Chapter 12 - Darya
We arrive at Kiril’s house, and Stefano leads me hand-in-hand up to the front door.
For a moment in the car he seemed so soft and genuine, but then just a second later the stern walls were back up, his expression closed off, and I was left thinking I had imagined his gentleness.
I don’t understand why he is so reluctant to ask for help from my brothers. We are family now, even more than before—he is my husband, and my family is always, always there for each other. I know they aren’t holding it against him or of the mindset that he owes them anything.
They aren’t like that, and I don’t know why he seems to think they are.
We walk in, warmly greeted by everyone, and then take our seats at the dining room table.
My brothers are chatting away about business and schedules and shipments for the upcoming week.
Stef is quiet this evening, withdrawn even, and I know he must be really worried about what happened at his warehouse and to his workers.
I so badly want to talk about it, but I don’t want to upset him.
I understand pride.
I know it is the main reason he is reluctant to ask for help.
Growing up as the only girl in the family, I also used to hate asking for help. I didn’t want my brothers to think I was weaker or less capable than they were.
I still struggle with it to this day, but I have also learned that my own thoughts are holding me back, not theirs. They don’t even think less of me when I ask for help—actually, the opposite. They seem to really want to help me, and seem happy when I give them the opportunity to do that.
How can I get Stef to see that they would do the same for him?
“What do you mean you don’t want to take on that shipping route?” Kiril snaps.
My attention is immediately drawn back to the conversation going on around the dinner table. I have not been paying attention at all, and it seems I’ve missed something.
“I don’t agree that it is the best route," Stef replies, sounding a bit annoyed himself. "I think if we—"
“I don’t care whether you agree or not, I am telling you that this is the route I need you to take on.” Kiril is being really aggressive.
Stef shakes his head. “So, what? This isn’t even a discussion? I don’t get to share my thoughts or opinions on important matters? What the fuck kind of meeting is this, then?” His voice is heated. His cheeks are flushed with anger and his fists are clenched.
“Everyone here has a role to play,” Paval says harshly.
What the hell is going on? Why can’t they give Stef the chance to at least say why he doesn’t think it’s a good route?
“Just play your role and stop making it difficult,” Paval snarls.
Of all people, Paval is usually the calm one.
“Stop making it difficult? Are you fucking kidding me? Me having an opinion makes your life difficult? I have been in this industry for as long as I can remember, and you aren’t even going to bother hearing me out?” Stef stands up, his fists clenched tighter and his neck muscles taut with rage.
“Sit the fuck down,” Ivan says.
“Hey,” I shout angrily. “Don’t speak to Stef like that.”
All of my brothers turn towards me in shock. Why are they being such assholes to him?
“And you—calm down and sit down,” I say to Stef. He glares at me as well, but he sits down heavily in his chair.
I take a deep breath, fighting my own annoyance, and then decide I have had enough of whatever this is. “You guys are not being fair right now. If Stef has to take on a route he doesn’t agree with, that is all good and fine, but at least hear him out on why he doesn’t think it’s a good idea. And have a discussion about it . I have never heard you guys speaking to each other like that, so why in the world would you think it is okay to speak to my husband like that?”
Their eyes are wide, their expressions showing complete shock at my outburst. Every single one of the men at the table is staring at me with raised brows and gaping mouths. Including Stef.
“Darya, you need to understand—" Kiril starts, but I cut him off instantly.
“No, you need to understand, the way you were all handling this situation is embarrassing. Business is a two-way street. You work together or it won’t work at all. You don’t just hand out tasks and then cut someone off when they try to tell you why it isn’t a good idea. How will you grow or get anywhere? Honestly, I am shocked that any of you would behave that way.”
I stand up, too annoyed to stay here, and I think I have made myself clear enough.
“I’ll leave you to sort this out,” I snap and then walk away, headed for the kitchen.
The silence in the room is heavy and tense. They can deal with it now, however, they see fit, but I will not have them ganging up on Stef for no reason.
It’s been a long day, and I think I might need a drink.
I pull down a glass and take a deep breath, leaning against the counter with my eyes closed, trying calming my nerves.
When I feel like I have some kind of control back, I pull out the whiskey and pour a small amount over some ice.
Then I stand alone in the kitchen, sipping it, and realizing just how tense my shoulders feel.
It really has been one hell of a day today. I don’t think I sat down for more than five minutes, and neither did Stef. We are both tired, and he doesn’t deserve to be treated like that by my family.
I wish he had just told them what was going on.
Although perhaps I just had a glimpse at why he feels the way he does. Is that how my brothers usually treat Stef? Or has something else happened? I don’t remember them being that way towards him.
