Chapter 5
Anya
Ihave never been this terrified in my entire life, but I refuse to let him see it. Sitting here in this gilded cage, I feel like everything has been ripped away. This is exactly the sort of situation that every mother always warns her daughters about. I should be plotting how to survive a forty-foot fall… somehow. I want to prove him wrong. I don’t know why he sparks that competitive, rebellious side of me so easily, but he does. Nikolai’s smirk is as infuriating as everything else about him. Quietly, I seethe at the very sight of him.
Taking a moment to soak in his appearance, I can’t deny he’s a handsome man. On the outside, at least. With a strong jaw and aquiline nose, he’s exceptionally well sculpted. His deep tan makes his harsh black eyes stand out even more, and there’s a cold glint that swirls in his gaze. Nikolai rakes a hand through the longer waves at the front of his cropped black hair.
Clad in an opulent ebony suit that cannot be anything but designer, his entire appearance is dripping with wealth. I’m no stranger to men like him but I don’t believe that I’ve ever come face to face with someone so dangerously attractive before. And it is the dangerous part that’s the problem. He wants to screw with my mind. I know that but I won’t let him. I’m determined to maintain my dignity, even in the face of this unforeseen adversity. There’s no way I would ever admit that he’s sexy; I have the feeling that his ego doesn’t need any more stroking. He is the human equivalent of the desire to put your hand near an open flame to see how close you can get without being burned.
As I stare at his arrogant expression, I’m so confused. Nikolai claims that I’m here because he’s seeking revenge against my father, but I can’t possibly imagine what my father could have done to make him so furious. There’s a steely anger in his eyes, like he’s been deeply wounded, and I wish I knew the truth. I’m no detective but I long to get to the bottom of it. Unfortunately, the Russian is a closed book and he won’t reveal anything unless it benefits him.
His lithe, muscular frame ripples as he fixes himself another drink and I shudder inside. However, this time, it is not fear that makes me quiver. Feeling my breath hitch in my chest as he lifts the glass to his plump lips, I can’t drag my gaze away from the bob of his throat or the sight of his eyes fluttering momentarily shut.
Silently, cursing myself, I force my eyes toward the ground, staring at a random spot on the wooden floor. I haven’t known Nikolai for long but I already despise him. The only thing that makes me hate him more is the fluttering sensation he evokes in the pit of my belly every time I look at him.
“A room has been prepared for you,” he tells me, leaning one shoulder against the wall. “I trust that you will find it to your liking.”
“Does it have bars on the windows?” I spit coldly, scowling at him.
With a laugh, he shakes his head and takes another sip of his drink. “What would be the point in this?” he questions, frowning. “You are not in possession of a parachute, are you?”
Remembering that we’re forty stories up, my face falls. “No,” I whisper mournfully, wishing that I was in possession of a gun rather than a parachute.
“You will enjoy the view, I’m sure. There is nothing like Vegas at night, when the city is alight, with its neon signs, full of entertainment,” he continues conversationally, as if we’re just two normal people chattering in a bar. “There’s a reason why they call it the entertainment capital of the world.”
“They also call it Sin City,” I point out. “I’m sure that fits you well.”
My words are meant to annoy him, but he chuckles again, raising my hackles. “It’s like you know me,” he drawls, draining the dregs of alcohol from his glass and slamming it down on the wooden counter of the bar. “I’m sure it won’t be too long until we get acquainted a lot better.”
His tone is lascivious, and it sends a chill through me. “I don’t want to know you. I just want to go home.”
Nikolai marches over to me and grins. “Anya,” he breathes. “You are home.”
Speechless, I clamp my lips shut, turning away from him as his sweet, earthy scent surrounds me. I crave solitude, wishing that I could find some time and space to process everything that’s going on. I guess none of it has really sunk in yet. Maybe I’m still in denial. I took some psychology classes in college and that’s always the first stage of trauma. Yet I feel like I’m going through every fucking stage at the same time. Denial, anger, and depression all boil simultaneously in my belly, but I don’t think I’ll ever reach acceptance.
