Chapter 28 - Mira
Pregnancy cravings, Mira was quickly discovering, came when one least expected them and they were terribly inconvenient. She had been having a hankering for peppered meat with a chewy and smoky flavor all morning and the best thing she could think of that came even close to her craving were rib tips. She had never much cared for the smoky taste of rib tips which was why it was a surprise to her that she was having this almost uncontrollable craving for them now.
With a sigh, she headed towards the garage, intent on driving out to buy the meat. Sarah materialized beside her. “You’re not going out alone, are you? The boss said—”
“Oh, stuff it, Sarah. I just want to go for a little drive and buy some street food while I’m at it,” Mira said laughingly. “Pregnancy cravings, you know.”
When Sarah bit her lip with a look of uncertainty crossing her features, Mira rolled her eyes sensing already what the girl was thinking. “Fine. You can come along.”
The girl gave her a dazzling smile of thanks and Mira lost some of her slight irritation. No matter what else she thought about Sarah’s hero worship of Mikhail, Sarah genuinely liked her and cared about her. It was normal for people to be worried about that those they cared about so she was just going to have to suck it up and get used to people hovering over her.
Growing up with an aloof dad who never did more than bark orders at her and express his displeasure every chance he got, had forced her to become used to being her own person with no one hovering over her in concern. She carried a hand thoughtfully to her mid-riff. Now that she had a baby on the way, she would have to get used to someone being important to her. She would have to get used to someone relying on her for love and also giving her more of that love.
A small smile played around her lips as she thought that she couldn’t wait to meet her baby. She hoped it would be a little boy who looked just like Mikhail. The man was so devastatingly handsome that it wasn’t even fair at all.
As they drove out of the gates, Mira spied a small white saloon car parked a little down the street. She wouldn’t have paid much attention to it except for the fact that as soon as she drove out of the gates, the vehicle pulled into traffic behind her.
Mira threw a quick glance in the rearview mirror, noting immediately that the car’s glasses were so tinted that she could barely make out the driver.
As she drove, she kept stealing worried glances at her rearview mirror.. When she couldn’t take the suspense anymore, Mira parked abruptly on the shoulder of the road and stepped out of her car, taking the driver of the white car by surprise. She saw the person hesitate and knew whoever was behind the wheels was thinking of stepping on the gas. She crossed her arms over her chest and waited even as Sarah also exited their car and ran up to her worriedly. “What’s going on, Mira? Who’s that?”
Mira shrugged, “We’re about to find out.”
The white car eased onto the shoulder and parked too. Then the door of the white car opened and Alena stepped out to lean against the hood.
“Alena,” Mira said feeling anger course through her at seeing the other woman.
Alena grinned, “You say my name like I’m one of the Seven Wonders. But in truth Mira, that’s you. I mean, the great Oleg Dostoevsky’s offspring, married off to his arch enemy. One would have to see it to believe it.”
The words were purred tauntingly, escaping with wafts of smoke as Alena took great puffs from a Cuban cigar in her left hand. She was dressed in a deep purple dress that stopped just below her thighs with fluffy fur at its hem and neckline. Her hair hung down her back in waves, and her ears were adorned with tiny diamonds which reminded Mira poignantly of the sort of diamonds Mikhail had been showering on her since she’d married him. “Were you honestly waiting at the gates for a chance to see me?” Mira demanded.
Alena shrugged, “The welcome mats will hardly be rolled out for me. I needed to speak with you.”
“Should I call the cops, Mira?” Sarah asked.
Alena’s gaze flicked to Sarah and she gave the other girl a disparaging glance before turning back to Mira. “I have something to say to you, Mira. And believe me, you want to hear it.”
“So speak,” Mira invited. “I’m already your captive audience.”
Alena tsked, “You sound just like Mikhail. You’re quickly becoming his bitch, aren’t you? It’s a sad thing to see.”
Mira tossed her head, “How would you know? I heard you’re the bitch of any man who waves a dick in your direction.”
Even as the words left her lips, Mira’s face reddened with embarrassment. She had never been one to descend to catty comments or name-calling so why was she doing that now?
Sarah hooted at that one and Alena’s face went dark with anger. “My relationship with Dmitri was sacred and none of your business.”
“Funny you should say that,” Mira countered. “I feel the same way about my relationship with Mikhail.”
Alena swallowed, visibly getting herself under control as she said, “No woman should have to be trapped in a relationship with Mikhail Nikolai. He’s evil, through and through.”
“Is he now?” Mira responded with marked unconcern.
Alena glared at her. “I’m trying to save you, Mira. Ask yourself why I felt the need to leave him after five years together and despite his many gifts to me.”
“I’m sure it’s none of my business why you felt the need to cheat on him,” Mira retorted. “But if you absolutely have to bare your soul to someone, I would suggest you seek out a confessional and talk to a priest. I don’t have time for this.”
As Mira started to turn away, Alena called, “He doesn’t love you, you know. Mikhail is a passionate and generous lover in bed, but he is truly incapable of love. He can never truly be yours. He is a stone-hearted bastard and no one’s ever been able to penetrate that tough shell of his.”
Mira paused, listening and feeling her heart thud in her chest at Alena’s words. Hadn’t she already felt that Mikhail was cold and ruthless? But when he had found out that she tried to kill him he hadn’t harmed a hair on her head. If it had been her father in his place, she wouldn’t still be alive contemplating the matter; she would be in a shallow grave pushing up daisies right now.
“Has he ever told you he loves you?” Alena demanded.
Mira felt uncertainty clutch at her chest. Mikhail had never said he loved her in so many words; but then again neither had she. Besides, any man alive would be hard put to confess his undying feelings while he was dodging being poisoned in his own home.
Thrusting out her chin, she turned to face Alena, “I honestly do not know what you hoped to achieve by coming after me today Alena, but I assure you, there’s nothing to be gained here. I know what I want out of this relationship and that’s all there is to it. Please leave me alone.”
She looked at Sarah, “Let’s go.”
“Walk away Mira Dostoevsky but remember, your house is about to collapse around your ears like a pack of cards. I’ll bring you both to your knees if it’s the last thing I do,” Alena vowed.
“It’s Nikolai now. Mira Nikolai.”
With that, Mira tried not to let Alena’s parting shot bother her but something about that woman told her those were not empty threats. Alena had crazy eyes and she seemed like a woman on a mission.
But somewhere deep in her heart, Mira couldn’t shake the niggling of unease about what Alena had said. If Mikhail truly was incapable of loving anyone, what would happen to their unborn child? Would it be starved of the love of a father just like she had been?
Unable to stop worrying, her hand hovered protectively over her mid-riff as she pulled back into traffic. She silently vowed to her child that she would shower it with enough love for a mother and a father. She wouldn’t let her baby miss parental love like she had.
Her gaze lit on the bumper of Alena’s car as the other woman sped ahead. Mira decided that though she didn’t know what Alena was planning, she knew this much; she intended to stay alive for her child.