Chapter 31
Kinsley
A Proper Conversation
The silent exchange between mother and son before they left the room had me wanting to die of humiliation. Throwing myself into the task of putting my things away, I went to open the second suitcase. The maid was young, maybe a few years older than me, and was very friendly while making small talk.
It didn’t take us that long to get everything put away, and she left the room shortly after. I sat down at the table, lost in thought, until a soft knock sounded before Sophia entered.
“How about I show you around?”
“Okay.”
And that she did. A grand tour of every inch of their home. There were three floors. The bedrooms were all located on the middle floor. The kitchen, a formal dining room, and family rooms were located on the first.
“I think you’ll like this space the most,” she said, leading me to the third floor. “There are only two rooms up here.” She opened the door to the largest in-home library I had ever seen. Rows and rows of books lined the walls from floor to ceiling. I stood in awe, my mouth hanging open.
“Oh, I didn’t think you’d have this reaction. You must love books.” She laughed. It was a beautiful sound. “This is my husband’s domain. If ever you need to find him, he’ll be here. These are his babies.” She waved her hand around.
“This is magnificent. The smell alone is incredible.” I took deep, even breaths as the scent of leather and books permeated the room.
A pair of antique desks flanked opposite walls, both worn smooth by use, each with a matching high-backed chair. A massive, overstuffed couch faced the hearth, and tucked in the corner was a cozy little reading nook draped in sunlight.
But it was the fireplace that stole my breath. It was wide enough for four people to stand shoulder to shoulder, with stonework that looked hand-chiseled and older than the house itself.
Above the fireplace hung a family portrait, and there she was. My breath caught in my throat. I drew closer to the painting. In the back, standing behind the four children, were Mr. and Mrs. King. Alek and Nik stood in front of Mr. King, while Vanya and Ivan stood in front of their mother.
It must have been taken shortly before the assault because she looked young and so happy in the painting.
She was beautiful, with long black hair like her mother and the same oceanic blue-green eyes my beloved had.
I was lost in her image; her elegant dress and perfectly coiffed hair made her look sophisticated, and the slight gleam in her eyes matched Nik’s when he was being wicked.
“That’s my Vanya.” Their mother’s voice trembled behind me, and I turned around; her eyes had filled with tears.
“Alek told me a little about her. She’s the spitting image of you. Beautiful and…and…I’m so sorry.” My eyes filled with tears too, but she patted my hand and blinked hers back.
“I miss her every day of my life, but I’ve come far.
It doesn’t hurt as much to talk about her.
I focus on the wonderful memories we shared as a family.
” She took a deep breath to refocus. “Now, as far as the library goes, I’ll let Christopher give you the official rules of the place.
He’ll be quite thrilled with your reaction.
Now come, the room I thought you would like the most is actually across the hall,” she said as I stared around.
I was trying to catch the titles of some of the books and didn’t want to leave.
No, I wanted to stay and study the picture as well.
This room was everything. But for now, I followed her across the hall and gasped as she opened the door.
Stepping inside it was like a dream. It was magnificent.
Something you saw in movies and period pieces. A Venetian-style ballroom.
I stood in awe of the space, trying to take in every single detail.
Walking toward one of the floor-to-ceiling windows, I noticed a beautiful garden below.
The room ran the entire length of the house.
It had ceilings at least twenty feet high.
Six chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and the fabrics were all done in a golden hue.
The beautiful hardwood floor shone. A piano and a few other instruments sat on the stage.
“This is beyond words.” My voice floated, light and airy, as visions of lavish parties filled my mind—women in sweeping gowns, men dressed like kings, gliding across polished floors beneath glittering lights. In my head, I could hear a band playing and see the dancers on the floor.
“I thought maybe you and your dance partner could practice up here.” She watched me closely.
I wanted to hug her but refrained and showed my appreciation by squealing like a little girl.
And if that wasn’t embarrassing enough, I began twirling in my excitement.
Genuine laughter rang out as she watched me, and I finally collected myself and hurried back to her, blushing at how silly I must’ve looked.
“Sorry,” I mumbled, smoothing my hair. “This is quite a room, Mrs. King.”
“Please, call me Sophia, dear. Now, how about you and I get something to eat and get more acquainted?”