I sigh and swirl the ice cubes in my drink, feeling the exhaustion settling into my body.
“Darya, what was that about?” Ivan walks into the kitchen, followed by Paval and Maxim.
“What do you mean, what was that about? You guys were being unfair, and I wasn’t just going to sit there are stay quiet,” I say, annoyed.
“But is everything alright with you? We haven’t seen you since the wedding, and we’ve been worried,” Paval says.
“Worried about what?”
“We, well, you know, we don’t like the fact that you had to do that for the family—"
“Get married to Stef?”
“Yes.”
“Is that why you guys were being so unfair now? Because you're angry about the marriage still?”
“Yes, I guess so.”
“I agreed to it. No one forced me into this. It was my choice, remember?”
“Okay, fine, but is everything alright at home? I mean, is he treating you right?” Ivan steps close to me and nudges my shoulder with his.
“Guys, there is nothing you need to worry about. Stef is very kind to me, and he takes care of me. Nothing weird has happened.”
I chuckle. So many weird things have happened, but I am not discussing those types of things with my brothers.
“I don’t need you guys worrying about me, and I don’t want you to treat Stef differently because we got married. In fact, technically, you should be treating him better now. He is my husband. That is the reality of it.”
Paval nods reluctantly.
“You’re right. Look, we just want you to be okay, that’s all. Promise us that if he is ever upsetting you—just talk to us, okay?”
“Well, promise me that you will treat him like part of the family.”
“Fair. Okay.”
“Okay.”
I smile. At least I know what was going on with them now. They were just upset about the whole arranged marriage thing. Hopefully, from now on, we won’t have to deal with any more heated unfairness.
Paval walks over to me to give me a hug. “You look tired.”
“You guys really pissed me off in there,” I laugh.
“Sorry, Darya. It won’t happen again.”
I wrap my arm around Paval and hug him tightly.
“I am tired, though. Are you guys done with the meeting?”
“I think Stef is over it. He calmed down, but he is still pissed off, so we are going to reschedule.”
I nod; I think that's better, anyway. We both need to rest. At the same time, though, Stef should have reined in his temper this evening. He got so flared up so quickly. I don’t like that side of him.
I say goodnight to my brothers and then head out to the car with a very grumpy looking Stefano.
He drives home in silence, and I keep wondering how to talk to him about his temper and whether or not now is even the right time. But with the way I am, I won't be able to sleep if I have something on my mind like this, and I prefer to just get it out in the open and deal with it right away.
He parks the car outside our home, and I climb out to follow him inside.
“I am going to have a quick shower,” I say, feeling pretty gross from the full day of being so busy in the warehouse.
“I’ll shower, too,” Stef says, walking up the stairs with heavy footsteps.
I head over to my own bedroom, because Stef will be in his shower. While I am washing off, I can’t help but think of him standing naked beneath the hot stream of water and wonder whether I should have just joined him in the shower.
But I can’t face being rejected again or left unfulfilled after he has teased me to the point of near insanity.
Climbing out of the shower, I throw on some sweatpants and a little top. I stare at my bed. It’s calling me, and my body is so tired I could just collapse into it right now. But I need to speak to Stef first.
I want to resolve this thing with him about his temper. Even though he had a right to be upset tonight, there are different ways to deal with it that would have been far more effective.
I walk barefoot through the house and to his bedroom.
“Stef, can I talk to you…?"
I walk inside and find him lying on the bed in just a pair of gray sweatpants, his arm resting over his face.
He is fast asleep, even snoring softly.
I sigh.
As much as I want to talk to him, I know what he went through today.
I watched him working tirelessly to help his men. He didn’t take a single break until I forced him to sit down at have some of that burger. He showed me a different side of himself this morning, and I have a lot more respect for him now.
I walk over to the bed.
He looks so peaceful.
I pull back the covers and climb beneath them.
For some reason, he has been sneaking into my bed every night and then disappearing before I wake up, so maybe I should just sleep next to him and make it easier for him.
I feel a bit weird as I pull the covers over my body.
In his sleep, he rolls over and wraps his arm around me, pulling my back up against his chest. I freeze for a moment, expecting him to wake up, but he doesn’t.
His skin is hot against me, and I can feel every curve of his gorgeous, sculpted body as he lies against me.
My body is tingling next to his.
I close my eyes.
Go to sleep, Darya.
But I am struggling so much.
I want to wake him up with a kiss. I want to arch my back and rub my ass against him, inviting him to take me.
Stop this. Just go to sleep.
It takes me ages to fall asleep. And even when I do, I am still so aware of his body being so close to mine. No wonder I have been having crazy, sexy dreams about him every night.
His presence drives me wild.