Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Viktor
W hat the fuck am I thinking? I need a drink to gather my thoughts. Why did I bring Ava here? I had every intention to go to the bachelor apartment where I take all my conquests. I never bring women here. This house is sacred. But she’ll be moving here once everything is settled with the arrangement, so there’s no need to question myself.
I pour myself a generous drink and walk to the sitting room. I can’t stop picturing her. I could have claimed her just now, as her body was screaming for me. I still smell her musk. I didn’t have to touch her to know she was soaked for me. What is it about her?
I drain my drink and convince myself to stop thinking about her. She’s nothing but a means to an end.
The clock shows that it isn’t six yet, and my alarm hasn’t gone off, but I’m restless.
Knowing Ava is downstairs kept me hard all night. Jerking off twice did nothing to satisfy my hunger for her. There’s no use staying in bed. I throw on basketball shorts and a T-shirt. I have excess energy I need to burn. This is nothing a good run can’t fix.
“Good morning, sir,” one of my men greets me.
“Anyone up?”
“No, sir.”
“I have company, so stay out of sight and make sure everyone else does, too. I’m going for a run.”
“Yes, sir.”
Thirty minutes later, I walk back into the house and smell Columbian roast coffee brewing. Mary, my housekeeper, has started making breakfast. I head to the kitchen for a bottle of water.
“Good morning, Mary.”
She turns and gives me a slight incline of her head and a smile.
“Good morning, Mr. Manarch. Good run?”
“Yes. Has my guest woken?”
“She’s still asleep.”
“It will be breakfast for two.”
“Anything in particular?”
“Something hearty,” I respond
“Did you need me to wake her?”
“Give her another hour. Is Oliver here?”
“No.”
Mary has been my housekeeper for six years now. She’s efficient and discreet. Perfect for my lifestyle and clan business. When my mother first hired her, I was against it because I like my privacy, but she’s good at her job. She always knows what I need before I ask. She rules the house with an iron fist, just as I prefer. I can’t imagine functioning without her.
I can’t help myself, so I go to Ava’s bedroom. I quietly open her door. She’s lightly snoring. A sign of exhaustion. She’s laying in the middle of the bed, sheets covering her perfect body. I notice all of her clothes on the chair, including her bra and panties, and immediately get hard. She’s naked underneath the sheets. My kind of woman.
I shake my thoughts away. She isn’t ready for me. I take her clothes for Mary to wash but peek at the sizes first.
Twenty minutes later, I’m buttoning my shirt when my cell rings.
“Good morning, Oliver.”
“Good morning. I’m in the house. Everything is set for your meeting this morning.”
“Thank you. I’ll be down shortly.”
There’s a brief silence, then Oliver says, “I didn’t realize you had company.”
“Is she awake?”
“I don’t think so. Mary left to drop her clothes in the guest room.”
I end the call. Normally I don’t care about anyone’s opinion, but I find myself bothered by Oliver’s reaction. I’m about to reach Ava’s bedroom to wake her when her door opens.
“Good morning,” I greet her with a smile.
“Good morning,” she replies warily.
“Breakfast should be ready.” I let her exit the bedroom before I continue. “We can talk while we eat.”
“Thank you for having my clothes washed. You didn’t have to.” She’s on edge like a flighty bird, the air between us thick with her tension.
“It was my pleasure. You must be hungry.”
“Viktor, I need to go. I need to be at work in two hours and check on my dad, but my cell is dead.”
“We can charge the cell while we eat.”
“I doubt you have a charger for my cell.”
“What model is it?” I ask as we reach the dining room.
“iPhone 6, and before you say anything, I’m acutely aware that six models have hit the market since mine. Hence, I’m sure you don’t have a charger.” I laugh inwardly at the challenge in her voice, she’s so sure of herself.
“Good morning. Would you like something to drink, Ms. O’Brien?” Mary greets her as we enter the dining room.
“Coffee please, if you have it.”
“I’ll have the same. Can you let Oliver know I want to see him?”
“Right away, sir.”
“I can’t stay long. I need to be at work in two hours,” she repeats as she sits.
“How did you sleep?” I pointedly ignore her comment.
Ava shakes her head and sighs. “Fine,” she responds curtly.
Oliver knocks on the door and enters the dining room.
I acknowledge him with a brief nod. “Oliver, can you find a charger for an iPhone 6? Ava’s cell is dead,” I say as he approaches the table. She turns back to see him.
“Good morning, Oliver. Please don’t trouble yourself. I’ll be fine.”
“Good morning, Ava,” he replies. “It’s no trouble at all.” He flashes a smile at her. I’m blindsided by my reaction as my body tenses, and I realize I don’t like his easy interaction with her. I shoot daggers at him, and he flinches. “Do you have the cell with you?” he asks more seriously.
“No. I can go get it. It’s back in the guest room.” She moves to stand.
“If it’s in plain sight, there’s no need. I’ll get it and put it on charge.” Oliver glances at me to ensure I’m okay with this. I give an imperceptible nod.
“Thanks, Oliver.” She speaks to him with a familiarity I don’t appreciate.
I am about to reprimand her when Mary walks in with our coffees. She sets everything down and announces breakfast will be out shortly.
“Cream? Sugar?” I ask.
“Black is fine.” She answers, taking the first sip. “Why am I here?”
I don’t speak at first. Mary has returned with breakfast, and this is a conversation I don’t want anyone to overhear. I want this to stay between us. The fewer people who know, the easier it will be for us to keep the secret.
Mary sets breakfast in front of us. Ava looks unsettled and uncomfortable. I don’t understand this since I’ve already told her I’m not going to harm her.
“Thank you, Mary. Please make sure no one disturbs us.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Viktor—”
I cut Ava off with a wave of my hand. “Eat,” I say, picking up my knife and fork and preparing to tuck into the delicious-looking bacon and eggs in front of me.
“I don’t want to eat. I want to know why I’m here. What do you want from me?”
I sigh. How many more times do I need to tell her what I want? “Eat, and I’ll speak.” She takes her first bite. “As I told you yesterday, I have a proposition for you. You need to pay off a debt, and I need a wife.”
She pauses with her fork halfway to her mouth “I already told you I’m not interested.”
“You can’t pay off one hundred thousand dollars in a week, and no one will lend you that kind of money.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Yes I do.”
“What makes you so sure?”
“Because I forbade it.”
She instantly puts her fork down and looks at me in horror.
“You’re an asshole. I’m not going to put up with this bullshit.” She stands. “I’d like to go home now.” She crosses her arms.
I take a deep breath. When will she realize she has no choice in this matter? “Sit.” The command comes out more forcefully than I intended.
“I’m not going to do what you want. You aren’t my father or my boss,” she snarls. I want to bend her over the table and show her I’m the boss and am in control.
“I won’t ask again.” I push my chair back, but she looks at me defiantly, as though she isn’t afraid of me. “Baby girl. Sit.”
“I told you not to call me that.” She moves to leave the dining room, but I’m faster than her. I grab her and pin her to the wall.