Chapter 5 - Kolya
I slept like the dead for the first time since my return. Picking up my phone as I sat up, I swung my legs out of bed. Looking at the screen, I saw it was Mikhel calling.
“Hi, Mikhel, how are you doing?” I asked as I answered.
“Kolya,” he replied hastily. “We’ve gotta meet. There are business issues to discuss.”
“Sure, I just have some things to finish up and will let you know,” I replied, thinking about Sophia.
“Okay, you send me a text to let me know when, and I’ll be there,” Mikhel replied.
I pushed my hand through my hair as I spoke. “Sure thing.”
“Great, have a good one then,” Mikhel said before hanging up. I worried a little about the issue he was having. But knew if it was bad, he would have said so. For now, I had to concentrate on Sophia.
Heading to her room to check in, I considered taking her out on my yacht. I felt guilty for pulling her into this situation. She didn’t deserve to be traumatized or punished. This entire situation was my doing. I should have done thorough research. I should have made sure of my facts before acting.
As I neared her door, I noticed it was half ajar. Pushing it open, I peeked inside. The bed was empty. Glancing around, I realized the room was empty. She wasn’t there. She was gone again, slipped out somehow.
Turning on my heels, I headed downstairs. As I got to the front door, one of my guards entered. “Have you seen Sophia?” I asked in a rushed tone.
“I saw her wandering at the back, sir,” he replied quickly.
Nodding, I turned and headed out the double glass doors. I had an idea of where she was going. The back gate was the least guarded as it was bigger than life. No one could get in or out, but Sophia seemed determined to try.
Nearing the gate, I saw her about to re-climb the back gate. I moved closer but stood watching. It was amusing, and I knew soon she would realize it was an impossible task. As she climbed higher and higher, I started moving closer. She was getting higher than I had anticipated.
Maybe I should reconsider the gate's security after all. Before I could formulate another thought, Sophia lost her grip. She came down like a lump of coal. Rushing forward, I tried to cushion her fall.
My arms wrapped around her quicker than a rocket. One arm caught around her waist as my other arm cradled the back of her head. I bent my knee, taking most of the impact, protecting her from colliding fully with the ground.
Her tiny figure fit perfectly into my arms. It felt like she was meant to be in them. A soft scream escaped her voluptuous lips as I stood upright. For a second, there was silence. Looking at her, the world still turned.
I exhaled sharply as I gently lowered her to her feet.
“How could you be so reckless? You could have gotten seriously injured or killed yourself!” I heard the harshness in my tone, a bit more than I intended, but my heart was beating a million miles an hour.
I could even feel it beating in my throat.
Holding onto her, I felt my breathing starting to calm.
It was nice holding her. “You could have been seriously injured if I hadn’t been here,” I repeated in a softer tone, staring into her eyes.
My stomach was in knots of fear and anger.
There was a strange pull in my heart, a dull ache I couldn’t explain.
“Get your filthy hands off me!” Sophia screamed as she pulled back with force. Her tiny fists were beating my upper arms like drums.