Chapter 35
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
SOPHIE
The plane smelled of leather, polished wood, and a faint trace of ozone.
The air was cooler than outside, enough to make me shiver when we stepped in.
It was a small cabin with about ten seats upholstered in light cream-colored leather: four single seats in front, two doubles in the middle with a wooden table between them, and another pair across from a sofa at the end.
I sat on the aisle side of the middle section, resting my fingers on the smooth surface, while Viktor sat across from me by the window.
“Is this yours?” I asked when the engines deepened into a low growl, vibrating through the soles of my shoes.
Maybe that was the reason I didn’t understand what Viktor muttered under his breath.
“Pardon?” I asked, leaning a bit closer.
Astonishment appeared on his face before he said louder, “It’s ours.”
“Ah!” I sat back in my seat.
He looked outside, then glanced back at me. “Didn’t realize you used that word.”
What word? I turned my head slightly to the side.
“Pardon?” Was he talking about that? “What’s wrong with that word? You use it all the time.”
“I’ve never heard you use it.”
“Hmm… Maybe if you spent time with me instead of ignoring me, you would?”
He opened his mouth but shut it back as the stewardess came closer. She checked our seatbelts, then offered drinks. “I’ll bring them once we’re in the air.”
Once she left, Viktor turned back to the window. I looked at him for a few seconds, but then turned my head to the opposite side.
I knew it was a silly idea to pick those pretty nightgowns and underwear. Not to mention having spent the last thirty minutes in the shower, preparing for something that would never happen. I tried to breathe slowly, closing my eyes.
My breath became heavier, and the sudden nausea must be from the plane taking off.
“Sophie, are you not feeling well?”
Why do you even care to ask?
I dismissed him with my hand; had no desire to talk. To get another hope, then another slap.
“Sophie…”
I looked back at him. “What, don’t like being ignored?”
“I wasn’t ignoring you.” His hand rested in the middle of table, his fingers stretching toward me before curling back into a fist.
“Seemed like it to me.”
“How about we talk once we’re back home?”
“Why not now?”
He closed his eyes. “I don’t think an hour—” he gestured at the plane, “—would be enough to discuss everything. And also you’re on your first business trip. Don’t want you to get distracted by other things.”
I looked at him with distrust.
“I promise, I’ll tell you everything and answer all your questions once we’re back.”
I stared at him for a while, trying to catch a glimpse of a lie. But he seemed sincere.
“You better keep your promise,” I said.
“I will.”
He gave me a smile, which I think he hoped would calm me. Instead, it irritated me even more. So I made sure he knew that.
“Or I… would make sure to view you as nothing more than… a bag of… ga—” garbage was on the tip of my tongue, but it would be too much, so I corrected myself, “—gold. And you,” I pointed my index finger at him, “don’t want that!”
He turned his head, trying to hide his smile. And a small laugh reached my ears.
“Am I funny to you?” Maybe I should’ve said garbage after all.
He looked at me again, shaking his head. “No. You’re incredible.”
“Oh, am I getting this right? For me to get a compliment, I need to first threaten to humiliate you?”
He continued shaking his head. “I just got reminded again…”
“What?” Frustration edged my voice.
“That you’re the best thing that happened in my life.”
My heart hit my ribs and heat crept to my neck.
“Don’t sweet-talk me!” I said, but the last trace of anger vanished, making my arms feel numb.
As the stewardess brought our drinks with some snacks, I felt thankful for a brief moment to cool down. I sipped from my tea before standing up.
“I’ll be in the lavatory.”
Ideally, I would have preferred to wash my face with cold water, but my makeup wouldn’t survive it. And I still had an impression to make. So I wet a paper towel and tapped it on my neck and behind my ears.
Wasn’t it cooler here when we first came in?
Maybe this could work. It’s only three more days. And he’d promised he’d talk to me. I could wait! At least it seemed I also had my place in his heart.
You’re the best thing that happened in my life.
That thought alone made my pulse race so I hurried to wash my hands with cold water. Dried them, tapped my cheeks, then held them. It cooled me a bit.
But why couldn’t he just say it? Why make everything this complicated? To not get distracted? As if it was that easy. Though maybe I could talk about business then.
I had some things to ask! So I hurried back to my seat and announced, “About Atlas.”
“Yes?” He seemed surprised.
“I was searching in your vault…”
His face grew concerned.
“You told me I could check everything there!” I reminded him but didn’t let him answer. “So, I was searching for our prenup.”
