“Shut up.” Daria debated whether or not to put actual clothes inside the suitcase but decided against it. This was all a farce, anyway. Turning to face her friends again, she said determinedly, “This is going to work.”
“No, it’s not,” her friends protested in unison.
“I’m not hearing you.”
“From what you’ve told us about Nik, I’m afraid he’s just going to be furious that you’re playing this kind of game with him,” Yanna revealed worriedly.
“It’s going to work,” Daria insisted. “I just don’t think Miranda’s the type to kill herself out of depression, okay? I think it’s her way to keeping him with her. If you guys ever meet her, I know you’ll think the same thing – she’s too strong to kill herself. This is all just a ploy—-”
“Fine,” Alyx interrupted. “Let’s say you’re right about the other girl. So what? That gives you a reason to do something just as elaborate to deceive Nik into thinking you’re leaving—-”
“I have to do something, okay?” Daria tried not to sound desperate even though that was how she really felt. “I can’t lose him again. I love him—-”
“Then tell him that—-” Yanna’s voice broke off at Daria’s unexpectedly bitter laugh.
“He won’t believe me even if I say that. He thinks I’m a liar and a slut.”
Alyx said gently, “So another lie’s going to convince him he’s wrong?”
She didn’t have an answer to that, and a second later she didn’t have the time either. Her doorbell had rung. Nik was here.
****
AFTER HIS VISIT ATthe hospital last night, Nik had deliberately stayed away from Daria and instead worked the entire night until exhaustion gave way to sleep.
Today had not been much different, only the need to see Daria had become impossible to resist, a burning desire that flamed constantly in the back of his mind.
He had only taken one look at the feverish hope in Miranda’s eyes to know there was no way he could continue with the engagement.
She was a good woman, a strong one. Marriage to her would have been a smart decision – but only if she didn’t love him and, worse, didn’t think that he could eventually love her back.
The knowledge that he would have to break Miranda’s heart again left a bitter taste in his mouth, and he had hoped that Daria would at least provide him with a few hours of mindless bliss.
That was the plan, at least, but the look on Daria’s beautiful face told him he had another fight in his hands. A fight that, in his opinion, he didn’t fucking deserve coming from a liar like her.
“You’re going out?” he asked shortly. She looked like it, with her hair combed back in a sleek, high ponytail, her face perfectly made up, and her black long-sleeved dress hugging every curve of her body.
Daria lifted her chin even as both her mind and heart warned her against what she was about to do. It’s stupid, her mind protested. You’re going to hurt herself, her heart cried out.
“I’m leaving.” She stepped to the side to dramatically reveal the empty suitcase behind her. “You chose to ignore me last night—-”
“Give me a break,” Nik said coldly. “You really think I’d have prioritized you over what happened?”
She could feel her heart starting to stutter and crash at the pain of his words, but she managed to keep her chin up as she answered fiercely, “I expected you to at least text me back—-”
Nik couldn’t believe he was having this type of conversation with Daria. “You do remember you’re just my mistress, don’t you? That you’re a cunt I pay to fuck?” Someone gasped behind him, and he swore, remembering too late that at this time of the day, the hallway was crowded with people coming in and out of the other offices and units in Daria’s floor.
Daria whitened at the realization that other people had heard Nik refer to her in such a way. “I hate you.” But what she hated more was that she didn’t really mean it. She was mad, she was hurt, but how could she hate someone she loved? She loved him so much she even understood why he kept being cruel to her.
She loved him, but she had to make him realize now that he had to choose eventually.
Nik’s jaw hardened at the way Daria paled. He knew he owed her an apology, but he just couldn’t bring himself to say it. He was sorry, but if he said the words, he had a feeling he might as well admit that he loved her – still loved her even though he knew she was...she was everything Miranda had said she was.
Someone who didn’t have any damn excuse to whore herself except for her love for money.
Nik was stunned when Daria suddenly pushed past him, suitcase in hand. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”
Daria whirled around to face him. “What do you think?” she demanded. “I’m leaving you.” So beg, she thought desperately. Now’s the time to realize that you can’t bear for me to leave. Now’s the time to tell me you’re sorry, you forgive me, you love me.