Page 51

The inside of the Porsche smelt of fresh leather.

Which was really the only thing I could focus on given the silence between me and Viviana.

Her actions were smooth, focusing purely on driving the car as if there wasn't this giant fucking tension between us.

I knew she had something to say.

And I knew she was aware that I'm currently anticipating it.

It felt as if she was purposely being silent.

Like she wanted me to grow more and more impatient.

So I remained calm instead, refusing to give in to her antics.

"Do you work this closely with all of your business partners?" Viviana suddenly asked me, breaking the silence even as we both stared forward.

I forced a hum, "Nyet," I murmured, feeling my lips twitch up slightly, "Your daughter seems to have a thing for Russians," I added.

And I could instantly feel Viviana's stare on me.

Until she glanced back to the road.

I assume she didn't expect me to be straightforward.

She assumed I would play in her face like other women.

But when will anyone learn that I am not other women?

"We only sleep together—no need to be dramatic," I broke the silence again before Viviana had a chance to give her opinion on something she didn't know about.

Mothers can be very overbearing.

Maybe I should be thankful I grew up without one.

"You work under her," Viviana suddenly spoke, turning on her turn signal, "Any fraternizing is explicitly unallowed."

I glanced over to her with nothing but amusement, "You tell the Executioners about your own daughter's fraternizing?" I murmured, wondering if she took her role that far.

Even as someone retired from the position.

I glanced down slightly, noticing the edges of Viviana's lips tilt up.

"No," was all she said, turning down another street as she continued focusing on the road, "I handle the issue before it affects her."

I lazily raised my brows, "Very motherly," I said almost sarcastically.

My father would've prevented the issue before it had become one in the first place.

"You know out of all the women Sevan has been with—I would say I like you best, Via," Viviana said, briefly glancing over to me, "You're honest and straightforward."

I hummed, "I think your daughter likes that about me very much," I purposely said.

And maybe I wanted to make her mad.

Maybe I wanted to leave a mess behind for Sevan to clean up.

She pissed me off so that felt fair.

"Yet you're sitting in this car with me on the way to an airport," Viviana pointed out, clearly not taking my words seriously.

I shrugged, "I do not want her anymore," I said, glancing out of the tinted windows.

Because I could feel the lie stinging my tongue.

"Good," Viviana said in approval, "That makes this a lot easier for us all."

I nodded once, "Very easy," I determined, even if I still wanted to scream at Sevan for her behavior, "She handles her business and I handle mine—we remain professional."

Viviana hummed, almost skeptically, "And Sev agreed to this?" she asked me, causing my stare to divert away from the window to her.

"Not necessarily, but I leave and she leaves me alone," I explained, knowing she would have to agree.

"Right," Viviana sighed, shaking her head a few times, "I'll speak to her."

I immediately nodded, "Da, speak to her," I agreed, determining that Viviana isn't as bad as I presumed.

Still overbearing.

Obsessive.

And very fucking shady.

But otherwise, she is not terrible.

We seem to have mutual interests.

"I hope we never have to cross paths again," I said, noticing the large airport we were slowly approaching.

Viviana nodded, "I agree," she said as we grew closer and closer to the chaotic scene of the airport.

There was an abnormal amount of cars waiting by the different entrances.

It was a sight that made my heart tick in my chest, realizing what I had gotten myself into.

Yet, I stepped out of the running car anyway, not saying a word to Viviana as she pressed the button for the trunk.

And for once, I handled my own bag and closed the trunk—walking around the different people as I unconsciously held my breath.

I do not like just anyone being in my space.

And this airport seems to lack just that.

Space.

Maybe I should've stayed the night.

Maybe I should've waited for the private plane.

"?Cómo puedo ayudarte?" the woman spoke to me as soon as I approached her.

I furrowed my brows, stopping at the kiosk, "English," I spoke clearly, which immediately earned a nod from the woman.

Who glanced over to the man further down, motioning him over to speak to me.

"How can I help you today?" he politely asked, his Spanish accent seeping through so thickly.

"I need ticket to Moscow, Russia," I told him as he swiped his card and began tapping on the screen in front of him.

Which he seemed to do for an unmeasured amount of minutes.

Until finally, he glanced up, "The next flight leaves in three hours," he told me.

I immediately nodded, "I take that flight," I said even if three hours felt like very long time from now.

But I seem to be lacking other choices.

"What seats did you want ma'am?" he asked me, now tapping on the screen again.

I tilted my head, "Uh... best seats you have?" I mumbled almost in confusion.

"First class?" he clarified, glancing up from the screen.

I nodded once, "Da," I said, easily forcing the man's brows to furrow, "Yes," I corrected myself.

The man nodded immediately, tapping on the screen even more as I reached into my purse for my wallet.

And after I paying for ticket, I was forced to set my suitcase on some weird scale platform.

But luckily they take suitcase from me so I don't need to carry it throughout airport.

Which was very large.

There was this security thing I was required to go through.

I had to take off shoes and put them in grey bin with all of my accessories and purse.

