Chapter 5 Duties
Chapter five
Duties
Kira unwrapped a piece of candy and stuffed it in her mouth before she opened the doors to her room.
She had changed, as requested, but now wore a black, heavy funeral dress with long sleeves, a long skirt, and laced fabric that went up to her neck.
It used to be her favorite dress during her ‘ emo’ era, and one her father abhorred.
It was a little bulky considering the weight she lost for the wedding, but what did that matter?
She followed her husband’s directive like a good girl.
Kira was bitter because for most of her life, she had witnessed Rurik and Luerna’s marriage, and she promised herself she would never be in that position.
She would never allow a man to dictate who she spoke to, to lock her in the house, or to keep her from freedom.
Kira thought she had chosen better than that.
And now here she was, slowly walking in the footsteps of every sister before her.
No.
Kira promptly turned around and rushed back into her room to put on her dress.
She didn’t care if he thought it was ‘hideous.’ She loved that dress.
It was the only one so far she felt remotely comfortable in.
She didn’t have much self-confidence, and maybe it wasn’t the best color on her, but she wasn’t quite sure what color was.
She hated how she looked in everything, but this dress, she hated it a little less, and that mattered.
Kira looked at herself in the mirror. She swayed, smiling, feeling like a fairy in the chiffon fabric, and her fingers glided along the purple embroidered flowers.
Her small breasts sat comfortably in the halter, making them appear larger than they were.
It was perhaps too much cleavage, but what did it matter? He was clearly not attracted to her.
Kira wanted to smother his anger with kindness. She thought all she did for the house would show him how much she was invested in their future. She wanted to be a good wife. So why did he continue to be cruel?
Kira snatched another piece of chocolate and popped it into her mouth before any tears could escape. She was not going to cry. She was stronger than he knew, and she was going to show him. Even though she felt fragile, more delicate than the fabric she wore.
Kira went downstairs and, with some direction from the servants, she traveled through the hallway and out into the large carport next door.
She hadn’t been in this area yet. She had busied herself with the downstairs to surprise him when he got home.
She hadn’t even thought it possible for him not to like it.
What was there not to like? It was beautiful now. Who cares who bought it?
“Hello.”
She spun around. Coming out of the bathroom with a paper towel in his hands, the stranger smiled at her. Kira darted her eyes down. Attractive men were a part of her everyday life, but she never knew how to speak with them without stuttering. Her stupid red cheeks gave her away in a heartbeat.
“I don’t think we’ve met yet. I’m Lazar.” He held out his hand.
Kira cleared her throat and shook his hand, quickly yanking it back so he wouldn’t notice the dirt encased in her fingertips. “Kira.”
“You’re–” He cut himself off. “I guess the picture I saw was a little dated.” He chuckled and tossed the towel in the trash.
She dared to look at him. He had light brown eyes, which were quite different from Maxim’s. He kept his jaw shaved, and his hair was thick, slightly curled, but well-maintained. Was he even taller than Maxim?
Lazar gestured down the hall. “After you.”
Kira felt his eyes on her as she moved down the hall and wondered if this was why Maxim told her to change. She hadn’t given much thought to his brother, and suddenly she felt under dressed.
Kira stepped into the carport, where Maxim was working under the hood of an old Mustang. He had taken off his jacket and rolled up the sleeves of his white shirt, exposing a tattoo on the inside of his arm. The image of him threw her off her guard. He looked erotic here, and her stomach clenched.
Maxim glanced at her, quickly back to work, only to stop and stand up. His dark eyes narrowed. “I told you to change.”
Those words set a fire under her. “I’m sorry, sir. I’m not very good with orders.”
“Maxim!” Lazar laughed behind him. “I didn’t know what a beauty you had on your hands.
” Lazar came around and slapped his brother on the back.
“Do you still feel punished?” he whispered, only to cackle when Maxim elbowed him.
Lazar leaned against the workbench and stared at her with an unsettling smirk.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to your wedding. I did send a gift, I think.”
If there were gifts, they were already put away by the staff. Kira only had to write her name at the bottom of thank-you cards, which had already been sent out.
“Thank you,” she said. “It was a wonderful event.” Kira ignored the condescending chuckle from Maxim.
“Did you want something?” It sounded way ruder than she intended, but in all honesty, she didn’t have much patience anymore.
She had put so much work into this house for him to completely blow it off because of his ego: he couldn’t handle a woman having more money than him.
“Yes. We want sandwiches.”
Kira scoffed. “You could have told Lydia.”
“No. I want my wife to make me a sandwich.”
Kira met his daring gaze. “How misogynistic of you.”
Lazar cackled. “Oh, I like her.”
“I apparently need to keep you busy. Otherwise, you’ll destroy the rest of my house.”
“I didn’t graduate in the top three percent of my class to make sandwiches.”
“Oh? Are you busy? Let’s hear it then.” Maxim grabbed a wrench and buried himself in the engine.
Kira stuttered. She actually didn’t have any plans for today because she was hoping that the newly decorated house would be an olive branch into their new relationship and somehow carve a way for them to become friends. It was naive she now realized.
She had spent the last few weeks focused solely on trying to win his affection. But if this was what he wanted, a wife who was more of a robot that followed commands, then he was going to be sorely disappointed.
And if that was the case, if it was impossible, then she was gonna stay true to herself.
“Actually, I have two books to read. One about the rise and fall of Genghis Khan, and the other, The Art of War. I have recently learned to play Beethoven’s “Hammerklavier Sonata” and would love to practice, but sadly, there is no piano in this entire estate.
As for languages, I already know English, Spanish, French, and Italian, and I have started learning Mandarin Chinese.
Sadly, not a single person on your staff speaks it.
You should diversify your company better.
I find that there is such a massive world out there; limiting yourself to only Russian personnel weakens you.
So you see, my time is pretty well divided, so I just couldn’t take a moment to make you a sandwich without sacrificing brain cells. ”
Kira stood still, her body shaking. She was angry, but she was also afraid.
She knew men like him: men like Rurik, who used rage to make their point.
Or would he be more like her father? Yakov never hit her, never raised a hand, or raised his voice.
But he twisted her in other ways, and Kira didn’t know which was worse.
Lazar found it hilarious, but wisely stayed out of it.
Maxim placed the wrench down on the car and approached, slowly, like a predator, and Kira swallowed harshly, gripping her dress to keep her feet still.
She was not going to be intimidated. She was not going to let him win.
Even when he stepped into her personal space, and the scent of his cologne overpowered the smell of oil and grease.
“You are well read, Morozov. I already knew this. There is no piano, and there will not be one because music is considered a distraction. You have the time to read and learn languages, and all this is possible because you have done nothing but live off your father’s money.
But you will not feed off of me. You will work for your allowance.
Either in the kitchen or in the bedroom. You decide which.”
“I am not your whore.”
“No. But you are my wife. And your duties aren’t limited. You will make us sandwiches, or I will find another way for you to earn your keep.”
Kira grit her teeth. The threat was too real. She knew he could take from her at any moment, and maybe he would in the future, but right now, she wanted to postpone the inevitable. Because she still had hope that one day, they’d be at least friends.
Satisfied that she was not talking back, Maxim stepped back. “My brother doesn’t like onions.”
Kira spun on her foot and darted out the door, but the moment she got into the hallway, the tears came hard.