Chapter 20 - Gela
Valentin pulls off me, and I scoot further down the couch, but for a second, just a second, I wait to see what happens next. I don’t expect my heart to soar when he flings an arm around my waist and pulls me back toward him, his chest curving against my back.
In this post-sex haze, I allow myself a little sigh and nestle closer till his chin rests on my forehead. I close my eyes and let his body heat soothe away all the edges of fear still lingering in my mind, though in his arms, I know there’s nothing I have to fear.
With him, I feel safe. In his arms, I feel content…and the minute I realize that, my eyes snap open.
Fuck. I just had sex with Valentin Yuri again, and this time, I don’t want to leave.
Oh god. This isn't just an attraction anymore. This is something deeper, the kind of deep that comes when one falls for a man.
I'm falling for Valentin Yuri.
The realization feels like someone threw me right into an ice bath. My entire body goes rigid, and panic crawls up my throat.
This is a big mistake. I have no business falling for a man I’ll never get to keep. This is only temporary…we’re married, yes, but how could I so easily have forgotten the terms of our contract?
He married me to save my ass from the Zakharovs. That’s it. He never promised me forever.
“You okay?” Valentin murmurs, his hand tracing down my spine.
I can't do this. I can't let myself fall any deeper.
I gently push away from him and sit up, moving to fix my dress. “It’s getting late…I think I need to get some sleep.”
I throw a look over my shoulder as I reach back to retie the halter, and all I see is a very confused Valentin.
“Gela?” His voice is soft. “Can’t you stay just a little longer?”
I force a smile, but it makes my cheeks hurt. “Honestly? That was incredible. But I'm exhausted after everything that happened tonight.”
He sits up slowly, too, and watches me with those piercing blue eyes that make me weak. “It looks like you’re running away again.”
“I'm not running,” I lie. “I just need some space to process.”
“Process what, exactly?”
I grab my panties from the floor, slipping them on while avoiding his gaze. “Don't look so disappointed, Valentin. This is what we do, remember? We have amazing sex, and then we go back to our corners.”
His jaw tightens. “I don’t think it has to be that way.”
“Oh, come on! There is no other way.” I force a lightness into my voice and give him a wink. “We both know this setup is temporary. You're keeping me safe until the Zakharov situation blows over, and then I go back to my life, and you go back to yours.”
“But what if I want more than that?” he asks quietly.
My heart stutters painfully, but I push through. “You’re only feeling that because you’ve got that post-sex high.”
His eyebrows hit the roof. “You don’t get to decide that for me. Come on, Gela. Let’s just talk.”
“I need my independence, Valentin.” I snap, feeling like there’s a noose being tied around my neck. “I've always needed it. That hasn't changed just because we sleep together occasionally and you think you’ve caught feelings.”
He reaches for his pants, pulling them on with sharp, angry movements. “You're pushing me away because you're scared.”
“I'm not scared,” I lie again. “I'm realistic.”
“Bullshit.”
I don't have a response for that, so I grab my shoes instead.
“This conversation isn't over,” he says as I head for the door.
“It is for tonight.” I toss over my shoulder, not daring to look back at him.
I make it to my bedroom before the tears start falling, and only cry once I throw myself into bed. The tears just don’t stop, especially when I realize the bed feels too damn empty and big without him in it.
***
The next morning, I wake up, grab a coffee, and really start to think. If I want to maintain my independence and have something to go back to when this arrangement eventually ends, I need to work harder.
I need more money to fall back on, because I no longer have the goddamn Z Ventures to fund me. I’ll also need a new office. With the kind of money I’m making now, it’s simply not enough to cover our operational costs, especially now that the funding has gone.
But I know I can leverage the kind of clientele I’ve signed on now. I need to meet them, keep them keen, and sooner or later, they’re bound to refer me to companies as big as theirs.
I check my calendar and notice that Alex from SkyMark wants to meet this afternoon to discuss campaign strategies.
It’s perfect timing because Valentin’s already left for meetings. I don't want to explain where I'm going, and I certainly don't want to see that possessive look in his eyes when I mention building my future without him.
I know what it’ll lead to. Another fight.
I get dressed and text Dmitri that I’ll need security for a client meeting this afternoon. He immediately agrees to drive me.
When we get in the car, I feel mildly guilty for not telling Valentin and sneaking away like this. I know he worries for me, but I’m going to a pretty crowded café, and Dmitri’s coming along, so what’s the worst that can happen?
Besides, this meeting is too important to postpone.
Twenty minutes later, we arrive at the café, and Dmitri takes his usual corner table, while I find one for Alex and me. A couple of minutes later, Alex strides in.
“Alex.” I rise and extend my hand. “How are you?”
“Very good, Gela. Very good, indeed! Thanks for circling me in.” He takes a seat.
“Of course,” I gush, passing him the menu. “You won’t believe the ideas I have in store for you!”