Worst experience of my life.

But what felt even worse was walking around for over an hour before I could successfully find the proper gate.

There were these trains that transported you to various places in the airport—and even different food spots and shops.

I had never witnessed such a thing.

It was almost like a mall with airport factor.

Every inch of it was nothing but chaotic—at some point I even felt very paranoid.

Like someone would get me sick.

But luckily, this first-class thing came with a private lounge.

So once I made it there, everything seemed to have calmed down for me.

I just sat alone in one of the leather armchairs, scrolling through my phone as I awaited for my flight.

My feet ached unbearably in the heels I wore and I was nearly sweating through my Chanel t-shirt.

This had to be the most humbling experience of my life.

And to think I could have avoided this entirely.

That is if I wanted to stay the night at Sevan's parent's house.

Which somehow sounded worse to me.

I let out a deep sigh, locking my phone as soon as I heard the familiar flight echo on the intercom.

And almost immediately, I stood and grabbed my purse—walking over to the nearest gate as I tried to ignore the active pain shooting through my feet.

Luckily, only the first class could board separately, so I didn't have to worry about numerous people in my space.

And my first class seat was very nice as well—it was entirely private with short dividers and a reclining seat.

I could make this work easily.

I let out a deep content sigh, sitting down in the plush seat as I slipped my heels off.

Which immediately sent a relief through my body.

Then I got even more comfortable, setting my purse to the side as I checked my phone yet again.

Where texts from an unknown number awaited me.

I see she gets new phone with secure line.

Perhaps she should have done that instead of ignoring me for those two days.

I shook my head at the texts, determining that she can come to Moscow if she wants to.

It does not mean I will speak to her.

She made her choice, and I do not give the privilege of second chances.

I let out a deep sigh as I turned my phone on airplane mode and locked it.

But even after leaving Sevan and her parents behind, I still felt this huge weight harboring my chest.

It was something almost unexplainably heavy that I had to actively ignore, settling in my chair as I stared out of the window.

???????

I glanced around the busy airport, searching for the specific baggage claim number for my suitcase.

I had never had to do such a thing.

And I vow to never do it again either.

This entire experience is a pain in the ass.

I would never travel if I had to use airport.

"Via," I heard his familiar deep voice call out, jerking my focus away from the different baggage claims lingering with groups of people.

And I swear I almost let out the deepest sigh of relief at the sight of Nikolai.

Who waited with four of my men behind him.

They all looked unexplainably clean wearing crisp black trench coats with matching dress pants and shoes.

Meanwhile, my hair was frizzy and my face felt annoyingly hot.

"Ivo grabs your bag for you," Nikolai immediately said as he approached me, "You are princess—you do nothing but wait in car."

I immediately nodded, rolling my shoulders back as the last shred of anxiousness faded from my body.

I am home now.

My worries are less about chaotic airports and luggage searching.

Now they are about debt collections, shipment deliveries, and winning chess matches.

This is much more like it.

I think I found new sense of gratitude.

"How was your trip?" Nikolai asked me as we walked out of the airport.

And I swear I felt the weirdest urge to smile.

Mostly at the foggy grey sky and the icy air lingering with snow dustings.

This is very nice.

"It was eye-opening," I told Nikolair as my men escorted me past the nosy people to the black SUVs waiting.

"Good or bad thing?" Nikolai asked as he opened the back door for me.

"A necessary thing," I said, creating a better option.

Nikolai immediately nodded as I slid into the backseat past him, "That is always very good," he said as he slid into the seat beside me and closed the door.

I nodded once, "Very good," I mumbled even if it felt like the exact opposite.

I hate that Sevan has the effect of making me miss her after what she has done.

She robs me of my firsts, treats me as if I am trophy, and then decides that she never wanted that trophy in the first place.

It feels like... very bad feeling.

I feel used.

Like Sevan used me for her own personal enjoyment, and decided once it got serious she did not want me at all.

And then I decide I leave and suddenly she does want it.

Suddenly, she wants me only when she thinks she can not have me.

But now I do not want her.

And now she truly can't have me.

I'm over the petty games for once.

I do not even want to try and get her back.

I do not want to sleep with women or kill ten of her best guards.

Nyet.

I simply choose my own peace for once.

I want my life back to how it was before she inserted herself into it.

I want my predictable days back.

"Xanax," I suddenly told Nikolai as Ivan slid into the front seat of the SUV.

I have really missed this.

More than I realized I could.

And it had been less than twenty-four hours since I left Moscow.

But Sevan truly succeeded in humbling me.

I do not know where those weird feelings and confessions came from but I revoke them now.

"And here is your vodka," Nikolai said as he handed me one of the white pills, grabbing the bottle of vodka.

I shook my head once, "Two," I specified, motioning to the pill bottle Ivan had just closed.

Nikolai nodded.

Almost hesitantly.

But he knew better than to question my demands.

So he grabbed second white pill for me.

Which I immediately washed down with the burning liquid.

I am officially back.