“Are you alone?”
“No. Give me five minutes and I’ll call you back.”
If he was with a woman, Andreas hated interrupting him, but this was one night he had to have answers.
Just now Dominique had man
aged to paint a picture he could never have imagined. It had shaken him to the foundations. Certain beliefs he’d held as core truths all his life were on the verge of disintegrating.
Not only his best friend, but the woman he loved more than life, were convinced Olympia had a dark side. As dark as the night surrounding him.
The second his cellphone rang, he answered it.
“I’m free now. Go ahead, Andreas.”
“I’m sorry to have disturbed you. Paul—I have so many questions to ask, I don’t know where to start first. So I’ll just bludgeon my way through. Earlier today Dominique told me she believed you were in love with Maris. Is that true?”
When he didn’t answer, it was all Andreas needed to know.
“How long were you in love with her?”
“Since high school,” his friend finally admitted.
His eyelids squeezed together. “Did you ever tell her how you felt?”
“No. I told Olympia, and asked her to put in a good word for me.”
Bile rose in his throat.
“What was the feedback?”
“She said it would be better if I didn’t know. It could hurt me.”
A groan escaped, rocking Andreas on his feet. “You’ve answered all my questions but one. When did you figure out Olympia?”
“Not until I happened to overhear her talking to Dominique, right before you got married. They were in the vestibule of the church and didn’t know I happened to be on the stairs. Olympia asked her how she would dare undress in front of you once you were married.”
Andreas felt a stabbing pain in his chest. “I don’t know what to say, Paul.”
“It’s too late for regrets. Because of Maris’s accident, I can’t believe we were destined to be together. But it’s not too late for you.”
“I’m going to catch Olympia in the act.”
“That shouldn’t be too difficult. She’s doesn’t have a clue you’ve finally caught on to her. Within the next few days she’ll drum up something new.”
“When she does, I’ll be waiting for her.”
“Have you told Dominique yet?”
“No. I’m not going to say anything until Olympia’s out of our lives for good. My wife has suffered long enough.”
“We’ve all suffered. Have you got a strategy?”
“Yes.”
“Do you need help?”
“Yes. Have you got a half an hour?”