“Do tell.” He wiggles his eyebrows at me.
We order some coffee and cake and dive right in, explaining strategies and showing mock-ups. It feels good to be back in business and not have to think about Valentin, the Zakharovs, and the complicated mess my life has become.
But ten minutes into the meeting, my phone starts ringing. I silence it, but it rings again. I silence it again, but it rings again.
“Uh…you want to get that?” Alex asks.
It feels so damn unprofessional, but when I see it’s Valentin calling, I get worried that if I don’t pick up the next one or call him back, he’ll send Dmitri right over. How embarrassing that would be!
“You sure you don’t mind?” I look pained even as I ask.
“Oh, don’t be silly,” he laughs, waving me away.
“Thank you!” I gush and stand to move away, taking the call in private.
“Hello?”
“What the hell do you think you're doing?” Valentin sounds pissed.
“I'm in a client meeting, and you’re interrupting me. Can I call you back?”
“Like hell!” he hisses. “I came home and saw you were gone. Do you know how worried I was? You can’t just leave without informing me, Gela.”
“I have Dmitri with me,” I protest, keeping my voice even. “I'm in a public place and perfectly safe.”
“I didn’t even know you were with Dmitri! I had to call a bunch of people before I realized you didn’t head out alone. Do you know how worried I was? Couldn’t you have left just one voicemail, or a god damn note?”
“Look,” I hiss back. “I’m in a meeting. Can this tantrum of yours wait till I get home?”
“Fine. I’ll be waiting.” He ends the call angrily.
I take a few deep breaths to race my own fuming heart, before heading back to our table.
“Everything okay?” Alex asks.
“Fine. Just had a small emergency to handle.” I shake it off. “Where were we?”
The meeting goes on for another half an hour, after which Alex leans back in his chair and lets out a low whistle.
“Dear god, Gela. You’re a fucking star, you know that?”
I sit up straighter and break into a wide grin, before leaning forward to look him in the eye. “Do you think you could help find this star some new clients? I’ve got a couple of spots open.”
“After I’ve seen what you do? It’s a no-brainer!”
I can’t help the excitement from tainting my voice. “You serious?”
“Of course!” he grins. “I’d be happy to refer you to a couple of guys I know.”
“That would be amazing, Alex. Thank you so much!” I mean every word.
“No worries.” He looks sideways, trying to catch the waiter’s attention to ask for the check, but I stop him in his tracks. Since he’s going out of his way for me as a client, the least I can do is buy him coffee.
“Please. Let today be my treat!” I insist.
“But, it’s on the company account,” he protests.
I wave him off. “Alright then, consider it a thank you to the company.” I pull out my card.
“That’s so very kind of you,” he nods. “If you don’t mind, can I rush out? I’ve got another meeting to get to.”
“Go, go.” I wave him off. I watch him leave and wait around a while, hoping to catch the waiter’s eye, but he looks swamped.
Just then, my eyes land on the folder I have lying on the table, and I freeze as I realize I've forgotten to hand Alex the hard copy of our projections for SkyMark.
I immediately grab the folder and my purse and slam my credit card down in front of Dmitri. “Can you just get the bill for yourself and our table, please? I’ve got to give my client this folder!”
“But, Mrs. Yuri, I can’t let you go alone!” he protests.
“Please, Dmitri!” I beg, every word rushed. “He just stepped out. I’ll be back within seconds.”
I don’t even wait for him to argue back as I dash out the door, leaving a confused Dmitri alone to pay the bill.
I know I'm pushing it on the safety front, but the parking lot is just around the corner, and it's broad daylight with plenty of people around.
To make it in time to catch Alex, I take the shortcut through a small alleyway that connects to the café's side entrance, but I stop when I hear voices.
“Everything's in place, then?”
I freeze. I know that voice. It's Alex.
“She’s eating out of our hands,” Alex says, and I freeze in panic.
“I want this done cleanly with no mistakes this time, you hear me?” Viktor Zakharov hisses
Just hearing his voice again sends a chill down my spine, reminding me of all the ways he said he could hurt me.
I press myself against the wall, hardly daring to breathe as I begin to understand what’s happening here. Viktor and Alex are working together. This whole time, my “big client” has been spying on me, reporting back to the very people who want me dead.
God damn it.
“And you're sure she suspects nothing?” Viktor asks.
“Completely clueless,” Alex replies. “She's been feeding me everything about her marketing plans, her client list, and even mentioned she's rebuilding her savings. It's all in my report.”
“Good. She may have chosen the Yuris for now, but we'll make her regret that decision soon enough.”
I back away slowly, terrified they'll hear me. My heart pounds so loudly I'm scared they might hear me.
Once I reach the main street, I rush back into the café, but Dmitri isn’t there. In a panic, I run around the back and lock myself in the bathroom.