Chapter 9 Intimidate
Chapter nine
Intimidate
“Thank you.” Kira hung up the phone and stared out her bedroom window.
She had just gotten done trying to undo the damage Maxim caused to the dancer, but she doubted paying for all his medical costs would do anything for broken legs.
It certainly didn’t make the guilt any less.
She had to use her inheritance so Maxim wouldn’t find out.
It felt like everything she touched was poisoned. Every good intention was smeared with selfishness, and every act of goodwill was twisted into manipulation.
It’s one of the reasons she hated herself.
The other was more physical.
Kira removed her pajamas and stared at her body in the mirror.
All her life, she fought with being overweight.
She was the chunky kid that other parents would worry about for future diabetes.
She was put on a diet at eight years old.
But her parents didn’t pay much attention, and the servants weren’t allowed to chastise her.
Luerna was the one to notice and didn’t believe that children could be overweight.
“You’ll grow out of it when you hit puberty,” she would assure.
But puberty came, and the weight didn’t go away.
That’s what caused the year of throwing up after eating, in the hope of keeping her size down.
She got skinny for a while, but after passing out in the bathroom, she opted instead not to eat.
But that didn’t last long either. She missed food so much that she’d dream about it.
Kira touched the spot on her arm where Maxim grabbed her. His handprint was fading after nearly a week. She had worn long sleeves and dresses. Thankfully, it was spring in Russia, so her outfits didn’t bring any attention. Not that Maxim would notice anyway.
A knock on her door spooked her, and she braced a hand against the wall as a wave of dizziness came over her. She was getting annoyed with these bouts. It wasn’t like she was starving herself completely. Her body just needed to get over it and move on.
Lydia came in. “Mr. Morozov would like to invite you to breakfast.”
“Oh? He’s home today?”
“Sundays are typically his only day off, so he can worship the Lord.”
Kira stifled a laugh. A man who tortured people worshiped the Lord.
How perfectly hypocritical. And just like Papa.
Glancing at herself in the mirror, she looked exhausted, and thought about trying to fix it. Maybe add some makeup around the eyes, and some hairspray to give her dull tresses some shine, but then she thought better of it. What was the point? He didn’t want her.
Kira found him outside on the patio, staring at the bird feeder in the corner.
Chaffinches bounced around from the bannister to the feeder, tweeting.
It was one of five she added to the property, and she intended to add more once the backyard garden was complete.
But since she didn’t have access to her family’s funds, she had to wait for Maxim to generously donate, or at least increase her allowance.
He glanced at her, his brows knitting, before a scowl overtook his features, and he returned his attention to the birds.
Great greeting, she scoffed. “Good Morning.” She forced out and sat down.
The servants went about putting a bunch of food on the table so she could pick from it like a small buffet.
She was surprised. Maxim wasn’t typically so giving with meals.
Kira simply reached for one boiled egg, if only to spite him.
“I’m leaving again.”
Kira snapped her head up. “What, to where?”
“It doesn’t matter. Should take me a month or so.”
“A month?” She stuttered, sitting back, barely comprehending.
“Morozov,” Maxim sighed. “Stop acting like you’re disappointed. Be real with me. Please.”
Kira let all her emotions dissipate. She was numb before him. She was tired of trying to prove herself. “Have a good trip.” She tapped her spoon against the egg, breaking the shell, then simply stared at it. It’s everything she was, sitting on a lonely plate.
He cackled. “How many acting classes did you take in this school of yours?”
She picked at the shell, peeling it open. “Twelve,” she lied. It was her first real lie, and it felt freeing. How many things could she make up? “I also swam with the mermaids and fed the sharks.”
Maxim shifted toward her in amusement. Now, this attitude he could appreciate. “Any of them bite you?”
“I lost three fingers, but my father was able to sew them back on.” She wiggled her fingers to show them off.
“What happened to the shark?”
“He’s hanging up in my father’s office.”
Kira sat back, daring to meet his gaze, surprised to find them lit with humor.
In this moment, she felt they were on equal ground, and perhaps foolishly believing there was something just starting to brew between them.
She had witnessed his sense of humor once before and longed to see it again. “I wish you wouldn’t leave.”
His stare broke, and he took a sip of his coffee.
Kira noticed the tension sprang right back up, and she didn’t understand it.
Why couldn’t they be cordial? Disappointment was a common factor these days.
“You always think I’m lying. But what if I’m telling the truth? Didn’t I tell you about the Italians?”
“You knew I would be able to double-check.”
“Did I? Why would you invite me if you were just going to record it?” The question lingered for only a second.
“It was a test.” She scoffed. “Not to see if I understood Italian, but to see if I would lie.” Kira grit her teeth.
How did she get through to this stubborn man?
What the hell did she have to do? “Do you know out of the two of us, you are the biggest liar?”
Maxim sat back and took a sip of coffee, staring at her with interest.
“Your first lie, you told me how pretty I was. But all you do is look at me with disgust or as if I’m some form of entertainment.
The second lie was how excited you were to meet me.
All the wonderful things you heard about me.
I knew it was a lie because no one ever speaks well of me.
Not even my so-called friends. But I gave you the benefit of the doubt, because that’s what I do.
I let people walk all over me because I am constantly hoping they’ll like me.
But all they do is pretend. Because they are scared of my father, and you are no different. I am a fool.”
“You have pretty speeches, Morozov. I expect nothing else with how well read you are.”
Kira stared at him as a thought pierced her, and at first, she didn’t think it was true, but as his words bounced around in her head and more examples came with them, she found she couldn’t fight it.
“You are intimidated by me.” She watched the amusement flee from his gaze and knew it to be true.
She hadn’t believed it, that a man as decorated as he could feel inferior to her.
But now it all made sense. “I’m glad I know now.
That is a flaw within you. I won’t dumb down for you.
I won’t be penniless for you. I won’t weaken myself for you.
I am shamelessly myself.” Kira stood, but dizziness met her, and she slapped a hand on the table.
Not wanting to appear weak just after her triumphant speech, she added, “Thought I married a real man.” She spun around, going for the door, ignoring how his chair scraped against the ground, and she could hear his footsteps chasing after her.
Kira reached for the doorway, but her knees trembled and a panic took hold as all strength left her limbs and consciousness fled.