of being a child playing with her big brother while their parents looked on and laughed. It was sunny on the terrace where they played, and there was a big, furry dog romping after the ball they threw for him. There was a brilliant blue pool and her brother jumped in, swimming like a fish and daring her to follow him in.

"Renata, you stay here in the shallow end," her papa directed, calling to her brother, "Tomas, stop teasing her; you know she cannot swim as well as you can."

"All right, Papa, but how is she going to learn?"

"I can do it, Papa!" Renata protested.

But he shook his head firmly and said, "No. Your swim instructor will be here later, and you will not go into the deep end without her."

Renata pouted but obeyed. An unusual clatter came from inside the house and they all looked that way, wondering what the fuss was. A moment later, Renata realized that the noise wasn't part of her dream, it was happening right there in the penthouse. Reality rushed back over her and she rubbed the dream from her eyes as she rubbed the sleep away. Reluctantly, she got out of bed and pulled her robe on before she opened the door and walked toward the kitchen. As she expected, Logan was in there, noisily mixing a smoothie in the blender, half a bagel popping up in the toaster. He looked as fresh as if he'd slept for many hours, though Renata knew he rarely slept more than four or five hours.

"Oh, did I wake you?" Logan asked. "Sorry, but I've got to get going. Fix that bagel for me, will you? I have a lot going on today. And so do you, as a matter of fact. Don't forget the meeting with the historical museum board. It's on your calendar. And the fundraiser for the children's hospital is this afternoon. I'll make a brief appearance, and then it's all yours. Dinner is at Le Chat tonight with George Russell and his latest hottie, at eight. Oh, and remind Daria to pick up the dry cleaning; we'll both be needing it. If you have some time, why don't you buy a couple of new dresses? The one you wore last night you've worn to at least one other event. Find something in a sapphire blue. I like you in blue."

Renata listened while she spread cream cheese on his bagel, topped it with thin slices of smoked salmon, and finished it with fresh ground black pepper. Logan gulped down his smoothie between bites of the bagel and washed the last bite down with strong, black coffee and then he was gone. Renata took a deep breath and poured herself a cup of coffee. She made a face and poured a generous portion of cream into the bitter brew. No wonder he was so wide awake in the morning. She poured out the last half of the cup and brewed some to suit herself. With a shrug, she popped the other half of his bagel into the toaster and slathered it with cream cheese before she went to the terrace with her breakfast and switched on the morning news on her way. It was a little cool to sit outside, but she did it anyway, filling her lungs with the morning air and watching the news from there as she enjoyed her solitary time.

After she was finished with her bagel and coffee, Renata called her personal shopper and instructed her to find a couple of new gowns, asking her to avoid blue. She told her to choose a dress for herself and add it to the bill and to send the rest up to the penthouse. As she hung up the phone, she was pleased to think that her personal shopper, Maggie, truly loved working for her. It was a small thing she could do in her present life, treating the people who worked for her well, and she got a great deal of satisfaction out of it. Logan couldn't care less how much she spent, as long as she looked good when she was seen, and she always looked fabulous. She checked that task off her schedule for the day and looked over the rest. She decided to send her office assistant to the museum board meeting. She knew the chairman of the board was not going to be there that day, so the meeting wouldn't consist of anything of importance. She could tell Logan that she'd needed the time for an appointment at the spa. The fundraiser for the children's hospital was important to her and she would give it her full attention. Daria didn't need reminding to pick up the dry cleaning; she always did it on her way to the penthouse. So, although Logan had made it sound like she had a hectic day ahead of her, she was actually going to have some rare free time.

Renata dressed in sneakers and sweats and went down a few floors to the fully equipped gym. Her personal trainer, Bree, put her through her paces and nodded her approval of the condition Renata was in. Once Renata had brought her there to work for her, the woman had picked up several wealthy female clients who lived in the building and longed to look like Renata. Bree was now making a substantial living and was another employee who was staunchly loyal to Renata. Logan would no doubt be scornful of the network of people who had become staunchly loyal to his wife, but she knew the value of the relationships she had built. Eventually, she would be likely to need all of them.

