Chapter 1

My first name is Rochelle, but my students call me ‘Madame Anderson’. I only teach French three days a week and occasionally substitute for the English department. My family is quite well off and we don’t need to work, but I enjoy helping young minds develop and blossom. My husband Gerald used to be a history professor and volunteers as an archivist at a museum to occupy his time.

He loves ships and the ocean but jokes that I get seasick looking at a fishbowl. It’s not far from the truth. I’m a good swimmer, but even going in the deep end of our backyard pool makes me a little uncomfortable.

I was confident he hadn’t cheated yet, but there were signs he was tempted. I often noticed him looking at other women. Most of them were younger and blonder women. I usually wanted to make love about three nights a week, but lately we were down to once, usually on Tuesday night.

He had started bringing his tablet to the bathroom with him, probably to watch porn. I knew I had to do something when he bought an expensive new sportscar and started working out at a gym. We’d been married 17 years and I still loved him. I also knew our son Jonathan would be devastated if his father and I ever separated.

I figured that if I gave Gerald somebody pretty but underwhelming intellectually, he’d be satisfied in bed but still need me as a companion and partner. I planned to make a deal with him. Our handsome and muscular gardener Antonio had lost his wife recently. I’d noticed him glancing at my body while I laid by the pool and he worked in the back yard. If I could get private time with him occasionally, I’d be fine with my husband having some extra-marital fun too.

It was nearly two on a Saturday afternoon. I sat at a table outside a restaurant, watching some birds in the park nearby as I took small sips of my coffee. When Chloe arrived twenty minutes late, she was dressed even more scantily than she typically was at school.

I was disappointed to see her puffing on a cigarette as she approached. A few steps from me, she crushed it out with one of her dangerously high black heels. She had put on even more makeup than usual. With her long blonde hair, hourglass figure, and pretty blue eyes she didn’t need it. Wearing only black pumps, black and red short-shorts, and a red bikini top; I was sure she got even more male attention than she wanted. Her image screamed, “HORNY SLUT!”

“Hi, Mrs. Anderson!”

“Hello, Chloe.”

A young waiter hurried over as she sat. He smiled as he asked her, “What will you have to drink? Would you like a menu?” I was slightly jealous, since he’d made me wait a few minutes when I got there.

“Coffee with sugar and lots of cream.” I could see him start to blush when she mentioned ‘lots of cream’.

He gulped and said, “I’ll be right back.”

As she took her first sip I said, “I have your record right here, Chloe. Please let me know if any of this is in error. You have been held back a grade twice. You are only a high school Junior and just turned 19. Your 17-year-old sister is a year ahead of you. You’ll graduate when you’re 21, if you’re lucky. Is that right?” I thought keeping her in school any longer would just be a waste of resources.

She squirmed in her seat. “Well, um ... yeah, but...”

“I don’t have the marks for your other classes handy but in French and English, your average grades are a D and a C minus. You’ve been disciplined a total of five times for inappropriate wardrobe and smoking on school grounds.”

“The last time wasn’t my fault...”

“You also come from a single-parent household and have four siblings your mother can barely support. Correct?”

She was nearly in tears. “I ... I...”

“I’m not out to cause problems or hurt your feelings. I want to help you. I know of a job that might be perfect for you.”

“A job?”

“You won’t need a diploma or good grades. Housing, meals, clothing, and so-on will be provided for you. How does that sound so far?”

“But, um ... I don’t think I want to go in the Army. I don’t know much about guns and I’m not brave or anything.”

I chuckled. “No, it’s MUCH better than joining the Army. You must have a lot of experience housekeeping, right?”