“Yes, of course,” I said as my nerves returned. My phone pinged; she raised an eyebrow. I had set it down by the door and wanted to rush over and silence it as it pinged two more times.
“Do you need to get that?”
“If I don’t, he’ll keep texting and then eventually call.” I slapped my hand over my mouth, but she laughed once more.
“Better get it, then,” she said. I walked over and checked my phone, reading his last message first.
REAPER:
What are you doing that you can’t answer me back? Don’t make me call.
KINSLEY:
I’m a little busy with your mother. Cut me some slack, Reaper.
REAPER:
Sorry. Just worried is all. Get back to bonding, then.
KINSLEY:
I’m not sure bonding is at the top of your mother’s priority list. Oh shit, your father doesn’t know anyone at the ballet school, right? What if he makes a call and they tell him they’ve never even heard of me? SOS, what do I do then?
REAPER:
Calm down. My father is going to love you. Trust me on that. All you need to do is work that magic, sweetness, and my mother will become your greatest ally. Just breathe and be you.
KINSLEY:
Easy for you to say. I’ve got a mama bear waiting to eat me alive over lunch. No amount of magic is going to save me. Send reinforcements.
“Everything okay?” Sophia asked.
“Oh, yes. Sorry.”
“Don’t be. Is he always like that with you?”
“What, obsessive? Yeah, it’s his thing. You get used to it. Or, I mean, I’m used to it.” Way to go, Kinsley. Now you made her son sound like a stalker.
She eyed me strangely as we headed to one of the smaller dining rooms downstairs, where several servants began putting out lunch for us. I was overwhelmed. Did people really live like this? I thought it extravagant what the men had, but this was double that size for only two people.
“Do you host many people in your home?” I asked, wondering why they might have a home this size.
“This was actually my husband’s family home, been in the family for generations.”
“Oh, that makes sense.” I took a bite. It was delicious, a soup of sorts, with a creamy white sauce and chicken.
“So Alek tells me you’re Russian. Where are you from, if I may ask?”
“I grew up in the tiny town of Myshkin,” I said, and then memories of the village Pasha and I used to visit with our parents came rushing back to me.
“Nice, I’ve been there once. It’s a great, tiny tourist town. I was born in Moscow,” she shared.
We chatted a bit more about our Russian heritage and the things I liked to do. Then she asked, “So was your mother Russian, then? With your last name being Taylor and all.”
“Yes, actually she and my father were. My last name wasn’t always Taylor. When my parents died, a good friend of my father’s took me in. It seemed easier that I take his name since he was my legal guardian.” It was partially true, I reasoned.
“Oh, yes, probably a lot easier and fewer questions for a small child to explain in school.”
“I suppose it would have been, but I completed my education through online schooling.”
“I see, and did you have no other family that could have taken you in?”
“I honestly never questioned that. Well, until recently, I assumed I didn’t, but that may have changed.”
“Yes, my husband mentioned you have a grandfather and an uncle. Will you reconnect with them soon?”
It seemed Alek had shared with his parents about my family. Funny, we hadn’t even had a conversation about it yet. It wouldn’t matter at this point, anyway. The time to connect with them had long passed.
“I’m not sure. Growing up, it was my father, mother, and me.
Well, there was Pasha, my dance partner, and his family.
They were close—like relatives—but weren’t related by blood.
” I tried to keep my face passive while I read this beautiful woman across from me.
“It’s a bit overwhelming, honestly. I wouldn’t know where to start. ”
I reached for my water, pretending I wasn’t acutely aware of how loud my heartbeat had become. It thundered behind my ribs.
“I can imagine it would be, but family is all we have in this world.” Her message was obvious, and I nodded, taking another bite. “May I ask you a question? I’d love to get it out of the way.”
“Yes, of course.” I straightened my back. Here goes.
“What happened between you and Ivan?” Her eyes were soft and full of worry.
Dread engulfed me. I wasn’t expecting her to ask me this. I thought for sure she’d let me know she didn’t approve of what her sons were doing with me. Maybe see what my true intentions were and ensure I was really planning on leaving. Squaring my shoulders, I spoke.
“Ivan and I had a disagreement in Seattle shortly before I left. I broke his heart, and then I left without saying anything to them. That decision hit him the hardest.” I fought back the tears. It was a small white lie, but the actual truth would kill her. I would not burden her with that.
