22: Two can play

KATHY

“Go change he said”

“We’ll wait he said”

“Why the hell would I go back down there” I said slamming the door as I walked back into my room.

Ugh.

Natalia was beginning to irritate me.

I took off my soaked dress and changed into a clean comfortable sweater and a pair of loose pajama shorts.

I climbed into bed with a novel I found in the library in the mansion. I had every intention of pretending like what happened earlier didn’t happen.

30 minutes later I was already deep into the book I was reading and seemingly enjoying when the my bedroom door flung open.

I didn’t even look up from the book.

“You still don’t knock” I mumbled, turning to another page and laughed at something funny.

“I told you to change and come back to the dining room” he said.

His voice was calm but there was an edge to it. Like everyone must obey his command because he is a “mafia lord”

I pretended not to hear him, the words on the page I was reading suddenly became very interesting.

Just as I was about to read through a twist, the book disappeared from my hands.

“What is wrong with you? Give me my book back” I yelled.

“It’s my book and it’s my house and you’ll do what you’re told” he said, his voice raising.

I rolled my eyes and scoffed at the audacity he had.

I just genuinely wanted to the book back so I looked up at his dominating figure.

And he looked down at me. His book “my book” by the way because I was the one reading it… if that made sense… was in his hand. His gray eyes fixed on mine.

“Could you please give the book back?” I said batting my eyes.

“You were ignoring me” he almost sounded hurt.

“I wasn’t ignoring you. I just preferred the book more” I said in a sad whining voice.

His jaw tightened. I could tell he didn’t like rejection. Or he hasn’t been rejected or disobeyed by anyone before.

For several seconds neither of us said a word. We just stared at each other.

The room was suddenly too small and he was standing too close to the bed… close enough to remember how it felt when he kissed me.

Heat slowly crept up my neck.

Great.

I could tell my face had turned red… I was blushing. It was getting too intense and I knew I just had to break the silence or he would break me.

“I don’t appreciate being humiliated” I said folding my hands.

“Humiliated?” He asked, his expression changing.

“Or disrespected” I said, still looking at him.

“I handled it” he said.

“You fired a maid, which is not the same as handling it”

“Natalia…”

“Is a grown woman” I interrupted. “I won’t sit at a table where I’m treated like I’m beneath everyone else”

Technically I was beneath them especially if they think I’m just a tutor.

He just remained silent so I continued.

“Natalia knows exactly what she’s doing and she’s been doing it from the first time we met. She doesn’t like me? Fine, but...” I breathed to control myself so I wouldn’t blow this up for all of us.

“I know I’m not from a wealthy family like you. I don’t know which forks to use like Anya and I don’t wear designer clothes like Natalia but that doesn’t give anyone the right to look down on me”

“It doesn’t” He said suddenly.

I blinked. He agreed with me?

“It doesn’t?” I repeated.

“No” He confirmed.

No arguments, no “this is my house and you shall obey my commands?”

“Then why didn’t you stop her sooner” I pushed.

“I did”

“After she had already insulted me”

His jaw flexed.

I wasn’t even that mad about it. I actually seemed to be enjoying talking to him. And he didn’t seem to be an a-hole like I thought he’d be.

“She’s a grown woman Zayka and I can’t control everything she says”

I let out a humorless laugh.

Wait.

“Why do you call me that?”

“What?”

“Don’t pretend like you don’t know what I’m talking about. Why do you call me Zayka”

“It’s not your business”

“If you’re calling me that, then it’s my business”

He didn’t say anything to me again. He just looked at me like he was already tired of talking.

“Fine.”

“Fine what?”

“It’s not your business”

His jaw ticked.

Good.

That almost made me smile.

“Make it clear to Natalia that what she’s doing is unacceptable and she shouldn’t be acting the way she does especially in front of her child”

He didn’t argue. I knew he was fed up with her too but why not just tell her to leave or get an apartment for her.

It couldn’t be because of Anya. Anya doesn’t seem to like Natalia very well either.

So why was he keeping her in the mansion?

I’d ask him but he’d just say “it’s not your business” or “it doesn’t concern you”

“If she has a problem with me, she should say it to my face and stop acting like a bitch”

“I’ll speak to her” he said, his eyes staying on mine.

I nodded.

Silence again. That was when I realized I’d just blurted all that to a mafia boss that could kill me at any moment.

He finally stretched his hand forward, giving me the book back.

I took it from him cautiously.

“Anya would like to see you at breakfast tomorrow” he said.

“We’ll see” i said and his lips twitched ever so slightly.

He turned and walked towards the door. Just as his hand was just about to reach for the handle, I spoke again.

“Oh and Viktor?”

“What?” He sighed.

“Tell Natalia something for me”’ I started and he glanced over his shoulder, “if she decides to keep playing dirty, two can play the game”

His brows lifted and I gave him a sweet smile before opening the book and falling back to the bed.

I heard my room door open and close and I let out a deep breath.

I took a risk tonight but i would worry about that when I was done with the book.