Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
Ava
I t’s seven in the morning, and I’m awake. It’s too early to be awake when I have nowhere to be. There is no use in arguing with Viktor when I’m bound to lose. I don’t know if this is worth a hundred thousand dollars. Would he really hurt my father or me if we didn’t pay his money? There are moments I think this isn’t about money. Clearly, he has more money than one person could need. After an hour of uselessly staring at the ceiling, I get up and start my morning.
I dress comfortably. The house is quiet, and I’m hoping he has gone to work, wherever that is. In the kitchen, I find Mary preparing breakfast. She tells me Viktor left early and won’t be home for dinner. Like I care. This is the perfect opportunity to see how far I can push the boundaries he has set for me. After last night I’m beginning to see that Viktor enjoys controlling me a little too much.
Upstairs with my cell, laptop, and purse, I organize myself to go to the nearest library. At least I should take him up on the offer to take a course or two since he’s offered to pay for them. Maybe I can get a trade certificate I can use when I go back to my regular life. I can probably research here, but I don’t want to be in this house. I feel like the walls are closing in, and I need to see people.
The nearest library is about a thirty-minute walk. It’s a beautiful day to walk and I need fresh air. It’s quiet downstairs and I’m almost at the door when a man who looks like a football player appears out of nowhere.
“Good morning Ms. O’Brien. My name is Marco. Do you want to go out?”
“Yes,” I start walking to the door.
“Where can I take you?”
“Nowhere. I’m taking myself.” I keep walking, but he blocks the door. “Can you please step aside and let me out?”
“I’m afraid I can’t. I have strict orders.” What is it with Viktor and his employees? It’s like they have a script.
“Good for you. But that has nothing to do with me.” I take another step, but he doesn’t flinch.
“I’m here to drive you.”
“Fine. I’m going to the library.”
“There isn’t a library on the approved list.”
What the fuck? It was wishful thinking on my part that Viktor was lying about the list. “I can go wherever I want.”
“That might be the case. But Mr. Manarch gave me a list. He’s the only person who can authorize a place that isn’t on the list.” I have two choices, surrender, or call him. I’ll be damned if I surrender to Viktor.
“I’ll call him,” I say, more to myself. I step away and take a deep breath. I’m not exactly sure what his mood is. It’s five rings before he answers.
“Good morning, Ava.”
I could be aggressive and demanding with him, but I doubt it will get me anywhere, so I don’t bother.
“Good morning, Viktor. Do you have a minute?” I ask in my most obedient voice.
“How can I help you?” His voice is very businesslike.
“I understand there’s a list of approved places I can go. First, I would appreciate it if you would share the list. Second, I’d like to go to the library. It’s not far from your house.”
“I can text you the list. Why do you want to go to the library?” He’s annoying. Why does he want to know everything?
“I’m thinking of taking up your offer about taking a course. I want to go to the library to do research.”
“You can use my office. You have a brand-new laptop. I’m not sure what you’ll find there that you can’t find at home.”
“I want to go outside. I don’t want to be here.”
He’s quiet. Probably thinking of an excuse to say no. “I’m not comfortable with the library. There are too many variables.” I’m not sure what he means. “But I have an alternative. A happy medium, if you will.”
“What can that possibly be?” My voice is full of sarcasm.
“I own an office building downtown. You’re welcome to come here.”
“How is that any different than your house? You can’t expect me to agree to that.”
“It’s your house, too. You choose—the house or the office.”
“Doesn’t sound like much of a choice,” I mumble. He’s moving me from one prison to another.
“I’m busy. I need to get back to work. You might not like your choices, but you have them. Text me what you decide. I’ll let Marco know about my offer.” He ends the call before I can respond. Not even a goodbye. He’s infuriating.
After a few minutes of internal debate, I decide to go to the office. Maybe it will be easier to get away from there. Viktor is all about living a flashy lifestyle. If the office building is anything like this house, it’s bound to be big. Maybe he has a lot of people working there. I turn to Marco as he’s ending a call.
“Marco, I’d like to go to the office.”
“Of course, Ms. O’Brien.”
“Call me Ava.”
“I’m afraid I can’t.”
I shake my head in disbelief as I follow him to the car.
In the SUV, I think about the reality of being Viktor’s fake fiancée. I knew some things wouldn’t be easy, but still, he needs boundaries and fast. If I don’t set them now, I’m not sure I’ll be able to later. I understand I’m paying off a debt, and it’s his rules, but I’m not a prisoner and won’t be treated like one.
