"But he's Kholod Morozov!" Lorenzo lowered his voice. "Have you forgotten what he did to you?"
"Of course I haven't forgotten." My voice turned cold. "Lorenzo, I'll never forget. But that's exactly why I want him to pay. Making him work his ass off to compensate me—isn't that perfect?"
Lorenzo froze, studying me carefully.
"You... you really see him as just labor?"
"What else?" I shot back. "Lorenzo, do you think I'd forgive him?"
He fell quiet for a few seconds, then finally nodded.
"Fine." He said. "But Tara, I'll be watching him. If he crosses any line, I won't hold back."
A few days later, my asthma flared up again.
Not as severe as last time, but it left me miserable for an entire day.
"Noelle, you need proper rest," Kholod said. "I have a mountaintop villa outside Washington—beautiful environment, fresh air. I thought..."
"No need." I cut him off.
"Noelle, let me finish." He persisted. "There's a professional medical team there, plus a nutritionist. You could really recover..."
"I said no." My tone grew cold. "Kholod, I'm not going anywhere that belongs to you."
"But your health—"
"I know my own body," I said. "I don't need any villa or medical team. I'm fine here."
"But—"
"No buts." I stood up. "Kholod, if you really want to make amends, stop making these requests."
He fell silent.
"Fine, I won't bring it up again," he said. "Then... could I move in to take care of you?"
"What?"
"I mean, move in here," he said. "That way I could look after you and Leo whenever needed..."
"Don't even think about it," I said firmly. "Kholod Morozov, if you dare move in, I'm moving out immediately."
"Okay, okay, I won't move in," he said quickly. "Can I come by every day then?"
"Whatever."
"I'll be here on time tomorrow."
"Fine."
"How does this... stick..."Kholod held the diaper, completely lost.
"You put it on backwards." I pointed out coldly. "The velcro goes on the outside."
He fumbled to adjust it, his movements so clumsy that Leo started crying in discomfort.
"Let me." I stepped forward and took the baby. "You're just making it worse."
