I drew a deep breath and forced the words through my teeth.
"Fine. I'll wash them."
Then I bent down and picked up the plastic basin they'd prepared, my expression blank.
"Can I go to the bathroom to fill this up now?"
Only then did Neil curl his lips in satisfaction.
"Good girl. Keep Shirley happy, and I'll give it back. I'll even restore your old lifestyle."
He posted his bodyguards at the door to make sure I couldn't run.
Water rushed from the faucet, reflecting my ice-cold eyes.
I pressed the hidden button on the back of my mechanical watch.
A faint crackle of static lasted two seconds before Denys Mason's voice came through, roguish yet tinged with something almost wounded.
"I thought you'd thrown that watch away. What's this about? Finally decided I'm not so bad after all?"
"Fair warning: if you're about to tell me you went and got a marriage license, I'm jumping off the nearest building. Try me."
My voice came out steady.
"No marriage license. We broke up. Now he wants me to wash his mistress's underwear in front of a crowd."
"If you still want this arrangement between us, don't make me waste my breath."
The other end went silent for half a second.