“I can promise you one thing: I never intended to hurt him. I’m still learning and don’t always make the best decisions, and Alek is fond of reminding me there are always consequences for my actions,” I whispered, looking at my lap.
“I’m really trying to be open-minded, but it’s all so odd. I originally thought you were playing my oldest and youngest against one another,” she said pointedly.
More prepared for this line of questioning, I blurted out, “I promise you it was never like that. I understand it’s inappropriate. It sort of just happened.” And that was true, for the most part.
“Things like this don’t just happen. Clearly, a choice was made by you, by Alek, by Ivan, and if I understand, even by Nik.”
“Yes, Ma’am.” I sat quietly, feeling exposed.
“I’ve seen Alek’s possessiveness over you. You mentioned that Nik and Alek wouldn’t let you leave easily. What exactly did you mean by that?”
“It’s hard to explain. It’s more overprotective than possessive,” I lied.
Her eyes narrowed. She didn’t believe me.
“My plan is not to cause any further damage between your sons. I need to leave and allow them to get on with their lives because you’re right. I get it. What we have is odd.” I whispered the last word.
As I swallowed back tears, a sense of betrayal washed over me.
Saying our relationship was odd—i.e. inappropriate—aloud, agreeing with her even falsely, seemed to invalidate what we’d shared.
Reducing our closeness to something trashy or worthless, that’s how it made me feel. Her subsequent silence was deafening.
“I think the fire in Seattle and the uncertainty created the perfect storm. Their very nature is to help those in need. Now that I’ve decided to pursue a career in dance, it only makes sense for me to bow out as graciously as I can.” Each lie I told made me feel like a horrible human being.
I waited for her to ask another question, but she never did. Finally, when I couldn’t stand the silence any longer, I said, “I’m so sorry, Sophia.”
“I’m just glad you’re willing to do the right thing,” she said, patting me on the hand.
We finished lunch, and I asked to be excused so I could be alone with my thoughts. I wanted to tell Alek that he shouldn’t come tonight, but I also longed for him to hold me. I was torn, and as if he knew I was thinking about him, my phone pinged. Taking it out, I read his message.
REAPER:
Hey, how are you?
KINSLEY:
Missing you a lot. I think I blew it with your mother.
REAPER:
I’ll be there soon.
KINSLEY:
It’s too late, the war is lost. I’d bet she is in her study, plans laid out before her in search of a naughtier kitten for you.
REAPER:
She can try all she wants. The only one I want right now is you.
KINSLEY:
Right now? Way to make me feel special. You know I have abandonment issues, right? It’s cruel to remind me I’m replaceable.
REAPER:
I never said you were replaceable, just that I need a naughty kitten. All you have to do is show me how naughty you can be, maintain it, and maybe even allow me to corrupt you further. Plus, aren’t you the one abandoning me and my brothers in three weeks?
KINSLEY:
Only because I have to. Let’s talk about something else. Truth or dare?
REAPER:
Oh, careful now. Dare.
KINSLEY:
Send me a video.
REAPER:
You feeling thirsty, kitten?
KINSLEY:
Parched, actually.
REAPER:
See, that’s what I’m talking about, my naughty girl. I love it.
KINSLEY:
I learned from the best.
Twenty minutes later, he sent me a very explicit video, and my face burned. I hadn’t thought him capable.
KINSLEY:
OMG, this better be for my eyes and ears only.
REAPER:
We’ve never talked about exclusivity. I’m thinking about posting it to my socials.
KINSLEY:
No! We’re going to talk exclusivity now. I can’t stop watching it, I’m drooling. Who are you, and what have you done with my Alek?
REAPER:
Sweetness, that’s the Reaper. If you only knew the things he wants to do to you.
KINSLEY:
So you’ve been holding out on me, old man?
REAPER:
Holding out, no. Holding back, yes.
KINSLEY:
Not anymore, you’re not. I only have a few weeks left. Teach me your ways.
REAPER:
Pet, I need that list first. Make it. Now.
KINSLEY:
I’m too hot and bothered. In fact, I need a cold shower. If you were here, you could join me.
REAPER:
Damn, woman, you’re killing me. I’ve got to get back to work.
KINSLEY:
See you soon.