All Chapters of VOLKOV’S OBSESSION : Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Jennie's POVIt was raining outside.As always, Dad's coffee shop was empty—no customers.I sighed as I sat behind the counter under the dim lights as I gazed at the empty seats. We hardly had any customers, but Father wouldn't close it because of Mom; it was her idea to open it before she died, and it felt that it kept her presence around. I missed Mom as well; she had died when I was just five years old. I hated that the only memories of her I had were fading away. I wouldn't know what she looked like anymore if it weren't for the photo albums in the house. Maybe if cancer hadn't taken her from us, everything would be better. Dad worked as a professor at my college; the pay wasn't good, but having a night liquor shop where he'd also have to pay rent was a weight on our finances. I came every night to help him sell since we obviously couldn't afford waitresses. I looked out at the empty road through the glass windows; nobody would come out in the rain to get a drink. I looked a

It has been four days since I ran into Ivan Volkov.I didn't tell dad about it; he would worry that I was in danger. I had seen a few policemen putting yellow tapes over the place. I had found Ivan beside the trash bin; it was a crime scene now. Somebody had probably reported it, and they didn't know it was him. "Ms. Parker!” my dad's voice suddenly rang in the air, dragging my mind back to the present.I looked around the brightly lit classroom; all eyes were on me now. I swallowed. “Yes, Professor?”He had a worried expression on his face; I think he wondered what was wrong with me. “I asked a question. Do you care to answer?"Oh no, I didn't hear the answer.I gulped, “Can you…repeat it?”He exhaled, “What is the importance of branding in advertising?"I adjusted myself in my seat. “It makes the company recognizable,” I responded.He nodded and turned around as he continued to explain further. My teeth clenched as I felt a hand pull my hair from behind. “Nerd,” Alison mocked. Ali

JENNI’S POVI watched Ivan step out of the bedroom and pause in the doorway, his bare chest catching the morning light that streamed through the curtains. My breath caught for a second. The bandage I had wrapped around his stomach last night looked clean and tight, but I could still see the faint outline of where the fresh bullet had torn through him. He moved slowly, as if every step cost him something, yet his green eyes locked on me with the same quiet intensity from the night before.The pancakes were almost done. I flipped the last one and tried to act normal, but my hands shook a little on the spatula. Why did he have to stand like that, half-dressed, looking at me as if I were the only thing in the room? I had thrown on my red tank top after a quick shower, not thinking he would be up so soon. Now I felt too exposed, too aware of how the thin fabric clung to me.“Breakfast is ready”, I said, keeping my voice light. I slid two pancakes onto a plate and set them on the small tabl

JENNIE’S POVThe soup bubbled softly on the stove while I stirred it, trying to keep my hands busy so my mind would not run wild. Ivan had settled on the couch with the remote in his lap, but the television stayed off.He watched me instead, green eyes following every movement I made. I could feel the weight of the stare like a touch against my skin.“You do not have to cook for me every time,”, he said after the silence. His voice was low and rough around the edges.“I am not helpless”I glanced over my shoulder and smiled.“I know but it’s nice to have someone around to cook for, the apartment is usually just me and the silence.” I turned down the burner and carried two bowls to the coffee table. He shifted to make room, and I sat beside him, our knees almost brushing.We ate without speaking at first, the soup was simple and he finished his before I did, then he requested more.Hmm, that was a good sign he was recovering and getting stronger.That should have made me happy, but in

JENNIE’S POVI barely slept, every time I closed my eyes the image of that slow-moving car came back, headlights sweeping across the blinds like searching fingers.By the time the first gray light crept into the living room I was already up making coffee and listening for any sound from the bedroom. Ivan had left the door cracked last night, something he had never done before.I wonder if he slept at all.He emerged just as the pot finished brewing; his hair was tousled, and his black t-shirt was rumpled from tossing and turning. The bandage peeked out at his side, but his steps were steadier than yesterday.He was stronger. My stomach tightened at the sight.Stronger meant the end of our three days was getting closer.“Morning”, I said, sliding a mug towards him across the counter.He took it with a nod, his green eyes scanning my face.“You look tired, you did not sleep?”I shrugged and took a sip of my own coffee.“Not really, the car kept circling last night.”Ivan’s jaw tightened