Chapter 9 - His Little Secret (end)

CALISTA

I am royally, completely, undeniably fucked.

“Nothing. I was on my way to my room when I accidentally slipped into yours,” I lied through my teeth, backing away from him. “See you tomorrow.”

I spun around and ran for my room, but before I could escape, his hands wrapped around my waist and suddenly my feet were off the floor, my back pressed against his chest..

“Mikhail?” I gasped, my fingers pinching his arms. I tried to turn my head, but his face buried into my neck, causing me to freeze. “W-what are you trying to do?”

He snugged his face into my neck, groaning deeply, his warm breath tickling me.

Not now, Calista. You are not supposed to be feeling this way.

“Stay still.” His voice vibrated against my neck and I gulped, nodding without realizing it.

He turned me around, my feet dangling and brushing against him. He carried me into his room, and even though I wanted to protest, I couldn't. Part of me feared for my life, but another part wanted this man to kiss my neck, and…

My feet unexpectedly touched the cold floor and the desire flew out of the window. Mikhail let me go and turned around, walking towards the spot where the portrait was.

He grabbed the silk and paused as if rethinking the decision he was about to make.

“I really think I should return to my room.” I expected my voice to be loud but it came out soft and almost embarrassing.

I facepalmed internally, but thankfully he did not notice. Instead, he pulled the silk and tossed it on the floor.

The light shone on the portrait, and I saw that it was of a woman. Her grey hair was in a wolf cut, her thick brows resting perfectly above her grey eyes which had a certain fierceness in them.

At first glance, you might think that Mikhail was dressed as a woman.

“She’s beautiful.” The words slipped out of my mouth before I realized it. My eyes continued trailing down and I instantly regretted saying that, because halfway down, I noticed only the top of her body was drawn.

This was what I saw earlier that made me freeze. I looked more closely at the severed part and my stomach twisted when I saw the gruesome details of the inside of her stomach.

Is he sick in the head?

My eyes went to him and I almost bit my tongue when I saw him looking right at me. I subconsciously rubbed my arm and forced myself to look away.

Dull thuds sounded in my ears and I turned towards the sound, but Mikhail was already in front of me. His arm flexed a bit and his fingers rested under my jaw as he forced me to look at him.

His eyes moved slowly and once again, I did not know what this man was thinking.

“Mikhail,” I called softly, and he finally released my jaw, lowering his head slightly. I gulped nervously, my mind running in circles. His eyes closed, his face almost an inch away from mine.

Is this it? Am I finally getting…

My eyes shut tightly and my lips pursed forward, expecting a kiss. But seconds went by and nothing came. I slowly opened my eyes and saw him looking at me with that fucking smug look on his face.

“Have you gone crazy, Mikhail?” I blurted out without realizing it. His expression did not change. Instead, he buried his face in my neck again, his weight pressing down on me, my fingers gripping his back for support.

“What the fuck are you doing? Are you trying to stage my death?” I bumped my fist against his back, my eyes unexpectedly going to the portrait, and something flashed from it that made me freeze.

I definitely saw that.

I gulped, squinting my eyes at the portrait and there it was. A small red light blinked twice before disappearing.

Does he know about it?

“Mikhail?” I whispered urgently. “Your portrait seems to have something wrong with it.”

“I know, Cali,” he answered, then paused before dropping the bomb. “We are being watched.”

My mind went numb and my head started spinning. Since when?

“Stay still for a minute,” he groaned.

Time passed and immediately the clock struck twelve. I noticed the light was not flashing again. Mikhail pulled away from me and holy molly, I could not feel my shoulder anymore.

He turned around and walked to the portrait. He squatted and started working on it.

“Was that why you covered it?” I asked, turning my arm to get feeling back into it.

“Not quite,” he said. “I only found out when you confirmed knowing about the portrait. Now I know how they found out about your whereabouts.” He pulled something out from behind the portrait and stood up, turning around to face me.

He waved something in his hand and I saw it was a spy camera.

“How did that get in here? And in your personal space?” I frowned, feeling unsettled.

Mikhail crushed the camera and threw the remains on the floor. “That is a million-dollar question I keep asking myself. Unlike your mother, I allow almost anyone into my room, and that includes your friend, Sera. She is one of the people who had access to this place and must have seen the portrait.”

My brows pressed tightly as I crossed my arms. “Are you saying Sera did this?”

Mikhail did not speak. He walked to the silk on the floor, picked it up, shook the dust off, then used it to cover the portrait again.

He turned around to face me, then said, “I only showed you this so you would understand how serious your situation is. I am not a man who would stage a scene to have you under this roof with me while being instructed to act as your guardian.”

We stood there in silence, neither of us speaking. I bit my lips and finally broke the stare, turning towards the door.

I still do not trust him, but for now, I must find out if Sera did this or not.

I began walking and got to the door, but before I left, I stopped and turned to him.

“Be ready at six tomorrow morning. I have a job interview,” I announced.

He did not say anything.

My hand squeezed the door handle tightly. “Night.”

I walked out of the room and shut the door behind me.

Right at that moment, my phone dinged. I swiped my finger across the screen to see what it was, and unexpectedly it was a message from Sera.

[We need to talk]