Renata finished her workout and talked with her trainer for a little while, catching up on Bree's family news; she had twin boys who never failed to find new and crazy exploits to get into. Her husband was a freelance journalist and had made an important name for himself. Bree had introduced him to Renata, and he had become another valued and loyal friend. Jackson Prentiss might someday prove to be someone whom Renata needed very much.

When Renata went back up to the penthouse, Daria had arrived, bringing Logan's treasured dry cleaning with her. Renata gave her a quick hug and asked her about her grandchildren, the most treasured little people in Daria's life. Renata could count on Daria to make sure that Logan's favorite treats were always stocked and fresh. When they had hired the woman as housekeeper, Logan had instructed her as to what foods, delicacies, and snacks he expected to always have in the kitchen, and he told her in no uncertain terms that each morning, he expected her to throw away everything that was left from the day before and replace it all with fresh supplies. Renata asked Daria to take it all home with her rather than throw it away and therefore, Daria's family always had an array of some of the finest delicacies the city had to offer.

Daria handed Renata the cup of tea she'd brewed exactly in time for Renata to return from her workout. She drank the tea while she spoke to her mother on the phone. When she hung up, she had tears in her eyes, as usual. She set the empty cup in the sink and went to shower and dress for her day. Renata emerged, wearing a dark-colored sweater with matching slacks, her hair pulled back and wound into a smooth knot. She had large, dark sunglasses and a hat to make her anonymous to the casual passer-by.

"Should I call your driver?" Daria asked.

"No, I'm going to take a cab," Renata answered. "I'll catch up with my driver before I go to the children's hospital."

Daria frowned fretfully. "I don't like you to take those public taxis. You're safer with your own driver."

Renata laughed and gave her a hug. "Don't you worry. I'll only be out on my own in the big bad world for a couple of hours. And nobody will have any idea who I am."

"Just be careful."

"Always." Renata gave her housekeeper a little wink. "You kiss those babies for me."

Daria grinned in spite of her worries. "I'll do that."

"I'll see you tomorrow," Renata said as she left the penthouse. Once she was on the sidewalk, she walked a few blocks before she hailed a cab. She settled in with a contented sigh. She had two hours of freedom ahead of her. Ten minutes later, she left the cab and went into a funky little art gallery. She spent a few minutes gazing at the mediocre paintings and then left by the back door. She hailed another cab and rode for a few minutes longer before she got out and went into a cozy coffee shop. She sat down and ordered a latte, and just a minute later, a tall, lean man with shoulder length dark hair joined her.

"Good morning," he said. "Are you feeling well today?"

"I'm feeling fabulous. And you?"

"I think I'm feeling…hungry."

Renata studied him. "You don't look particularly underfed."

He leaned forward and gave her a wicked grin. "Oh, I'm not. When I feel the need for something, I satisfy it."

"Really. I prefer to enjoy the anticipation of satisfying my desires." Renata touched the tip of her tongue to her upper lip.

"I have something for you," the darkly handsome man said.

"Good. I wouldn't want to take this trip for nothing."

The man slid his folded newspaper over to her. "I think you'll enjoy the story on page thirteen. I need to be on my way. Enjoy your latte."

Renata sat in the coffee shop and sipped the latte at her leisure. When she left, she tucked the newspaper under her arm and walked a few blocks, stopping at a little shop that sold trinkets and local arts and crafts. She purchased a little box carved out of jade and then took another cab back to within a couple of blocks of her own building. She walked into the building by a side entrance and then called her driver and asked him to pick her up. Half an hour later, she was at the children's hospital and greeting her husband with a warm smile.

Logan frowned at her and said, "What are you wearing? You look very…dark."

"I had a bit of a headache, so I spent some time at the spa. I was overdue for a massage."

