Chapter 2
Chapter two
Act
The door slammed, and Kira’s head popped up.
She had fallen asleep on the way home. All the days leading up to this event had exhausted her, but to fall asleep in the car must have been a great insult.
She spun her head around, searching for Maxim, but he was stomping into the house.
She grabbed at the handle, but the door wouldn’t open until a servant pulled it open for her.
Taking their hand, Kira stepped out, fixing the wrinkles in her dress. She wanted to run after him, terrified she had been rude, but a woman stood in her way. “Mrs. Morozov, welcome to the Ostrovsky estate.” She stopped and stuttered. “Forgive me. I guess it is now called the Morozov Estate.”
Kira sighed and gave the maid her attention. “It’s okay. Thank you.”
She stood in front of the estate and smiled.
It was all hers. Though dull and unkempt, ideas sprang and excitement bubbled.
The estate was twenty acres with its own fishing pond, and though only half the size of her family home, it already meant the world to her.
The servant, Lydia, filled her in on the details as she brought Kira into the house.
It was a ten-bedroom, fifteen-thousand-square-foot home with ten servants to do her bidding.
They lined up to greet her, and she smiled at each one, eager to hear their stories in the coming days.
Kira wanted to be the kind of boss who cared for her workers, hoping that in a way, they would become family.
Kira took off her coat, taking in a deep breath. This was the start of a new life. It was a place her father couldn’t reach her, a place where her sister’s depression couldn’t touch her, and a place where she could be herself and not be judged.
Lydia brought her upstairs and opened a door. The room was plain, like every other, with a large bed and an ornate tapestry. She flicked the lights on to find all her luggage had already been brought up, but the confusion set in.
“I’m sorry. Why aren’t I in the room with Maxim?”
“Yes, ma’am, he said you would be more comfortable here.”
She giggled. Kira adored it. He was giving her space, knowing how nervous she would be on her wedding night, but she knew her place, she knew what she had to do, and she had accepted it a long time ago.
“Where is his room?”
Lydia gestured, and together they traveled the hall. It was odd to her that they didn’t have connecting rooms. She understood ‘his and hers,’ but being so far from each other didn’t make sense. How was he supposed to come into her room at night?
As they headed up another set of stairs, Kira’s confusion became more pronounced.
It doesn’t matter. I’ll fix it tomorrow.
On the top floor, he had the entire wing to himself, with large wooden double doors leading to his quarters. The servant knocked only once and led her in. Kira grabbed the woman’s hand. “Will you grab my green bag? It is the only one I need for the moment.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The door closed, and Kira was alone in his room.
She hoped it would bring more answers about who her husband was, but instead, it was just as plain, like an image from a home magazine had popped into place.
There were zero personal artifacts. She would have even been happy to see clothes on the floor if only to get a glimpse of who he was. No one was this OCD.
The living area had a small bar, and an empty glass sat on the counter. She went to it, sniffed it, and smiled. Whiskey. Just like her father.
Through another set of doors was the bedroom. Black silk sheets stretched on the king-sized bed. Regular paintings decorated the walls, typically found in hotels. It was a cold, uninviting room with no personality. She was going to love decorating this place. Every area could become a part of her.
The shower was running, and her heart kick-started in her chest. Lydia came darting back in and handed her bag. “Could you unzip me?” With quick hands, she did as instructed and then ran out.
Kira took a deep breath and let the wedding dress fall to her feet.
She wore a white lace bra and white thong, and kept her heels on, just the way her sisters told her.
But she didn’t know what to do from there.
She sat stiffly on the bed and then abruptly stood.
She thought of crawling on it and posing, but that made her cringe.
When the shower stopped, Kira darted to her bag and sprayed herself with perfume, squirted a little extra in the nether regions, and popped a mint that she chewed with rapid speed before swallowing.
And when the door opened, she twirled around and stood straight with her hands down at her sides in an effort to not expose how incredibly nervous she was.
Maxim stood in the doorway with a towel wrapped around his massive hips.
Her breath escaped her. She had never seen a more beautiful man.
He had chiseled abs and well-rounded pectorals.
And aside from a few scars, his skin was flawless.
It was intimidating how perfect he was. Surely she was nothing in comparison.
He must have been with dozens of beautiful women, none of whom were struggling with their weight or were unattractive.