It doesn’t take long for us to arrive at the office. In a million years, I’d never have imagined him in one of these buildings. I pictured an old building with thugs outside, but it looks corporate and has a large sign that reads Manarch Industries. It’s not what I was expecting from someone like him.
“We’ll park and then go upstairs. There’s an office available for you,” Marco says.
I don’t say anything but nod in acknowledgment. It’s not his fault Viktor is a controlling asshole.
“Your office is on the tenth floor,” he adds.
“Thanks,” I intone automatically.
After we park, I walk to the building with Marco beside me the whole time. It’s kind of weird, but this whole thing is weird. The office building is beautiful. The lobby screams money, but I don’t want to distract myself with shiny things. This is not my life. I can’t get comfortable or forget for a second why I’m here and who Viktor is.
The doors to the elevator open, and we ride in silence. On the tenth floor, the door opens, and Marco walks out first.
“Ms. O’Brien, so glad to have you here.” A woman by the front desk greets us.
“Hi.” I clutch my things to my chest.
“I’m Becky. I’ll be helping you with anything you need. Mr. Manarch is currently in a meeting. He asked me to escort you to your office.” As I follow her she adds, “I’m sorry it isn’t ready. We didn’t know you were coming today.” She stops in front of a beautiful office. “This is your office. We don’t have an assistant for you that we can assign now, but I’ll make a call,” she advises.
I’m perplexed. “I’m sorry, I think you might be mistaken. I don’t need an assistant or my own office. I just needed somewhere to do some research today.”
“Thank you, Becky. I’ll take it from here.” Viktor’s voice makes me quiver, and I turn to see him in his full glory. He looks gorgeous like he belongs here, in his tailored suit and sporting a five o’clock shadow that makes my temperature rise.
“Yes, sir.” Becky leaves and Marco follows. Honestly, I forgot he was even there. It’s spooky how quiet he is.
“After you,” Viktor says without an apparent care in the world as he motions toward the office. I roll my eyes but enter the office, which is bright and beautiful. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here to greet you. Last-minute meeting. I couldn’t get away from it.”
“I don’t need an explanation, and you certainly didn’t need to trouble yourself.” I set my things on a glass desk.
“I need to greet my future wife, or did you forget your role?” I shake my head. Somehow, he’s mocking me.
“I didn’t. You remind me every chance you get,” I quip sarcastically. He closes the door and locks it. “What are you doing?” I squeak.
“We need to talk.”
“And that requires a locked door?”
“Are you nervous, baby girl?” There’s mischief in his tone.
“I told you to stop calling me that,” I splutter. He’s standing in front of me with only a glass desk between us.
“And I told you I do as I please. Sit.” My body obeys him, which makes me angry. “Good girl.” He smiles and sits too. “You’re welcome to use this office as often as you like. It’s been assigned to you.” He tells me like this is normal.
“You realize this isn’t normal, right? You can’t forbid me from going places. You don’t own me.”
“I never said this was normal, and you’re my employee. As such, you will do as I say. The quicker you adapt, the easier this will be.”
“You can’t expect me to jump every time you say jump. I’m my own person. When this is over, I need a life to return to.” He walks around the desk. I try to move before he reaches me, but to no avail. He’s quicker than me.
“As long as you wear my ring…” he stops mid-sentence and looks at my hand. I look at him. “Why aren’t you wearing your engagement ring?” he demands.
Shit. “I forgot,” I say honestly.
“First and last time.” He takes out his cell. “Where are you? Go to the house. Ava left her ring. I don’t care. Now, Oliver.” He ends the call.
“You’re so rude. Walking around without a ring doesn’t make me any less engaged to you.”
“I bought the ring for you to wear. I expect it on you at all times.”
“Viktor, it’s just a ring,” I protest. He closes the distance between us.
“You represent me, Ava. The world needs to always know you’re mine. There should be no doubt.” His voice deepens, making my knees buckle.
“I’m not yours.” I move to turn away, but he grabs my face.
“You are mine . Don’t forget it.”
“I’m your employee. We aren’t a couple.”
I don’t get the chance to say more. He takes my face between his hands and kisses me demandingly. He picks me up, and I wrap my legs around his waist. What the hell? Why can’t I resist him? He presses me against the glass window. The heat of the sun is on my back. My fingers dig into his hair.
“Viktor,” I moan.
“You are mine. Say it.”
He softly bites my lower lip. I swear I taste blood. I want more. I need more. But we’re interrupted by his ringing cell phone.
“What? I’ll be there in a minute.” He ends the call and sets me down. “I must go. I’ll come back in a few hours for lunch. If you need anything, let Becky know.”
He leaves me hot and bothered, needing release. His constant torture is driving me insane.