Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Viktor
S he has no idea what she’s signing up for. I probably should have given her time to think about my proposal because I’m not the easiest man to get along with. But I want her. Last night sealed the deal for me. Her inexperience intoxicates me and fires my inner desires. I could have claimed her and marked her as mine, but I want to take my time with her. She isn’t ready for me, but she will be. I see it in her eyes. She was born to be mine.
“We need to get going. Is your father home?”
She checks the time on her cell. “Probably. I can call and check.”
“Do it.”
She looks between the cell and me. Finally, she dials.
“Hi, Dad. Yes, sorry forgot to call. Are you home? Okay. Do you have to work today? I need to speak with you. I should be there…” When she looks at me, I mouth an hour , “… in an hour. It’s important. Please wait. Okay, Dad. Love you too.”
“Are you done with breakfast?” I ask.
“Yes.”
“You barely touched your food. You’ll have to change that. I need you healthy.” She doesn’t say anything. “Baby girl, I’m talking to you.”
“Stop calling me that. I told you already. I’m twenty-three years old. I don’t appreciate it.”
I smile inwardly. Breaking her is going to be such fun. “Next to me, you’re a baby girl.” I can’t help but chuckle. I am being an asshole.
“Can we go? My dad can sometimes space out, he might leave.” She stands. I lead the way to the waiting SUV. I take my cell and text Oliver.
Viktor: Have Tina get a full wardrobe delivered to Ava’s bedroom. She’s small in tops, twenty-seven in jeans, size four in dresses, medium bottoms, thirty-six C
Oliver: Anything else?
Viktor: I’ll be back in a few hours. I expect everything done
Oliver: OK.
Forty minutes later, we enter the projects. We were quiet for the entire drive. She kept looking out the window, lost in thought.
“My apartment is in the fifth building on the left.” As I drive, I notice the place is rundown and spot at least two drug dealers. “You can park up front.”
Pointless for her to say as it’s the only option, but I notice a slight quiver in her voice. It is the first time she has sounded nervous. Something worth noting. It makes me wonder what sort of man her father is. I get out of the SUV and wait for her to lead the way. We walk into the building. The stench is unforgiving, and there’s trash all over the floor. We take the stairs and stop on the second floor. She’s about to open the door, but her father beats her to it. He looks afraid and worried. Perhaps he should be.
“Good morning, Mr. O’Brien. Let’s go inside,” I say before he has a chance to speak.
The inside of the apartment is even more rundown than the outside, but everything is clean and in order.
“What’s the meaning of this?” he questions as the door closes behind us.
“Ava, get what you want to bring. I’m going to talk to your father.” She doesn’t say anything and starts walking.
“My daughter isn’t going anywhere with you. We’ll pay your money.”
“Your daughter will be my wife. Your debt is cleared.”
“My daughter will not sell herself for me.”
“No one said she was. I’ll take care of her. Something you aren’t capable of. Going forward, she will no longer pay your debts.”
“You can’t take her from me. We take care of each other. She needs me.”
“You mean you need her. You’re a grown man who is capable of looking after yourself. She deserves a life free of you.”
“I won’t stand for this. Ava…” he calls, “… you aren’t going anywhere.” He walks to where I imagine her bedroom is. I follow him. “Stop packing.”
Looking at her bedroom, it’s worse than I could have imagined. She has a suitcase that is barely held together. Her closet is nearly empty, but her case isn’t even half-filled. She sleeps in a twin bed with a small fan in the window. Summer must be brutal for her. The curtains look like they were once bright yellow. There’s a small nightstand with a lamp whose shade is broken and a few books on the floor. I’m angry with what I’m seeing. She shouldn’t live like this. I walk into the bedroom and stand beside her.
“You don’t have to take anything you don’t want.”
She doesn’t speak but walks to the books on the floor and puts them in the case. There’s a sadness in her eyes I hadn’t seen before. I zip her suitcase shut and take it.
“Pumpkin, you don’t need to do this. I’ll figure something out.”
“Dad, I’ve been dating Viktor for some time. We just didn’t tell anyone. It’s why I was so angry when you told me you owed him money.” I am surprised by her convincing lie.
“I thought you were with that Nathan boy.”
She freezes.
“We weren’t exclusive until now,” I answer for her.
Ava and her father exchange looks. “I’m going to be fine, Dad. I love Viktor,” she finally says.
Her father still looks unsure. “Pumpkin?—”
“This is what I want. Be happy for me. Viktor makes me happy. You’re acting as if you’ll never see me again. I’m just going to live somewhere else.”
I lead us out.
“Mr. O’Brien, I’ll take care of her. We must go, Ava.”
“Dad, I love you. Call me if you need anything.” She walks over and hugs him and says something I can’t hear, but I sense it’s not about the arrangement. “See you later in the week.”
“You call if you want to come home, Pumpkin.” His voice cracks as he says her name.
She doesn’t answer or look back. Instead, she walks straight to the stairs in silence and doesn’t look around as she gets in the SUV.
I put her suitcase on the back seat. She’s quiet, and I notice a few tears escape her eyes. I’m not sure what they’re for. I think about saying something, but I don’t know what to say.
For a moment, I almost change my mind. I tease her by calling her baby girl, but in many ways, she still is. Yet, it doesn’t make a difference to me—not really. The decision has been made, and we’re moving forward. I gave Oliver a few hours to prepare the house, so I need things to keep Ava busy longer. I remember she desperately needs a new cell, and I didn’t see a computer or iPad in her suitcase, so I turn on the SUV and set our course.
Twenty minutes later, I’m pulling up to an Apple Store.
“Why are we here?” Ava looks between the store and me.
“You need a new cell,” I say nonchalantly as I park.
Inside we’re greeted by an overeager girl. I ask for the latest iPhone, iPad, and laptop.
“That’s too much, Viktor,” she whispers once the salesperson leaves.
“You won’t be working and will spend a lot of time at the house. You’ll need something to keep you busy. You’ll get a new number, so you won’t get any unapproved calls. Limit giving out your new number. No man other than your father, Oliver, and I should call you.”
“You really are controlling.” She exhales.
“I don’t like surprises,” I respond.
When she says nothing and looks away, I turn her toward me, forcing her eyes to meet mine. “You need to acknowledge that you understand.” My tone is firm.
“I’m not a child. I understand,” she mutters.
It is not how I expect to be spoken to, but I accept her answer.
An hour later, we leave the store with everything set up for her. Our next stop will be my mother’s. She can take Ava to a spa. She needs to be groomed to play the part. Mother will give her a taste of her new life. I take my cell and dial.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Hi, sweetheart. What a pleasant surprise.”
“Are you home or the restaurant?”
“About to leave for the restaurant. Why?” Curiosity is in her voice.
“I need to talk to you. Meet you there?”
“Sure. I should be there in thirty minutes.”
“Perfect.” I end the call and dial Oliver. “Are you still at the house?”
“Yes.”
“Call John and set the meeting for an hour. Meet me at the office. How’s everything at the house?” I don’t want Ava to know about her new wardrobe yet. I want to surprise her. I need to see her smile.
“Everything will be done by this afternoon,” Oliver assures me.
“See to it that she has everything she needs.”
“I will.”
I disconnect our call.
“Why do you want to see your mother? I’m not ready to formally meet the parents, especially dressed like this.” There’s shame in her voice.
“You already met my mother. She won’t care what you’re wearing.”
“But I do.”
I don’t answer, and she doesn’t press me.