“Sophia! Finally! Why haven’t you been taking my calls? I was getting worried,” Melody’s voice rang through the receiver.
“I’m fine, it’s just been, well, things aren’t exactly good here,” I replied. My mind drifted to Kolya and how he had been avoiding me. I was feeling terrible.
“No, Sophia,” Melody said. “What’s wrong?” I knew by her tone that she didn’t truly care. She would most likely not even understand. I’ve never seen her with anyone since I started working for her.
“No, nothing. I’m just a bit down. I don’t think we should be doing this,” I replied
“Sophia Camden,” Melody shrieked. Her tone was much harsher. “You need to stay. It’s the only way we can clear both our names and put Kolya behind bars where he belongs. You must stick it out. Swallow that pride of yours and get the job done. It’s time to get moving.”
Glancing back at the house, my heart sank to my feet. It felt heavier than a ship's anchor. Something in Melody’s tone didn’t sound right as she continued to bombard me. “Sophia, don’t you want to do the right thing? Fight criminals with justice. This is what you’re doing, isn’t it? I mean, really, once you get the information we need, you can leave. We can put him behind bars where he belongs, and you are free. He is a criminal after all, don’t forget that! Don’t get soft on me now.”
I had gathered some information. But the insistence and tone felt off, so I held back. I wasn’t ready to tell her what I had. “Well,” I replied. “I’ve been trying. But it’s hard. I haven’t found anything worth mentioning.”
“Okay,” Melody said. “But even the smallest thing could be vital or lead us somewhere.”
I spoke with heaviness. My chest felt like it was being crushed. Even breathing felt harder. “No, Melody, I don’t think there’s much here. I think we’re wasting time.”
“There is!” Melody screamed. “You need to dig deeper. You need to find it. I know it’s there. Sophia, you must keep looking.” She almost sounded desperate. I wondered who was pressuring her.
“Okay,” I replied. “I’ll get back to you if I find something. I have to go now.” I knew I was lying, but my instincts were warning me.
“Sure thing, talk soon,” she shot back before the line went dead.
Staring at my phone, I wondered what she was up to. I suspected she might have something up her sleeve. But I wasn’t sure how I could confirm it. There was a light knock on the door. Lowering my phone, I spoke clearly. “Come in.”
The door slid open, and one of the maids looked in. “Ma’am, dinner is served,” she said. Nodding as I got up, I placed my phone under my pillow and headed down. Kolya was already seated as I entered.
Keeping my eyes on the floor, I quickly moved to my chair. My heart was pounding in my chest. Deciding to stay quiet and not say anything, I started eating. My mind kept going back to his naked body.
Kolya didn’t speak either, which suited me. I ate quickly just to get it over with. He didn’t say a word as I got up and left. I decided to give him space as I went back to my room. I didn’t know why he was so cold. After the phone call with Melody, I didn’t even know what to say to him.
I sat on the bed for a bit, but I wasn’t tired. At ten, I sneaked down and dished up some ice cream. With my ice cream in hand, I went to the small living area and sat by the fireplace. I was trying to sort through my feelings. My heart and head were divided.
After he kidnapped me and forced me into marriage, I believed he was the enemy. Even after talking to Melody the first couple of times, I believed he was the bad guy. Yet, a big part of me no longer agrees. I feel he is good deep down.
For my entire working career, I have known Melody. But she has become erratic lately. Acting strange and out of the norm. What should I do? Taking a deep breath and closing my eyes, I tried clearing my mind.
I sat staring at the fire for most of the night. Sleep came quickly once I headed back up and lay down.
Chapter 15 - Kolya
I woke up feeling irritated. My sleep was plagued with nightmares I couldn’t even remember. The guilt inside me was almost unbearable. But I couldn’t stay away from Sophia. She was like a drug. I needed to be around her just to breathe properly.
Deciding to skip breakfast, I headed straight to my office. Sitting down before my computer to check emails, I couldn’t get rid of the frustration inside. It’s been a couple of days since we made love.
The guilt of taking her virginity just like that was eating at me. How could I do such a thing? I knew from the start that it was a hands-off situation. Yet, I had to go and fuck it up. Even with the guilt eating at me, I couldn’t stand avoiding her. The yearning for her was unbearable. I missed her conversation, fighting with her, and just being in her presence.
I know I was the first one to avoid her, but since the first day, she’s been avoiding me as well. I skipped breakfast and dinner the day after. Since then, I’ve started having my breakfast in my office.
The kitchen staff assured me she was having breakfast. They also informed me she was taking her dinner up to her room. She no longer strolled in the garden or sat by her window. Not that I could see. She never seemed to be around when I was. I missed seeing her, even just fleetingly.
Most of my days have seen back-to-back meetings, with me grabbing dinner on the way home or eating alone. However, I wanted to be around her. I craved being close to her. So, today, I decided enough was enough. I was taking her out. I was going to spoil her.
Once I was done with my emails, I made a list of her favorite places. I wondered if there was anything I could add. The list looked short. I don’t even know if she has hobbies, enjoys sports, or very much about her come to think of it.
“Well, then,” I huffed as I rose and shoved the paper into my pocket. “Let’s see how the morning goes, and then we can decide.” Heading out of the office, I went looking for Sophia.
Walking to her room, I felt confident that she would love a day out. Her door was half open, so I didn’t knock. Pushing it all the way, I found an empty room. Heading downstairs, I checked the dining room, the small living room, and even the kitchen. But Sophia wasn’t in any of them.