Her confidence nosedived, but she kept her head high, refusing to let it show.
She was a Morozov, and there was nothing she couldn’t do.
Maxim scoffed. “You’re really willing to go through with it, huh?
” He walked toward her, and Kira held her breath.
She didn’t understand what he meant, but it didn’t matter.
He was coming. Would he be kind to her? Or terrible?
She hoped for the first but prepared for the latter.
She knew how to close her eyes and bury herself in her head.
Maxim cackled. “I almost believe you. I can see the ridiculous panic in your eyes. You’re a very good actress.” He leaned around her and took his sweats out of his drawer, slamming it shut before going back into the bathroom.
Kira flipped her eyes about as her mind traveled over every word. Seconds passed, and the oddity of it began to sink in. She kneeled down, taking up her dress and pressing it against her chest. Something was terribly wrong.
Maxim reappeared dressed in sweats and a white tank. “No one is watching us here, Morozov. You can leave.”
She brushed her hair out of her face as she stood and cleared her throat. “I don’t–I don’t understand.”
He cackled, taking up his phone and lying on the bed. “Sure you don’t.”
Kira remained standing as he ignored her. Her brows deepened, her thoughts diving into insanity the more time passed. She thought of going, but this was her wedding night. She had one job to do, and she was failing it. “Am I missing something?”
Maxim tossed the phone on the bed and eyed her. “I’m losing my patience. Get out.”
How was she to get pregnant if she left? “No.”
He stood up. “You really think I’m gonna fuck you? Huh? You can’t be this fucking clueless. None of you Morozovs have a shred of decency. You are soulless bastards.”
Kira stood frozen. The tone of hate was more understood than his words. It brought back too many memories, full of people despising her for her family. “Why did you marry me?”
“Because I was made too.”
Tears burned her eyes, and disappointment smacked into her harder than she was prepared for. But it only made Maxim laugh. “Look at you!” He clapped mockingly. “What skill to cry on cue.”
Kira turned around, and a hand pressed to her mouth. This can’t be happening. No, she was the sister who was supposed to be happy. She was the sister who was going to fall in love. Kira faced him. “I don’t know what you think of me, but I’m not part of any of my father’s plans.”
“So you didn’t marry me because you had to?”
Her gaze drifted. That was an inescapable truth, but that didn’t mean she didn’t have any feelings for Maxim. She chose him out of every other suitor for a reason.
“Listen, Morozov, cut the shit. This pity-me pretense isn’t a good look for you.”
“You said you couldn’t wait to marry me. You wanted a quick wedding–”
“I needed a quick wedding so my family members would be saved from your fucking father.”
Kira stuttered. Her memory skimmed over the night, trying to find any moments that would have led her to a different conclusion. But all she saw was his smile. He was laughing and enjoying himself. “The kiss–”
A nasty snicker vibrated his throat. “What about it?”
She stumbled on her words. It was too great a vulnerability to express what she wanted. She couldn’t give him ammunition.
“Whores get the same treatment.”
Her brows knit as her lips twisted in disgust. Maxim treated her no differently than the women he’s paid.
What kind of man brags about such a thing?
But she didn’t know Maxim, did she. Kira knew nothing about him, and this was where that became a problem.
She was naive to think it would all be a fairytale.
The film that she pulled over her eyes was ripped away, and now the world looked darker than it’s ever been.
Maxim fastened upon her, and Kira backed up to the wall, clenching her dress to her body as she met his gaze.
There was a craziness to them that Kira hadn’t seen before, but who’s to say it hadn’t been there all along?
He placed his hands on each side of her, leaning in.
“All you Morozovs are the same. You all lie and cheat to get what you want. You all manipulate and act. You don’t know what’s true.
Every word out of your mouth is your father.
You’re so far in it, I bet you really think you’re innocent, don’t you?
You play the good daughter, the dutiful wife, the sweet mother, the perfect friend.
But it’s all about who you can use.” He looked down at her chest and yanked the dress off.
The flinch said it all. He cackled low. “You want me to fuck you? Huh?” His fingertips graced her arm, and she shivered in fear.
She squeezed her lips tight as a tear fell down her cheek.
Maxim grabbed her jaw, forcing her gaze on him.
“You want to have my child? Or does Yakov want to solidify the contract?” He sneered.
“Get out.” He pushed away, and Kira ran.