No Running

Chapter 17:

Rita’s POV

I need to avoid him. That is my plan.

It is simple and clear and necessary. It is also impossible.

I spent the morning doing my job making sure I did not see him. I changed my meetings. Made my conversations shorter and I left the rooms before he could come in.

I thought about everything I did. I was careful. I am not scared of him. I do not want to say that I am.

There is something about Victor that makes me feel like I am not in control. That is something I do not like. I have worked hard to be in control of my life.

I do not want anything to change that. My assistant came to my office.

“Miss. Rita, the board is waiting for you " she said.

“I will be there in five minutes, " I said. I did not look up from my tablet. My voice was calm and professional.

That is how I wanted it to be. My assistant waited for a second then she. Left.

I let out a breath when the door closed. I had five minutes to get ready. I had five minutes to make sure I did not react when I saw Victor.

The truth is, Victor has been watching me.

all the time. I can feel it. I feel it when we are in meetings together.

I feel it when we pass each other in the hallway. I feel it when we are silent. He looks at me for long.

His questions are not just questions. His presence makes me feel like he is too close.

I know he is suspicious of me. That makes everything worse. I picked up my tablet. I stood up. I made sure my blazer was smooth then I left my office.

The hallway was quiet. Too quiet. My heels made a sound on the floor as I walked.

I was calm and composed. I turned the right corner. I stopped.

Victor was there.

He was leaning against the wall like he had all the time in the world. Like he was waiting for me. My heart beat a little faster.

Then I calmed down. “Excuse me " I said.

I tried to walk past him. He stopped me.

His hand was on my wrist. It was not hard. It was firm. Enough to stop me.

I froze then I turned to face him. My eyes met his. “What do you think you are doing?" I asked.

My voice was low and calm. Victor did not answer immediately. He was looking at me. Like he was trying to figure me out.

“You have been avoiding me, " he said finally. “That was not on purpose, " I said.

That was a lie. A good one. His hand got a little tighter on my wrist. “Do not lie to me, " he said. “What am I doing?" I asked.

“Pretending, " he said. My eyebrows went up a little. I was not impressed. “I do not have time for this, " I said.

I tried to get my hand back. He did not let me go. He moved closer to me. Too close.

I caught my breath. I did not let him see it.

“Then make time, " he said quietly. There was something in his voice. It was not anger or frustration. Something that made me feel uncomfortable.

I looked at him. I did not back down.

“You are crossing a line, " I said. “Am I?" he asked. His eyes did not leave mine.

“Or are you just running away again?”

That hurt a little more than it should have.

I tilted my head a little.My face was calm.

“I do not run away " I said. “Then stop walking away from me, " he said.

There was silence between us. It was heavy and tense. It was full of things we were not saying. I finally got my hand back.This time he let me go.

“I have a meeting " I said. “Cancel it " he said.

I laughed a little. It was not funny.

“You do not give me orders anymore Victor " I said.His jaw got tight.

“Then think of it as a request, " he said.

“No, " I said.

I turned to leave. He moved faster. His hand was on the wall beside me. He was blocking my way. I stopped.

My heart beat a little faster before it slowed down.

“Move, " I said quietly. “Not until you answer me, " he said.

I looked up at him. I was getting a little impatient. “Answer what?" I asked.

“Where were you?" he asked. The question hung in the air.

It was simple and direct and dangerous.

My face did not change. “Excuse me?" I asked. “For five years, " he said.

His voice was lower now. “You disappeared. No explanation. No contact.

Nothing.”

“That is not your business " I said.

“It is my business now that you are back in my life " he said. I pressed my lips together then I let out a breath.

“You are mistaken, " I said calmly. “I did not come back into your life.

Our paths crossed. That is all.” His eyes got darker.

“That is not how it feels, " he said. “That sounds like a problem, " I said.

The words were sharp and on purpose.

I saw his reaction. The little change in his face. He did not back down. “Who were you with?" he asked.

I stared at him. For a second I thought I did not hear him right.

Then I let out a breath. “That is none of your business " I said.

His eyes got harder. “It is as if it explains why you left, " he said. “There is nothing to explain, " I said.

“You expect me to believe that?" he asked.

“I do not expect anything from you, " I said.

There was silence again. This time it was different. It was tighter and closer to breaking.

His eyes looked for something in mine.

Like he was looking for a weakness.

Anything.I did not give him anything.

I learned that a time ago.

“You have changed, " he said finally.

“I had to, " I said.The answer came out before I could stop it.

His face changed a little. “You are colder, " he said. I looked at him without hesitation.

“And you are still the same, " I said.

That hit him a little. I saw it.

The little tension in his jaw. The way his shoulders got tight. Good.

“Answer me one thing " he said after a moment. I did not say anything.

“Were you alone?" he asked. My stomach got a little tight. Just a little. It was there.

Danger. I made my face stay calm.

“Yes, " I said. That was another lie.

A bigger one. More dangerous.

Because this time it mattered.His eyes did not leave mine. Like he was trying to see past my answer. Past my words. Into something He would not find it. I would not let him.

“Now if you are done " I said calmly "I would like to go to my meeting." He did not move away.

For a second I thought he would not.

Then he moved back a little. Just enough to let me pass.

Not enough to make me feel better. I walked past him without looking

Every step was controlled. Every move was on purpose. I felt it. His eyes, on my back. Following me. Questioning me.

And the moment I turned the corner I finally let out a breath. My chest went up and down once.Twice. Then it was calm.

That was too close. Too close.

He was asking the questions. Looking in the places. If I was not careful he would find the truth.

My hand got a little tighter on my tablet.

No. I would not let that happen.

I had kept my daughter safe for five years.

I would not fail now. Not when I was this close.

Not when everything could be destroyed with one mistake. I straightened my shoulders. I kept walking.

One thought would not leave me. Victor was not going to stop. Next time he would not just ask questions.

He would demand answers.