Page 40 of The Fixer

“Speaking of home… I don’t think I want to go back to teaching after our trip.” Inhaling deeply through flared nostrils, my heart raced.

Ophelia tensed beside me. Her eyes whipped up, and she puffed out her lips in confusion while the elevator clamored to a stop.

“I’ve been thinking of going to the Dean to find a replacement.”

“O-oh. Why?”

Stepping off the elevator rather than answer, I reached to tug my beard. I could remember being passionate about atomic science once, but that time had passed long ago. The monotony of teaching was stifling, and there were so many other things to do. “If you’re going to be a bigshot Russian crime boss, I might as well enjoy the lavish life.” Grabbing her ass and squeezing hard, I smirked when Ophelia giggled. “No, seriously… I’m just getting tired of teaching. I have been for a while. I figure… if I’m going to be gone for a month, I should explore the option of exiting the University on good terms. I’m supposed to have a meeting with the Dean of Sciences later this week.”

27

Ophelia

Swishing my hips to the music engulfing the living room, I closed my eyes and flopped my head back. Sascha had gone grocery shopping, leaving me to my own devices. Truthfully, I think he just liked driving the sports car… a small smile crested between my cheeks.

The beige paint on the walls rippled, the carpet squishing between my toes as I bounced from foot to foot. Sweat slickened my skin, matting my hair to my neck and shoulders. My panties and loose, elastic bra stretched with each smooth movement I made, and I wrapped my arms around myself. Pulsing, hard bass slammed into me rhythmically, rattling my teeth and tingled the bridge of my nose.

But it felt nice. I felt nice.

“Ah…“ Everything was going okay, considering the circumstances. Okay enough that I could fool myself into thinking things were better than they really were. Sometimes, lying to myself wasn’t so bad. Twirling around, I bopped my head to the dark, primal beat and let my inhibitions and worries fall away.

Yesterday at the construction firm, I could’ve done without Sascha’s and my conversation in the elevator… but it was in the past. I needed to focus on the present. I intended to live in the moment, try to bepositive!Who knew, really, how long I would be on this Earth ? get to enjoy Sascha ? before Aleksander decided I was too much of a security risk?

Shivering as I cracked open my eyes, I sat on the sofa Sascha liked so much to caress the soft plush with trembling fingers. This piece of furniture was the only one going to storage; everything else was getting thrown out or donated. Whatever the maids had left wasn’t worth much, anyway.

But Sascha loved this sofa, and our house had a room specifically for it. The dark grey was stark against my pale skin, and I sniffed a little as pressure beat against the backs of my eyes.

The music suddenly cut out, but it took a few seconds for my brain to realize it was silence drumming in my ears. My vision moved slowly towards the entertainment system against the wall, packed neatly under the television. Jerking from the delayed shock, my shoulders curled as I caught sight of Malda, and I frowned nastily.

“Are you high, Ophelia?”

Amusement grated my brain and I flung myself back to roll onto my front. Frustration flooded my veins, forcing out the more pleasant feelings. Panting lightly, my heart beat hard and fast against ribs that struggled to release the tension buzzing between them.

“Ophelia—“

“I’m not high…” At least, I was pretty sure I didn’t slip myself something in my breakfast, or my coffee, or… Craning my neck to watch Malda wander towards me, my eyes rolled until I couldn’t follow her anymore. “What are you doing here? How come you just come into my house and never knock?”

“I’ve been instructed to bring you to Saint Petersburg, Ophelia.” Sitting gingerly next to me, Malda oozed discomfort— like she didn’t want to be the one doing this. “Aleksander Makovich has requested your presence to discuss your upcoming trip to America.”

…Fuck!“Sascha’s coming with me.”

My grumble earned me a slight shake of her head, and Malda frowned deeply.

Alarms went off in my head, my mouth drying with all the anxiety of going at this alone.

“We’re leaving, Ophelia— right now. I’m sorry, but if I don’t do my job as expected, I have to go back to dealing with Lyov. The plane takes off in 20 minutes.”

If it was time sensitive, why didn’t Aleksander come here and cut travel time in half?That was a stupid question. This was Aleksander, exerting himself on me— reminding me that I was a puppet, and it washishand up my ass. “Yeah— I spent a total of 20 minutes with Lyov, soI don’t blame you.” Hoisting myself up onto my knees, I sat back on my heels to puff a sigh. “… Do you know what this is about?”

“No. I was just told to bring you to Saint Petersburg.”

I knew Sascha and I weren’t a package deal to Aleksander, but the anxiety gripping me in a vice strained my heart. Scooting off the sofa, I closed my eyes briefly and ducked my head. Goosebumps washed my bare arms and across my chest, my sweat freezing my skin.

Malda looked sympathetic. “You’ve got enough time to throw some clothes on.”

“Why bother? I’m gonna get fucked anyway.” My arms hung heavy by my sides as I stood up, and all my good feelings seeped through my feet. Flexing my toes against the cold that crept up and made them ache, my legs tingled wildly. “If I knew this was going to be what my life would be like, I would’ve fought harder to keep my idiot brother alive.”

“It wouldn’t have made a difference, Ophelia.”