ALICE Ch 372

“I want that laptop,” Annette says once they’ve left Alice’s room.

“Lower your voice,” Adella growls, grabbing Annette’s arm. She guides her firmly into the elevator. A curious Riley follows them in while Annette has some color in her cheeks.

“I don’t know what’s happening, but I like it,” Annette says.

“This isn’t a joke,” Adella says, slapping the button.

“If there’s any way that this ends with you spanking me, I will do whatever it takes.”

“Shut up. You have no idea what you’re getting into.” Adella puts her face in her hand, then gives Riley a look.

Riley shrugs apologetically. “Uh, I don’t know how to back you up, babe. I want to, but I don’t know what’s going on.”

Annette leans toward her. “I’m not getting invited to a three-way, am I?”

“Doesn’t look like it,” Riley whispers back, wary of Adella’s terrifying expression.

“Shit. OK. Because you guys or a huge drink are the only way I’m getting my mind off Bea. Let me think and make some calls,” Annette says tiredly.

“Be careful who you call,” Adella warns.

“She’s a rich lady. Not the CIA.”

Adella says nothing else.

Riley waits until they’re back in their room. “It was your suggestion,” she reminds her wife.

“I know,” Adella says darkly, going to the window. “It was a mistake.”

“Someone has to help Bea.”

“It’s too late.”

“The right thing is to try.”

Adella turns on her. “The right thing is to go home. Forget Formula One.” She moves in close and puts her hand on Riley’s belly. “We have other things to think about.”

“That’s not the right thing. That’s the smart thing. There’s a difference.”

“You think the right thing is to steal a woman’s laptop?”

“I think the wrong thing would be to leave Annette on her own. This might be a bad idea, but it’s an even worse one without us. She’s only smart about science and business. She will not be a good secret agent.”

“She is not our friend.”

Riley sighs. “I know. But before FUTA, who did we have on TV like us? How many chicks with dicks were out and proud, doing their thing, with production values glamorizing it? None. Annette gave us FUTA, FUTA’s where I met you, and FUTA’s the reason that little kids like us have people like them doing well that they can see. I don’t care if Annette did it for the right reasons or the wrong ones. I owe her this much.”

Adella is not easily manipulated, nor is she above manipulation herself. “You owe something to your wife as well.”

“Yup. I’m gonna look cool as hell as a secret agent. Hopefully, I’ll get to wear a leather catsuit. Super tight. Maybe a yellow one, like that movie. Don’t act like you won’t love that.”