Chapter 14 Hollie #2
Something akin to pain flashes in Maxim’s eyes, but it’s gone just as soon as I detect it. Maybe it was my imagination. As silence falls between us, guilt worms through my abdomen.
Why do I feel bad? If anything, today was pretty decent and normal. Maybe even better since Stu and Toto’s presence kept away those guests usually eager to disrespect me by demanding that I change songs or just stop playing altogether.
One good day doesn’t erase the past terrible five.
Still, something unsettling weighs down in my gut and I wince inwardly. “Sorry,” I murmur after a moment. “Long day.”
“You’re fine,” Maxim replies easily. “No apology necessary.”
“That’s it?” I lift my gaze. “You’re not mad at me for being a bitch?”
“I wouldn’t call you that,” he replies simply. “Given our situation, I think your responses are valid and understandable.”
This man makes no sense. How can the monster who murdered someone in front of me and forced me to marry him be the same man who was so tender with my ankle, cooked me dinner, and now sits before me telling me my reactions are valid?
He’s like a coin. Today’s side is gentle Maxim, apparently.
“You’re saying that like you’re not responsible for the upheaval of my life.”
“I’m responsible,” he says. “I know that. But you’re safe and alive.”
“Until I say the wrong thing.”
He lifts his glass and drinks once more. “Is there no part of you enjoying any of this? The food? The atmosphere? The new apartment?”
“I miss my apartment. And my car. What happened with that, by the way?”
Maxim sets his glass down. “Your car was repaired and delivered back to your apartment.”
“But not to me.”
“You don’t need it.”
“What if I want it?”
“Do you?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. It is kind of nice being driven around.” Admitting it feels like I’m saying I like being held hostage, but Maxim’s expression doesn’t change. “And the new apartment’s nice. It’s big.”
Maxim nods. “I like space.”
“Then you’ll hate this weekend because my mom wants us to help her decorate the house.”
“I have no problem with that.”
“They want to get to know you. All of you.”
Maxim shakes his head. “Again, I have no problem with that. Which reminds me.” His head dips, and he rummages in his pocket, then he pulls out a small black box and sets it on the table in front of me. “Here.”
I lower my fork. “What’s that?”
“Open it.”
The box is soft, black velvet and almost warm against my palm. Inside, resting on a white silk cushion, sits a ring. It’s white gold, with seemingly liquid amber gold weaving across the top of the ring in the shape of a treble clef. In between the curls rest several diamonds and red jewels.
“Since music is important to you, I thought you would like it. A replacement for the other ring.”
It’s beautiful. More than that, it’s thoughtful.
He chose a ring that speaks to me as a person and I can’t take my eyes off it.
No one in my life has ever given me such a lavish or personal gift, and it almost hurts that this has to come from him.
He stands slowly and moves around the table, then he kneels next to me.
Despite his bulk, the usual intimidating aura from his muscular size is nonexistent and I struggle to keep my rising emotions in check.
“May I?”
I nod silently.
Maxim takes my hand and gently slides the gold band from my ring finger, then he slides the new ring into place. It nestles perfectly against my knuckle and the gems dazzle like a thousand stars have fallen to earth just to rest in my hand. It’s lighter than the previous ring which Maxim pockets.
“Do you like it?”
I want to tell him yes. The urge sits heavily on the tip of my tongue because I more than like it. I love it. It’s absolutely beautiful, but the words don’t come. Our eyes meet and there’s something puppyish about the hope flickering in his.
So I nod.
And he smiles.
Suddenly, it’s too much, the swell of feelings that don’t belong here. Maxim is a dangerous man. He’s stolen me into this life. I shouldn’t be feeling anything for him.
I rise abruptly, and Maxim stands back. “Sorry, I need to use the restroom.”
Rushing away, I don’t stop until the cool air of the restroom envelops me behind a locked door, and I grip the sink, panting.
Why is my heart racing?
I feel as giddy as I did as a teenager when my prom date brought me my corsage. Years of stress have been packed into six days, and now I’m here feeling like I have a chance with him? Gazing down, the ring twinkles back at me and my heart skips and excitedly beats again.
I can’t listen to it.
He’s dangerous. My main and only goal is to flee as soon as it’s safe. I can’t fall for his trap.
As I stare at the ring, music drifts from my phone within my purse. I retrieve it and answer it, fully expecting Maxim to be checking on where I am.
“Hello?”
“Miss Wolfe?”
“Mhm.”
“It’s Doctor Finfer. I’m calling about your missed check-up on Monday. Is everything all right?”
The ground drops away from me and I clutch the sink tighter as a wave of dizziness rises inside me like vomit. “Oh, no,” I gasp.
“Oh, no? Are you alright? Are you having any trouble with you or the baby?”
My eyes snap down to my abdomen in the mirror, and sweat breaks out across my body.
In all the terror and strain of the past few days, I completely ignored the reason I was desperate to find Maxim in the first place.
“Miss Wolfe?”
I’m two months pregnant, and my sexy, mysterious one-night stand is a Mafia prince.