Chapter 43: Personal Addiction I stepped into the living room, the light from sunrise filtering through the floor-to-ceiling windows, dousing everything in colors. Midnight’s skyscraper lights still flickered on and would soon go dim. It’s been a long night. I closed my eyes. I could still smell her; every inch of my personal space has been tainted. I can’t go a day without occasionally taking a whiff of the air like a dog. I walked to the counter where the stools were lined. I caught one out of place and gave a gentle push until it was in perfect line. I dropped my leather briefcase, opened it, pulled out my iPad, and set it in place. I took off my black gloves as the camera feed of Catherine’s room came up. She’s still fast asleep. However, somewhere at night, she had woken up to change into her nightwear to get a comfortable rest, and she was hugging that bunny teddy. I eyed the thing made of nothing but cotton and stitches, and I wondered how she could derive solace from clinging to that thing. Irritation bit through me as my finger tapped against the counter, impatiently. Letting out a low exhale, I took off my coat and placed it on the counter, then my suit jacket, until I was just in my white shirt. I undid my tie, too, before I rolled my sleeves and turned off the feed. I washed my hands with soap and got to making breakfast. A moment later, I heard sharp heel noises and a very stout perfume filled my nose. "Morning!" "I should change my password," I said, slicing the avocado. "Do that and I’ll just hack it again. You should really choose something stronger," Athena said. I doubt that will work; her hacking skills were impeccable. "When did you get back?" She asked, taking in my clothes before her eyes roamed the living room. "Where’s wifey?" "Sleeping," I replied, pressing down the lever for the toast, and proceeded to wash the raspberries. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦 "Aww! She must be so tired. What did you do to her?" I recalled Catherine suspended over my desk, dripping all over, her pussy clenching around my fingers, and her moans like music to my ears. I cracked my neck, ignoring the tightness in my pants. "Work," I replied. "Workaholic! Don’t drag my Cat with you, she’s not a machine like you." She pulled out the stool to sit. "Hmmm...! That smells good. Is there a plate for me?" "..." "Lemme guess cooking for wifey?" I threw a look over my shoulder, and I caught her grinning ear to ear. She giggled. "How sweet!" "If you want one, just say so." "Yes, please! I’m famished, I ate nothing last night, too tired to make something." Wrong. She doesn’t eat and forgets it most of the time. I always send a message for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as a reminder, but I didn’t last night, hence the error. I was done plating and dropped Athena’s plate on the table, and she was quick to grab her fork to dive in. I had made something healthy, toast topped with creamy scrambled eggs and chopped chives, slices of avocado, fresh raspberries, and a handful of greens on the side. "Remind me why you’re not a chef again?" She teased. "Ares King, the masterchef. That should hit the papers faster than murder." I ignored her and grabbed the mug from the coffeemaker to drink. "So what happened to the ex? Wait! Don’t tell me, I love a good mystery; it makes me picture all kinds of scenarios. The one I think of is that you tortured him and took all his fingers and toes, or did you castrate him?" I enjoyed her details, but none were satisfying enough. "What happens when you get bored with Cat?" Athena’s abrupt question made me pause, and the silence stretched. I could feel her eyes on my back like a hawk, as if willing me to speak. "It’s unlike you to ask me that," I said. "But I know you... I don’t want her to..." She paused, sighing as if she didn’t want to voice it. "I-I sense she’s different, but you have the habit of growing bored all of a sudden, and when you do... you... You hit it so fast that something you cherish becomes unwanted." I didn’t miss how shaky her voice was, hinting at dread. Out of all the things that scared her the most, she feared this part of me greatly. "I really wish you wouldn’t. I like her a lot, and if you hurt her, I’ll put a bullet through your chest, not close enough to your heart though, but you get my point." Athena has never invested in someone before, and it still confounds me that she has taken such a great liking to Catherine. "We’re meeting family this weekend." I changed the topic. Athena paused her eating before she rolled her eyes. "That witch won’t want me in that house. But when have I ever given a shit? As long as you’re on my side." "Always." Her smile got brighter. "Take Catherine shopping." She gasped like I had given her the keys to a dream. "Really?!" "But behave." She nodded frantically, unable to contain her excitement. I carried Catherine’s breakfast and walked up the stairs straight to her room. I checked if the door was unlocked, and when I saw that it was, I pushed it open and walked in. Catherine was still fast asleep and curled up just like in the camera feed. I dropped her breakfast on the nightstand and set the mug next to it. She stirred but didn’t wake, just changing position to lie on her back, lips apart as she breathed softly, her hair shrouding her face, so I leaned down to brush the soft strands aside, thumb stroking her cheek a little bit before drawing myself upright, hands sank in my pockets. Athena’s earlier words came through. "What happens when you get bored with Cat?" There wasn’t a thought or feeling about it yet. Everything about Catherine Lane was my personal addiction. It all began five years ago when our eyes locked beneath the autumn branches, with the leaves slowly descending around us.