The next week was a blur of furtive excitement. The fantasy Anna had laid out in the hotel room became their new shared secret, a potent fuel that ignited their every interaction. They’d be in the middle of a mundane grocery run, and Mark would lean over and whisper

"Have you thought about what you're going to make him do?"

Anna would feel a flush of heat climb her neck. They were co-conspirators, partners in crime, planning their next delicious heist.

Finding the right person was the first step. This time, the search was different. They weren't looking for a confident equal like Leo. They were looking for something else...