She looked up then.
Questions I needed answers to swirled through my head, but I knew better than to ask them now. “That will be all,” I said and returned my attention to my computer.
“Thank you,” she said, standing up.
“Be in my room tonight,” was my reply. I didn’t look up until I heard the sound of the door as it banged shut behind her.
I leaned back against my chair and smiled. “That’s my girl.”
Chapter 23
April
I would stay for Yulia and the household staff.
I’d taken the easier route earlier to run away, but thanks to Yuri, the harder path was now my only option.
The rest of the household however remained wrought in confusion for the remainder of the day. No doubt, everyone would be walking on eggshells for a while whether Yuri was in sight or not.
“I just don’t get it,” Sandra mouthed off later that night after dinner. She was the youngest member of the housekeeping staff and my room was one of her duties. She and I were quite friendly with each other. She was English in a household full of Russians. “He fires us all and then rehires everyone back in the space of just three hours. Including you.”
I glanced back and shrugged. She didn’t need more information than what she already had. Deep in thought, I tuned out the rest of the chatter in the room and retrieved my mug from the cupboard. The kettle had nearly boiled. I wanted the Chrysanthemum blend at the top of the cupboard, but as I was reaching for it, I was startled by the ring of my phone. Jumping, I put a hand to my chest.
“April, are you all right?” Orlav voiced his concern. “You’ve been jumpy all day.”
“I would be the same if I were her,” Sandra piped in.
I looked at my screen and stared for a moment at the unrecognizable number. Curious, I picked it up to find out who it was.
“Hello,”
“It’s almost ten,” came Yuri’s voice. “Where are you?”
For a moment, I was too stunned by his voice to reply, then I was filled with embarrassment at the way he was summoning me to go to his room as if I was a prostitute he hired in front of all the other staff. I was livid, but at the same time, I had made this deal with him. And a deal is a deal. “I’ll be right there.” My voice was cold and hard.
“Are you going somewhere?” Margot asked.
She knew. “Mr. Volkov,“ I replied calmly. “He called for some tea.”
“But he only drinks black coffee,” Sandra said innocently.
I could only muster a shrug and try to ignore the eight pairs of eyes on me as I retrieved the jar of dried chrysanthemum, set up a tray, and got on my way.
“He’s now living on the top floor,” Margot said.
“Thanks Margot, and goodnight everybody,” I called as I went out of the door. I knew they would talk about me when I left, but there was nothing I could do about it.
His room was on the top floor of the house, however when I reached the first floor stairs, I met a dead end I wondered what was going on.
I didn’t want to return to the scrutiny of the others in the kitchen so setting the tray on a nearby console, I dialed his number.
“There’s an elevator on the ground floor down the hallway from my office,” he said. “It’s the only access to my floor. Type in the code 3372 and it will lead you straight up.”
I did as instructed and found the doors to the elevator opening before me. As I stepped into its glass and chrome interior, the door swished close and I was swept up.
There was only one door past the massive centerpiece of flowers by the lift. By the time I arrived at it, I was breathing too fast.
I didn’t have to knock. The moment I arrived, Yuri pulled open the door. I didn’t notice anything apart from his eyes. They were piecing and seemed to sear deep into parts of me that I didn’t want him to reach. Clearing my throat, I opened my mouth to speak, but before any words could come out, he rasped out his instruction, “Lose the tray.”
I placed it on the floor and as I straightened, his mouth was on mine. I forgot to be furious for showing me up in front of the other staff, for treating me as if I was a prostitute. My hands fisted his shirt, desperate to hold him close… or terrified of him eventually disposing of me. I couldn’t tell.
I slid my hands into his hair and gave the kiss everything I had in me. Earlier that day, I had been sure that I would never lay eyes on him again, but he had fought for us. For whatever this crazy fiery desire was between us and in that moment, I appreciated him.