Page 22

Our family holiday ends, and Leon and I return home. I still haven’t found the courage to tell him that I’m pregnant, because he’s been a bit distant since we had that fight at the cemetery, and I’m really unsure about what our future has in store.

I am convinced that he sees me as nothing more than a pawn in his game of revenge. I had hoped for more than that, but realizing how deeply set he is in his need for vengeance, I just can’t see myself being anything else to him.

I don’t know what that means for my baby. Or me.

We’ve been home for two days when Leon approaches me early one morning.

“Sash, do you want to come to the spa with me? I have some things I need to take care of there, and I thought maybe you would enjoy getting out of the house a bit?”

“I’d love to. Definitely. When are you leaving?”

“Five minutes?”

“I’ll go get ready.”

The invite surprises me because we’ve hardly spoken, yet when he spoke to me just now, he seemed friendly and back to how he was before the fight.

I guess I will just embrace whatever it is for now and enjoy the day. I’ve learned to appreciate the small moments in my life that bring me joy, no matter how brief they are.

On the way there, Leon is chatty and telling me about how the business runs, which interests me quite a lot. I like the fact that he is trusting me with all of this information and talking to me as though I understand the intricacies of business. He explains not only the front, but the underground money laundering part as well.

We park outside and Leon quickly gets out to open my door for me.

When we walk into the spa, he has his hand on my lower back, keeping me close to him.

“Good morning,” he says warmly as we walk towards the reception. Two of his employees are there and they both smile broadly at him.

“Mr. Dubrov, we’ve missed you. We got everything ready like you asked.”

“Thanks so much, ladies. I really appreciate it. I don’t know what I would do without you.”

“You’d struggle.” They both laugh and Leon walks away chuckling.

He leans close to me and whispers, “Come on, I’ve got a surprise for you.”

His voice is deep and seductive, and it sends shivers down my spine.

He’s being so warm and sweet to me.

He guides me into the elevator and presses number twelve.

Leon leads me into one of the upper-level spa rooms, where he has arranged to have a very romantic lunch set up for us. There are candles and roses and the most spectacular view of the city.

“What is this?” I ask, stunned.

“I just wanted to spend a little bit of time with my wife.”

“Oh.” I stand, still shocked. This is incredible.

“Also, I want to show you the ropes around here after lunch. I’ve explained how things work, but I thought you might be interested to see it first hand and get a little bit involved in the business.”

“Are you serious? I’d absolutely love to do that,” I say excitedly.

Maybe I was wrong. Maybe he does see a future with us. Why would he be trying to teach me about his business if I was nothing to him?

During lunch, Leon is attentive and keeps reaching out to touch me. He runs his hand across my leg, or brushes hair behind my ear. He touches my cheek and rubs his thumb over my lips.

I should be torn between accepting his romantic gestures and pushing him away because he’s been so cold lately, but the truth is that I am desperate for this. I want this. I want his tenderness and his attention.

So I soak it in, enjoy it, embrace it and hope that it never ends.

After our very special lunch, we head down to one of the middle floors of the building, where Leon’s office is. His personal assistant welcomes us in and hands him a file, letting him know all the accounts are up to date.

“Sasha, this is my personal assistant, Melissa. Melissa, this is my beautiful wife, Sasha.”

He looks proud when he introduces me, and I feel my cheeks flush.

Just then, his phone rings. “Excuse me. I’ll be right back.”

Leon pulls his phone out of his pocket and disappears into one of the rooms to the side to take the call in private.

I wander around the reception area of his office space, admiring the artwork. and Melissa returns to her desk.

She calls out, “Sasha, can I make you some coffee or get you some sparkling water?”

“Oh, no thank you. I just had lunch.”

“Leon was quite excited to set the lunch up for you.”

“Was he?” I grin.

“He—" Her desk phone starts ringing. “Sorry, I need to take this.”

I nod and turn my attention back to the gorgeous statue near the window.

“Sasha?” Melissa calls out.

“Yes?”

“It’s for you. I’ll put it through to the office and you can chat in private.” She points me towards a gray door, and I tilt my head in confusion. Who would be phoning me here? It doesn’t make any sense.

“Um, okay. Thanks,” I reply, walking into the office as she transfers the call to the desk there.

I feel nervous tension building in my stomach as I reach for the phone.