Footsteps sound in the hallway, garnering my attention and I turn to see one of the men that I vaguely recognize from the club enter the room. He’s a tall, Slavic looking guy with spikey blond hair and an expressionless face. Speaking in Russian, he tells Nikolai that my room is ready.
Russian is one of the three languages that I speak, along with English and Arabic, and I realize this gives me an advantage. There is no way Nikolai could have anticipated I would understand his native language. Storing that tidbit away in the back of my mind, I wonder if I can capitalize on it later. Honestly, I need all the help that I can get.
Nikolai steps forward, grabbing me by my shoulders and tugging me to my feet. “Ivan will show you to your room,” he tells me, gesturing to the bulky blond male. “I’m sure you will like it. After all, you will be staying there for a long time.”
Stiffening at his words, I duck my head, refusing to focus on the self-satisfied grin that splits his face. “Maybe not as long as you think,” I tell him icily through gritted teeth.
“You can either spend your time in the room I have prepared for you, or in a dog cage at the foot of my bed. The choice is yours.” He shakes his head at me, chuckling, as if I”ve just said the most adorable thing in the world. I know he”s doing everything he can to intimidate me, but I”m not going to bite. I”m confident that the moment he notices a single flaw, he”ll exploit it and make me suffer.
I know he’s being perfectly serious too. I fake as much confidence as I can and try my best to ignore Nikolai’s laughter and trudge behind Ivan as he silently leads me to my new bedroom.
I’m not sure what I expected, but I can’t hold back the gasp when he throws open one of the many doors along the expansive hallway and ushers me inside.
The sprawling bedroom is as opulent as the rest of the apartment. A large four poster bed sits proudly in the center of the room, covered in white silk sheets. The canopy is a dark purple velvet with drapes that hang over the sides. As I sit down on the soft mattress, I don’t feel like a prisoner. But then, appearances are deceiving; Nikolai doesn’t look like a kidnapper.
Once again, the image of his handsome, sculpted face floats through my mind and I heave out a raspy breath at the thought of him. The man has stolen me away from my life and imprisoned me in this metaphorical ivory tower, so I shouldn’t feel anything for him except for contempt. Yet, in spite of my fury toward him, embers of desire burn in the depths of my belly.
“You stay here,” Ivan instructs me in broken English. “Shower is in bathroom. You may use when you need. Towels in closet.”
Nodding, I watch him retreat. Waiting until the door is firmly shut, I exhale a sigh that I feel like I’ve been holding in since I first woke up in this place. Sitting in this beautiful room, that feels like a hotel penthouse, I feel dirty. Reality is, I’m a captive and I have no real idea why. Nikolai’s mysterious references to my father make no sense to me. It’s not like I’m particularly close to my dad. We check in with each other around once a month, but he stood me up the last time we were supposed to meet for dinner, citing his business needs as paramount.
With a heavy heart, I rise from the bed and decide that I desperately need to take advantage of the shower that Ivan mentioned. Shedding my clothes, I discard them on the bed, grab a towel from the closet, and make my way into the white marble bathroom. It’s one of the largest bathrooms that I have ever seen, with sparkling gold faucets and a toilet that looks more like a throne.
I take a moment to stare at myself in the expansive mirror, my face weary and haggard under the bright bathroom lights. Never before have I looked so drawn but I guess this is what kidnap and worry does to a girl. Sighing, I heave the glass shower door open and step inside, shutting it behind me.
As I turn on the shower and feel the warm spray cascade over my skin, for the first time since I found myself here, I’m able to gain a momentary respite. The rushing of the water overpowers the tempest of thoughts in my brain and I allow it to hit me full in the face, mingling with the hot tears that finally spill down my cheeks.