I didn’t like the way his brows furrowed. Maybe this wasn’t the right time to ask, but I’d already started. “It wasn’t there.”
“Why did you need it?”
“I want to check my dowry.”
“Dowry?”
“Yes. I believe it’s registered in my name.
And since you said I’m fully responsible for Atlas, I want that reflected legally as well.
But I need to make sure I have enough leverage to negotiate the ownership transfer.
” Part of me was proud that I’d managed to say everything without a tremble in my voice.
Another part regretted that I’d started this conversation, which only grew bolder when Viktor whispered, “I would’ve never taken it away from you.”
“I know. I trust you.” I tried to assure him. “But—”
How could I explain the fact that I wanted to fully own something I’d been working on?
Or was I not allowed to wish to own the one thing I’d rebuilt myself?
I knew that without his assistance and his connections, none of this would be possible.
But wasn’t life a combination of luck mingled with the amount of privilege you may or may not get?
Wouldn’t I be a fool not to use mine, when all the men around were using theirs?
“Anything can change at any moment.” I hoped I didn’t sound harsh.
“I—” He moved to the seat directly across from me.
“Let me finish, please.” I put my hands in the air.
“You don’t know what it’s like to be left at the mercy of a man.
Wondering if he wants you or not. If any of your actions could be another reason for disappointment.
Doing everything to please them, in hope they’ll choose you…
” I sipped from my tea, gesturing for him to let me finish.
“That doesn’t mean I don’t want to build a loving family with everything in it.
I just want—” I still couldn’t find the right word.
“To not feel dependent,” he finished.
My voice got too low. I doubted he’d manage to hear it. “Yes.”
“One would think I should have understood that sooner…”
“Why?”
“You know, being the child born on the side comes with its own expectations. I used to hate that feeling.” He scratched his neck. “And I’m sorry if I ever made you feel that way.”
“It wasn’t about you.” I fell back into my seat, feeling a huge weight shift from my chest.
“Even for these past two weeks?” There was hope in his voice.
“Mm, I’d love to say yes. But you made me doubt everything we built.”
“I understand.” His fingers laced together, thumb rubbing his wedding band. “To be honest, I didn’t expect to ever hear those words. And I wish I would’ve handled everything better. Not run away like a coward.” He exhaled. “There were many things on my mind.”
“Would you consider sharing one? Or is it one of those topics you’d rather leave until Monday?”
His hand went to the back of his neck as he gave a confirming hum. But when I kept looking at him, he said, “Mm… It’s complicated.”
“Give it a try.”
“About dependencies… You know, people who are starved for validation often attach themselves to whoever fulfills that need. They seek more and more, and confuse it with love. Even when it isn’t.”
“And you think I am?”
“There’s nothing more I want than your love. But…” His breath became uneven.
“You feel guilty about what happened to me?”
“I am guilty.”
“No, you’re not! You didn’t know! And there was absolutely nothing you could do to prevent it!”
“I am…” He paused, looking behind me.
The stewardess approached us again. “We’ll land in ten minutes. Do you need anything else?”
I shook my head. Viktor declined as well, and when she went back, he looked at me again, then threw his head back, closing his eyes. “About Atlas. Consider it solely yours.”
“So you agree? To my suggestion?” I couldn’t help but sound excited.
“No. It’s just yours. I’ll ask to start the procedure once we land in Kosvenia.”
“No!”
“Yes.”
“No, I don’t want it that way!”
“If not for you, Atlas wouldn’t exist today. Forgot already? I was considering closing it.”
“Yes, but… how much is in my dowry? Let’s do a formal exchange.”
He poked his cheek.
“Viktor. You actually didn’t answer my question about our prenup. Where is it?”
“It was one of the topics I wanted to talk about once we’re back.” His demeanor changed. Why was he nervous? “We’ll land soon.” He gestured at the clock.
“If you don’t tell me now, I’ll assume you’re considering divorcing me.”
“What? No! Of course not. Why would you think that way?”
“If it’s not in your vault, then it’s with your lawyer. So forgive me for assuming the only reason it could be with him.”
His lips parted. “I wanted him to renew it.”
“Renew?”
“Yes, he should have the final draft on Monday. I think it would also be better if you found a separate one yourself. Maybe Mr. Anderson? He was involved in the initial one.”
“What do you want to renew?”
“Ah…” He looked out the plane window. “I don’t like the way you always use your company, your car, your plane… your, your, your.” His fingers drummed on the table.