I pick it up and press the receiver against my ear.

“Hello?”

“Hello, my darling daughter.”

My stomach churns and I feel as though I might throw up.

How did he know I was here? What am I supposed to do?

“Sasha, darkling. Have you missed me?”

“Dad,” I mutter, my throat tight. His voice sends horrible shivers through my body that remind me of how much hate I have for this man.

“Listen, darling, I’ve made arrangements for you, and you can come home now. All you have to do is get away from his guards, and I will have my men standing by to take you. They will bring you straight back to me where you belong. If you let me know where and when you think will be the best time, that would be even better, so I don’t have to waste time following you around everywhere.”

“Waste time,” I mutter again. I still can’t believe he is calling me.

“Yes, Sasha. Don’t be stupid now. Pay attention. I don’t want to waste my time. Tell me when and where to meet you.”

His harsh and demeaning tone flashes images of his face in my mind. The way he pulls his nose up when he’s disappointed in something I’ve said or done. That look of disgust in his eyes when I don’t get excited about watching someone being tortured—what he did to Leon’s family—

I feel a strength building inside me, one I didn’t know I had against my own father. I’ve always been terrified of him. Leon has shown me something different. An entirely different life.

I don’t want to lose Leon.

I don’t want to leave him.

The sudden realization hits me like a tidal wave.

I am in love with Leon.

“I am not coming back to you, Dad.”

“Excuse me?”

“I think you heard me clearly enough. I am never coming back to that house. I don’t ever want to see you again.”

“Who the fuck do you think you are, talking to your own father like that? Have you forgotten your place? You have no right to leave me. You don’t get to decide something like that. I decide. I decide what happens to you. I decide where you can and can’t go. Me. Not you.” He is furious. He’s practically screaming into the phone, and I have to hold it away from my ear so avoid the volume of his anger.

I wait patiently for him to finish his irrational vent.

It’s so strange to me that I can hear how ridiculous he sounds. He sounds manic, egotistical, full of himself. I’ve never noticed it before. I always just thought of him as a man who was in control.

When he stops yelling and waits for my pleading cries, which is what would have been my response in the past—begging for forgiveness or mercy—I pause for a moment. I let the silence settle and I listen to his heavy breathing.

Then finally, I say, as calmly as I have ever spoken to him before, “No, Dad, not anymore.”

“What do you mean, not anymore? Is that Dubrov brainwashing you? Is he manipulating you? Are you so fucking thickheaded that you let some random man get inside your mind? You always were stupid. So fucking stupid. Weak and pathetic just like your mother. It’s difficult to admit that we are related sometimes. You’re an embarrassment. I’ll have to teach you everything all over again when you get home.”

“I’m not coming home. That isn’t my home anymore. The sooner you can accept that, the sooner we can move on.”

“Oh, you are coming home, girl. Even if I have to drag you here in a body bag, you will come home. I’m not done with you, Sasha. You hear me, girl?” His voice is getting higher pitched the angrier he gets. I don’t think he can understand why I’m not responding in fear.

He is still screaming into the phone when I gently place it back into the cradle to hang up the call.

I stare at the phone for a long time.

I don’t feel how I expected to feel.

When I first realized it was my father on the call, I was terrified, I did feel panic, but it faded so quickly. I’m not naive, I know he’s a dangerous and evil man, but he doesn’t have that same emotional hold on me anymore.

He’s nasty and abusive, and now that I can see it for what it really is, it’s a bit easier to deal with him.

But when I glance down at my hands, I can see they’re shaking.

I guess my physical trauma response to everything I’ve ever experienced with him is still very real. It will take time to heal from that, but I know one thing for sure.

I’m stronger now.

“What are you doing in here?” Leon sticks his head in the office.

“I was just waiting for you.” I smile at him, hiding my shaking hands behind my back.

“Oh, this isn’t my office. Come on, I’ll show you mine. It has the good views.” He laughs and gestures for me to follow him.

Walking behind him as he chats about the business and the client he was just on the phone with, I am distracted. I want to tell him that my father called me. I should warn him that he knows where I am. But at the same time, I think it will only drive Leon back into his head, focusing on revenge again. I only just reconnected with him today, and I don’t want to ruin that.

I think I need to keep this to myself for now.