Sobs wrack my body and I sink to the floor, curling up into a ball as the water pours down over me. It’s a strange sensation, to feel so lost when I’ve always had a steady head on my shoulders. I was born into a life of riches and privilege, but none of that matters when your existence is spinning out of control.
I don’t know how long I remain under the shower and lost in my musings. Finally, I realize that an hour or more might have passed. Perhaps Nikolai thinks I’ve drowned. I’m sure he would hate to lose his bargaining tool so tragically. From what I’ve seen so far, he’d probably just find another way to get to my father. I just wish I knew what their feud was about. Dad has never even mentioned the man before.
Groaning, I climb to my feet and shut off the water. When I step out into the bathroom, there’s a chill in the air and I shiver, noticing goosebumps on my arms. I reach for the towel, wrap it around myself, and pad into the bedroom intent on redressing.
However, as soon as I return to the bedroom, I realize that something is very wrong. My gaze darts to the bedcovers where I left my clothes, but they’re not there. They’ve been moved.
In a frenzy, I scour the bedroom but I can’t find them. My panic heightens and I realize that they’ve been taken. My first instinct is to storm out into the living room and demand them back, but I pause with my fingers poised over the doorknob. Clad in nothing but a towel, I know that I cannot march out there like this and allow Nikolai to see me in this state of undress.
Sighing with resignation, I plunk myself onto the bed and drop my head into my hands. Why is this happening to me? I have never hurt anybody in my life, and I’m sure I don’t deserve such a punishment.
My heart aches as I think about my family and friends, wondering how worried they will be when they discover that I’m missing. Of course, they’ll search for me but Nikolai seems like the kind of man to cover his tracks.
I don’t know what to do now. I’m naked and exposed, more vulnerable than I’ve ever been, and I swiftly become aware that’s Nikolai’s intention. He wants me to feel this way. It’s how he gains power over me.
My nostrils flare in fury. That bastard thinks he can win by weakening me, but I refuse to let him. I could sit here and wallow, but I won’t. If he’s intent on a battle, then I’ll fight fire with fire.
I march over to the closet, recalling that I saw some clothes in there when I grabbed the towel before my shower. Just as I thought, there is a long row of clothes, neatly displayed. But as I rifle through them, my relief transforms into horror. Desperately flicking through the skirts, dresses, shorts, and nightgowns, I cannot believe what I’m seeing.
This cannot be real.
Every item on the rail would be more at home in the closet of an exotic dancer or a hooker. The backless dresses, Daisy Duke shorts, and strapless tops are the exact opposite of any style I would ever choose. To a man, they might be sexy but to me they’re trashy. I would never be caught dead in any of these things.
In spite of my reluctance to slip into any of these items, I’m not foolish or stubborn enough to fail to know that it’s better to be wearing something rather than parade around in a towel, or worse, naked. Hesitantly, I pluck the best of the worst from the rail, choosing a crimson backless nightgown that barely covers my butt.
“Fucking asshole!” I mutter under my breath as I pull it on, imagining how Nikolai would look with a bloody nose and a black eye. I’ve never been one for violence but he deserves a lot worse than anything I could think up. Who the hell does he think he is?
Shaking my head, I amble over to the full-length mirror that fills half a wall and stare at my appearance. The silky material clings to my petite curves, showing off my slender thighs. Unfortunately, underwear was glaringly missing from the closet and I’m acutely aware that bending over would expose me entirely. I look like a whore. If he thinks that I’m going to venture out of this room, he must be out of his tiny mind.
Resolutely, I fold my arms and throw myself onto the bed, rolling onto my side. I’m going to stay in this bedroom until he lets me leave this apartment. I don’t give a damn if I starve in here. As painful as all of this is, I need to at least try and take back some control.
With that thought in mind, I kick the covers down with my heels until I can wriggle underneath it obstinately. I will just stay in this bed forever then. It will be infinitely more difficult to yank me out of here with a blanket barrier between me and this nightmare of a situation.
One thought dominates my mind as I lie idly on the pillows.
This luxurious room is my prison cell.