"I hope you look a little brighter tonight for dinner with George."

Renata said lightly, "Oh, I will. I'll have a couple of new gowns to choose from. Unfortunately, there was nothing appropriate in blue."

Logan's frown deepened. "That's a disappointment. Maybe it's time for us to take a shopping trip to France."

"Logan. You certainly don't have time now to fly off on a shopping trip. I'm sure I'll manage to look presentable. I always do, don't I?"

His frown cleared and he squeezed her left buttock quickly. "I can't complain about the way you look. And definitely not about the way you feel."

Renata stepped away and said, "Logan. Focus. You need to accomplish something here. People who love children are loved by the voters."

Irritably, he said, "Let's get this over with. I've got other things to do."

The two of them walked into the room that had been set up for the public appearance and Logan was all smiles and charm. He talked to children who were heartbreakingly ill and injured. He gave them little gifts that suited each of them perfectly. They'd had a list and a description of the children he would talk to and Renata had chosen perfectly thoughtful gifts for them. After fifteen minutes at the most, Logan regretfully announced that he would have to leave but that his beloved wife would stay and tour the rest of the hospital, talking to all and answering questions. He made his escape and Renata took over. This children's hospital was a passion to her, and she worked hard to see that they were provided with what they needed. After Logan left, she was in her element, listening carefully to what the children had to say, passing out more little gifts, reading a story to a little group of them, and talking at length to the administrator about the best ways to help the hospital. Renata stayed longer than she had planned, and when she got back into the car, she heaved a weary sigh. She leaned her head back and tried to keep her mind blank on the ride back to her building.

"Daria? Are you still here?" Renata called out as she entered the penthouse. There was no answer and she realized that her housekeeper had been gone for at least an hour. She went to the kitchen and looked around at the spotless space. It was as lovely as always. She turned on some music and let it fill the quiet penthouse while she took one of Daria's platters out of the refrigerator and helped herself to some exquisite little sandwiches. While she ate, she carefully opened the newspaper to page thirteen and removed the envelope that she found there. There was a single page of closely written text in it and she read it carefully before she carried it to her closet and added it to a folder that was in a concealed compartment of one of her leather bags.

Renata was sitting at her vanity, finishing her makeup, when her husband arrived, in a hurry as usual. He immediately switched off the music and headed for the shower, stripping off his clothes on the way. He talked nonstop about his day and how he had gotten his way with the city planning commission. Thankfully, Renata couldn't hear him any longer once he got into the shower and she turned the music back on while she dressed in a soft gray-green gown that clung to her and suited her mood. When Logan emerged from the bathroom, he stopped and frowned at her.

"What are you doing? That dress is so drab; you know George likes flashy. I thought you'd be in blue."

"There was nothing decent in blue to be had," Renata said.

"Well, put on something else. That's much too quiet for George."

Without a word, Renata went to the huge walk-in closet and pulled out a bright red dress. It was a beautiful dress that hugged her curves, but she hated wearing red. She held it against herself, and Logan nodded in approval.

"That's perfect, George'll love it."

"Well, thank God for that. George has such exquisite taste," Renata said with disdain.

Logan took her arm and whirled her around to face him. "George Russell is important to us. You will make him feel like the most important man on the face of the earth. Is that clear?"

Renata spit out the words, "Crystal clear. Shall I fuck him between courses?"

"Don't be ridiculous. But you certainly can fuck me after dinner." He leaned forward to kiss her, biting her lip savagely and stopping just short of drawing blood.

"Don't I always?" Her tone was ice cold.

Logan relaxed suddenly and laughed. "Yes, as a matter of fact. I've got no complaints in that department. Hurry up; we're leaving in fifteen minutes."

He went to get a whiskey, and Renata put the red dress on, vowing to throw it away after tonight. When she walked out into the living room, in her red dress and sparkling red heels, her husband's eyes glittered.

