Page 36 of The Fixer
“I don’t want your money, Ophelia.”
The way she talked grated my ears, but I managed to keep a straight face as I leaned on my elbows on the island.
“I just wanted to meet you. I’m going back home in a few weeks, and I doubt I can spend $3million Rubles that fast.”
“From your emails, I thought you lived here. I didn’t know my dad meant to pay for your apartment until you come back from the States.”
She smiled slightly, a sad sigh escaping her slightly parted lips.
“What was my dad like with you?”
“He was a very tired man… tired and run down. It’s not surprising to me that he had a heart attack.”
Her smile saddened more and my heart twisted for her; even if they weren’t strong, Gigi’s feelings for my dad were very much real.This is fucked up. She’s my dad’s mistress.
She went on,“I think he liked being with me because I never expected anything from him. If he wanted to talk, I’d listen and give my input, but if not, that was okay, too. I think he just needed someone to listen and sympathize with him without being judgmental.”
“Did he ever talk about me?” Interest colored my tone.
Gigi shook her head slightly and sipping her coffee briefly, she hummed a sound that tickled my ears. “He mostly talked about his life— how his own father basically sold him to another family, and that family eventually forced him to marry your mother. It was a lot of stuff about his childhood and teenage years. If we had time, I’m sure I would’ve eventually gotten the whole story, but… I’d never use this information and it makes me very sad how far cruelty reaches.”
“I’m not paying you off, not that way, Gigi.”
A hard knock echoed from the front of the house, and I pursed my lips thinly as my brow twitched in irritation.
Gigi set her mug down, gathering up her purse with another slight shake of her head. “I’m sorry. I want to keep talking to you, but…All the crazies come out when someone dies. Especially when money is involved. I’ve heard stories.” Rounding the edge of the island, Gigi held my hands in delicate fingers. Her smile was warm, soft and gentle along with an emotional smile. “Thank you for reaching out to me, Ophelia.”
“Thankyoufor not being one of the crazies.” My tongue hurt from speaking nothing but English. Squeezing Gigi’s hands, I let them go to head for the door. She was quiet as we walked to the door, the banging getting louder and more abrasive. Throwing open the solid wooden barrier, I scowled darkly. “Whatabout ‘I don’t care’ do you not understand!” I got nasty with the woman Martin left behind.
She jumped back with a shocked squeak.
Advancing on her, forcing her backwards down the stairs, I exhaled fire through my nose. Anger swirled in my chest because— well, because she was stillfuckinghere!
Finally, this pregnant woman panicked. She stumbled a little as she rushed down the steps, away from me. Holding her belly protectively, she shot me the nastiest look. Pure hatred blazed from her eyes, and
I hoped she’d just crawl back into the hole she’d come out of. “What did you honestly hope to achieve by coming here?” To say I was curious wasn’t right, but I wanted to know.
The nameless woman tensed at my question, her expression twisting darker.
“Martin is dead. You came here and didn’t even introduce yourself when I opened the door, and from what I know of you, you’re a bitch. Martin was prepared to run away to Germany to get away from you, and you think that now… when he’s not here to refute anything you say, that I’ll just take your word for it? No.” My voice hung heavy in the atmosphere.
“That ass owes me! You think I like being like this— pregnant? My parents kicked me out! I’m going to get fired from my job!”
I could feel Gigi’s questioning gaze flicker between us, but I ignored it as I exhaled a hot breath.
The woman whose name Istilldidn’t know huffed hard, crossing her arms over her chest and turning her nose in the air. “The least you could do is pay me to go away. I can ruin your life.”
“What!” A bark of disgust burst from my throat, my hand flying to cover my mouth as it curved widely. I couldn’t help myself, my shoulders shivering with repressed amusement. Gulping harshly, I inhaled a deep breath and held it. “You can ruin my life? Oh, the horror! I’m so scared!” Cackling horrendously at the absurdity of that declaration, I threw my head back and hugged my sides. My heart raced, true mirth slathering my ribs as they creaked. Even my cheeks hurt from my smile. Suddenly, it all stopped, and I grabbed Gigi’s hand with a vicious shake of my head. As I promised, I led Gigi to her car with one eye on Martin’s crazy, nameless ex-girlfriend. My brain just stopped working. I pinched the bridge of my nose as I stepped back from the car.
Gigi had been driven here, so there was no hesitation as the car rolled around the fountain.
Watching her go, I hoped somewhere foolishly that Gigi stayed well.
“I need a nap.” Inhaling deeply, I closed my eyes briefly before they found the other shivering body in the driveway.
She trembled and huffed, her eyes red and puffy but very much shimmering in embarrassment.
I wonder what else I’m going to uncover if I keep digging.“Go ahead and try—tryto ‘ruin’ my life… see what I can do to you if you provoke me.”