CHAPTER 33: IRINA IS BACK
CHAPTER 33: IRINA IS BACK
LILY’S POV:
I went back to my room and I refused coming outside through out that day.
‘What’s even his problem?!’, I let out a groan in frustration, I don’t know why this even bothers me.
The more I think about his reaction about the photo, the more I am certain that he and his brother have estranged relationship.
“But what happened?”, I asked aloud.
Anyways, I shouldn’t be bothered by their family issue. I don’t want to be too involved with Nikolai.
I knocked at the door to my room.
“Lily?”, It was Nikolai, I gasped. What does he want? Why is he here?
“Can we talk?”, He said.
“Go away”, I responded. There was nothing left for us to talk about, I need to be far away from him because recently, he has been stirring something in my heart.
There was silence at the other side of the door, he wasn’t gone yet, he was just keeping mute. I tiptoed to the door and placed my ear on the door, I couldn’t hear any movement, only his sigh.
After a minute or two, I heard his footsteps retreating. I should be happy right? I was the one that told him to go away but why was I feeling sad all of a sudden.
I tried distracting myself by reading some books Nikolai got for me, there are all the genres I like, romance, fantasy and mystery.
Reading anything romantic right now would remind me of Nikolai and that hot kiss we shared in the lady’s room at that restaurant.
“Christ!”, I moaned in frustration, how can I get distracted trying to distract myself. I closed the book and slammed myself on the bed, my mind wandering for a bit before I slept off.
***
I heard the door open slowly and someone walking in, the bed sank and I felt a low sigh. It was Nikolai.
‘Is he here to complete what he started the last time? Is he drunk again?!’, I could hear my heartbeat racing.
“I don’t know what’s happening to me Lily…”, Nikolai started saying with a huge sigh of frustration, “… I’m not usually like this, I don’t know what came over me for me to almost take advantage of you, I hardly get drunk or lose my control… I’m sorry if I caused you any pain”, he continued.
I wasn’t that deep in sleep, I could hear him.
‘Was Nikolai apologizing right now? The almighty Nikolai Vladimir?’, Wow, I must have died and gone to heaven maybe.
“I want to be the one you trust, I’m not your enemy here okay”, He whispered before touching my hair.
He stood up and left the room. I got up once I was certain he wasn’t in the room anymore.
“What just happened?”, I asked myself in surprise. He sounded sincere, like he was… hurting? I don’t believe it, he might just be trying to fool me again.
I didn’t go down for dinner and stayed in my room, I was scared of facing Nikolai.
I think he understood and sent the maid to bring my dinner to my room.
I ate little because I had no appetite, the maids brought snacks for me and I was okay with that.
I went to bed for the night and after too many turns, I finally slept off.
***
It was the next day and I made up my mind to forgive Nikolai. He has tried multiple times to talk and apologize to me but I keep ignoring him.
He was right, the more time I spend with him, the more I am convinced he isn’t my enemy, Troy and that rat Olivia are my enemies.
I freshen up and went down for breakfast, Nikolai was already on the dining table, his brows furrowed as he read something in his working tablet.
With a cup of coffee in his hand, he saw me and the side of his lips raised.
“Good morning Nikolai”, I said to him, I could see he was surprised.
“How was your night Lily?”, He asked.
“Good”, I replied briefly and he nodded.
I sat down and my food was served, I then remembered that Galina wasn’t here with us.
“Why did Galina leave?”, I asked Nikolai and he raised his head to look at me.
“She was needed back at home”, He said and looked away, I could sense he just lied, I didn’t think too much about it.
“Hey hey hey!”, I was startled by the loud voice, it was Nikolai’s friend, Ivan.
“Isn’t it too early for visits Ivan?”, Nikolai sighed and asked, without looking at his friend.
“Ouch, I missed you too”, Ivan replied and I almost spit out the water in my mouth making Ivan to chuckle.
Nikolai just sighed and shook his head. The maid brought another plate for Ivan as he joined us for breakfast.
***
The days at the mansion went by with Nikolai and I slowly becoming friends, we would sometimes talk over a cup of tea, he smiled regularly now, he wasn’t so tense and intimidating anymore.
We didn’t talk about that kiss even though there was this sexual tension between us, maybe it was just me.
Saturn and Mars warmed up to me, Nikolai said he was surprised because those dogs weren’t nice to anyone but him.
I tried to accept what Nikolai do and his identity and a mafia leader, but from what I know, he wouldn’t hurt me.
Days turned into weeks and weeks into months, it has been three months after the incident with Nikolai and I. He hasn’t tried such again.
My birthday was slowly approaching and I was turning 24. I didn’t say anything to Nikolai even though we talk to each other.Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.
‘What’s the point in telling him, why should he care’, My inner thoughts advised me. I decided against telling him.
I remembered how my dad would always surprise me on my birthday, he would bake me a cake, bring in number balloons and dance with me while we sing the karaoke songs.
He got me a new laptop for my 23rd birthday and I didn’t even get to use it that long before the incident with Olivia. I sighed at the thought of my dad and how he was doing.
‘He must be worried sick about me’, he won’t even know if I was dead or alive.
I was in the living room when all these thoughts came spiraling out. I heard voices from the entrance of the mansion.
“Wow, you’re still here?”, I heard the sarcastic comment from no one else but Irina.
‘Why is she here? Has Nikolai forgiven her?’, I wondered,
She came in as two maids were bringing in her luggages, she looks beautiful than ever, but a bit thinner.
“Nice to see you too Irene”, I smiled brightly at her and she frowned at the name I just called her, I caught her off guard.
“Wha-what did you just call–“, She tried saying but I stood up and left. If she was back here to taunt me, I wouldn’t give her that satisfaction, I don’t owe her anything and neither does she.
I heard her yelling my name but I didn’t turn back, I went straight to my bedroom.
Nikolai wasn’t around, he hasn’t been around for 3 days now and I couldn’t reach him. That was so unlike him, he would always tell me when he goes for a business trip but this time… nothing.
‘Maybe he’s just busy, he will be back soon’, I sounded worried.
I contemplated on asking Irina on Nikolai’s whereabout but later decided against it. I shouldn’t be talking to her anyways, Nikolai has warned me against it before.
But what if he’s in trouble, it seems plausible considering his type of work, maybe he was involved in a combat with some gang and he was shot?
“Stop it Lily!”, I shook my head to get rid of such thoughts, but I was worried he won’t be here for my birthday.
I distracted myself by crocheting, I once told Nikolai how I missed crocheting and I was always bored to death in this house, he got me a full crochet set with yarns and all, I remember being so excited that I hugged him, I had never seen him so shocked before.