He let out a long breath and said, "You look magnificent." He put a fur stole over her shoulders and kissed her neck as he did so. Renata had to concentrate hard to suppress the shudder that his touch brought to her. When they left the penthouse, Renata's thoughts were far from the evening to come. She had much better things to think about. Logan never asked about how the rest of the hospital visit had gone, and Renata was pleased to keep the treasured memories of the children to herself.

When the golden couple walked into the restaurant, the hostess greeted them and showed them immediately to the table where George Russell and his woman friend were seated. The table was in a prominent spot in the restaurant, so they would be seen by as many important people as possible. George rose and shook Logan's hand and kissed Renata's cheek. Renata cringed inwardly and took note of the lascivious look in George's eyes as they swept her from head to toe. He introduced them to his companion, Yvonne, and the waiter came immediately to pour the wine. George liked to order the entire meal for all of them when he took them to dinner. Fortunately, his taste in food and wine was better than his taste in women.

Renata attempted to converse with Yvonne while the men talked political strategy, but it was difficult to get an intelligent sentence out of the sex kitten. She joined in the men's conversation now and then, but they were too engrossed in their own opinions to pay much attention to her, other than enjoying the sight of her in her red dress. She concentrated on the really fine meal and her own thoughts for most of the evening. When dessert was served, George turned his attention to her. He'd feasted his eyes on her throughout dinner.

"How was your visit to the children's hospital? I understand they love you over there," George said indulgently.

"It was a wonderful visit, as always. The seriously ill kids break my heart, so if I can make them smile for a little while, I've had a good visit."

George said, "They call you an angel over there, you know. Maybe you could take Yvonne with you next time."

Yvonne said with a shudder, "I can't stand hospitals. I don't know how you can bear to spend time there."

Renata said coolly, "Well, you certainly shouldn't attempt to do it if your heart's not in it. George, maybe you could visit the hospital instead."

George gave his booming laugh. "Hospitals aren't for me. I'll be glad to write them a check, though. Maybe I could present it to the administrator, have a little press conference. That'd be good PR."

Renata rolled her eyes inwardly but gave George a gracious smile. "Any contribution would be welcome, I'm sure."

"I'll have my secretary get in touch with you, Renata. You can set it up for us." George sat back, looking magnanimous.

"I'll look forward to it," Renata said, her head beginning to pound. She sipped her water and took a tiny bite of her decadent dessert and promised herself an extra fifteen minutes on the treadmill. Logan was looking at her with approval.

When the dinner was finally over, Renata thought she'd never been so relieved. She endured George's kiss again, turning her head just in time to keep him from catching her on the mouth, and stepped away as quickly as she could. Logan was enormously pleased with the way the dinner had gone. His wife was a puzzling enigma now and then, but she never failed to do what was needed to keep his ambitions moving in the right direction. He could always count on her to somehow know just the right things to say. And he found her cool, ladylike poise combined with her smoking hot looks to be the sexiest combination he had ever seen.

"You could have talked to Yvonne more," he pointed out.

"I tried, Logan, I really did. She could barely string a sentence together. She spent all her time playing footsie with George under the table. And he didn't seem to pay much attention."

Logan chuckled. "He'd rather watch you than play footsie with her. I told you the red dress was the right thing to wear."

When they finally closed the door to the penthouse, Renata said, "Darling, my head is pounding. I need to take a pill and get some sleep."

Logan looked at her, his eyes narrowed. "You know I have adrenalin to work off after these kinds of evenings."

"I'll make it up to you on Friday, after the rally at the Civic Center. That's going to be a big night. I'm going to need to be at my best and if this turns into a migraine, I won't be."

"All right. I have some work to do and some messages to send out. Go on to bed and don't forget to take a pill." He kissed her forehead and went to his office.

Renata was elated. Her day was over, and she was finally able to escape into her dreams. She threw the offensive red dress over the chair after she took it off, vowing to "accidentally" ruin it before she had to wear it another time. She concentrated on the children she had visited that day and soon drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep.