Around 5:00 pm, Abel and Marlene go from the pool to the hot tub. Abel grabs the bottle of red wine set in a bucket of ice and the two glasses from the table. He pours a glass for Marlene and gives it to her, then pours a glass for himself and gets back in the hot tub next to Marlene.

“So,” Marlene speaks. “Is it just you who lives here, Abel?”

“Yes.” Abel replies. “There’s a select of people that come by for a night or two. Autumn and Vance, actually.”

“What about… your partner?”

“… Not anymore. I took the key from her.”

“…Did she do something bad?”

“She did. She messed up the serum I told you about. And it might have been the reason those people combusted. I had to redo it and send it back. When I did, they used it on 5 other prisoners, same problems the last 5 had, and they’re all fine.”

Marlene sighs with relief when she heard the news.

“No combustion?” She asks.

“No combustion.” Abel assures. “Like I said yesterday. I perfected it. Which reminds me, would you like the key to my house?”

Marlene blushes when he asked his question, but snaps out of it, drinking her wine.

“Y-yes. That would… be nice.” She replies.

Abel smiles at her response and drinks his wine. A thought comes to him of what they should eat for the evening.

“Tell me, Marlene. What do you feel like eating for tonight?” He asks.

“Hmm… I’m not sure.” She replies. “Anything on your mind?”

They were thinking together, coming up with the same conclusion asking: “Spaghetti?”

.   .   .

At 5:45 pm, Abel and Marlene were making spaghetti together in his kitchen. Abel boils the noodles while cooking and seasoning the meat. Marlene cuts the vegetables and makes the sauce. Their timing in the kitchen was like clockwork; not missing a tick.

.   .

At 6:00 pm, they were sitting in his living room, looking at TV, and eating their dinner on folding oak dinner tables.

“So,” Marlene speaks to Abel. “What did you do these last three weeks?”

“I was out of the country on another business venture which was no problem.” He explains. “While there, I did purchase a nice lake house. So, when I was there, I was thinking things over. My errors and my flaws… That girl, Eve, was right about how I am and how I can be. She made me realize who I was about to lose. You.”

Marlene looks at him inquisitively.

“Me?” She asks.

“Yes. The reason why I say that is… I feel I can trust you. And… I want you to trust me in return, because how could you trust me if I don’t tell you everything?”

“Hmm. You’re right about that, Abel.”

Marlene wants to talk about Erika with Abel, but thought of the subject as taboo. She still wanted to speak about it, trying to ask.

“No need to ask me about Erika, Marlene. I’ll tell you.” Abel speaks before Marlene asked anything.” She has her portion of the grant, I told her our partnership, everything with her and I is over. That woman has been an overbearing piece of work for me.”

“Is she the type of the woman that says she wants your children?”

“Yes.”

“Well, sorry that you had to deal with someone like that. But least you’re not dealing with her anymore.”

“Right. And I can assure you, I am happy to not be dealing with her anymore.”

“Like a weight’s been lifted off your shoulders.”

“Exactly.”

Abel chuckles at Marlene’s joke, but then Marlene had another thought.

“Is she… the kind of woman that won’t leave you alone?” She asks. “Is she obsessed?”

“…If she is, I can handle her.” He replies with certainty. “Don’t worry. I won’t let her touch you.”

“Well… if she did, she would have much more to worry about.”

Abel raises a brow of curiosity.

‘Hmm.’ His inner voice speaks. ‘What type of woman are we truly dealing with?’

‘Sounds like one that can handle herself deep down.’ Abel replies in thought.

.   .   .

After dinner and after cleaning up with Abel, Marlene was in the guest bathroom, taking a shower. When she gets out the shower, she wraps herself in a towel to dry herself off. She then hears a knock at the door and sees a folded note come from under the door, then hears receding footsteps. She picks up the note, unfolds it and it reads:

Marlene,

Meet me in my bedroom when you get out. I have something for you. Wear something nice.

-Abel-

Marlene looks at the black negligée that Nikita helped her pick out hanging on the door. She takes off the towel and goes to put on the negligee. It shows her pear-shaped figure, her cleavage showing, which the lace showed her body from the chest down, and wearing matching black lace panties. She ties her long hair in the bun and walks out the bathroom. She puts her belongings in the purple guestroom and slowly heads in Abel’s bedroom.

.   .

Inside his bedroom, Marlene sees how spacious it was. The color scheme of the room was red with several candles set on his dresser, lighting the entire room. She sees a king-sized bed with a large mirror connected and facing the bed from above. She sees the bathroom on the right side of the room with the door slightly opened with the sound of running water.

‘I guess he’s in the shower.’ Marlene thinks to herself as she looks around. ‘This is a nice spacious room he has.’

Marlene sees a door that leads to outside to the balcony near the bed. She walks across the room to the balcony door. She opens it and walks outside; the balcony has furniture and is shielded with an awning, keeping it dry from the rain. She walks to the railing and looks at the night sky, feeling the breeze and seeing the full moon. As she did, the smell of rain hits her nose. And sees storm clouds coming in. She starts to wonder to herself again.

‘This is it. This is the night. Am I ready for this? Am I… ready for him?’

.   .

Abel comes out of his bathroom wearing only black silk pajama pants with his muscular upper body exposed and his blond hair slicked back, still damp. He walks out to the balcony toward Marlene. As Marlene looks to the night sky, she feels Abel’s hands caress her shoulders. He looks to the sky with her, looking at the moon.

“Do you feel it, Marlene?” Abel whispers in her ear.

“Yes… I do.” She replies.

Abel takes out a necklace with a lavender pendant from his pocket and puts it around Marlene’s neck. Marlene looks down and sees the pendant was the shape of a lavender tear drop.

“It’s beautiful.” She compliments. “Is… this what you wanted to give to me?”

“It’s a gift from your mother.” Abel replies.

The words spark Marlene as she turns to Abel.

“…What? My mother?” She asks.

Abel nods. “She told me to give this to you. Your sisters have pendants as well.”

Tears begin to form in Marlene’s eyes.

“She’s alive?” She asks. “You’ve seen her?”

“Yes. And she’s okay.” He replies. “She doesn’t want you to worry anymore. She misses you. She loves you. I had that same reaction you have now when I saw her.”

Marlene decides to hug Abel, beginning to weep. Abel holds Marlene close, comforting her. As he held Marlene, the smell of her chamomile oil fills his nose, making his eyes glow their silver hue. As Marlene wept, she feels Abel’s chest as he breathes in and out, and hearing his heartbeat made her clench her legs together. Marlene slowly looks up at Abel with tears in her eyes; Abel gently wipes them away.

“No need to cry, Marlene. I promise you this, you will see her again.” He assures her.

The two hear thunder and feel the raindrops that the awning could not block. Abel guides Marlene back into the room. Abel picks up a remote to his speaker and presses a button to play soft and slow music. Marlene walks to the dresser, looking at the candles and then herself in the mirror. Abel walks up behind her, caressing her shoulders and starts softly kissing her neck. Marlene moans quietly and closes her eyes as she felt his lips kiss her neck. Abel stops to look at themselves in the mirror; He smirks.

“Marlene… you are so beautiful…” He whispers.

He resumes to kissing her neck and her shoulder sensually. Marlene begins to feel hot as Abel continues.

“What do you think will happen if we keep going with this?” Marlene asks.

“Whatever you want to happen. It’s up to you.” Abel replies.

Marlene’s eyes begin to glow as she feels Abel’s lips. She turns to Abel, their eyes meeting. Instantly, their lips touch.