I didn't stay long in the club, though Viktor seemed to have a good time. I stood from the couch, and he hugged me goodbye.
“Remember what I told you, Roman. Take it seriously.” He whispered in my right ear, and I nodded.
Before I walked out of the club, I saw the same lady who walked with me into the club. She sat on the lap of a chubby man who cupped her breasts as though he owned them. Her hands were around his neck, and I feared she was drunk, and the man was taking advantage of her. But that all changed when she raised her head. She reached for a cocktail beside her, and I watched as she drank it all in one shot. I didn't expect her to notice that I saw her, but she did. She waved, and I nodded. Somehow, I regretted letting her in, but she looked like she had a good time. I, on the other hand, had bigger things to worry about, so I walked out of the club and made my way through the lines of people still trying to get in.
Regardless, I drove home, arriving in one piece. I wasn't intoxicated, though I felt lightheaded before I reached my mansion. And then the thought slowly dawned on me. The thought of having to do all I could to have Liza talk to me and let me in. Markov had caused enough damage already. It would only be reasonable for her to say something if she knew something. But damn was she stubborn.
The thought lingered. I felt my jaw tighten as I loosened my tie. Liza stood on the terrace, the city lights glittering behind her. She turned to look at me as I took off my shoes.
She looked ready for me. Her hands perched on her waist, she stood and raised her chin up high.
“Tell me,” she said, starting the conversation. “Have you made the decision?”
“What decision?” I stood less than three feet from her, and she didn't flinch.
“I'd like to know if you've decided to take me as a hostage or as a wife.”
“What does it matter, Liza? If I decide to keep you as a hostage or take you for a wife, it still won't change anything between us.” “Well…if it doesn't matter to you, it does to me, Roman. I have a reputation to maintain. If you aren't willing to marry me, you have one of two choices.”
“And what's that?” Her eyes pierced deep into mine, and I felt the atmosphere change around us. She folded her arms. Her breath felt heavy as I stood close, and then her lips opened.
“It's either you let me go or kill me.” I looked at her, wondering what might have passed through her mind for her to want me to kill her. Setting her free was not an option. I wouldn't bring her to my mansion only to let her out. But to kill her? No way. Even if I intended to break her, it wouldn't be to the point of death. That would be the worst-case scenario, I thought. So I watched her closely, my hands buried deep in my pockets.
“Come on now, Liza. If I didn't intend to marry you, you wouldn't be wearing the ring.” She turned around almost immediately after my response, and I knew she was unhappy with me. I took a step further, my clothes still smelled like smoke from Roman's cigar, yet I didn't mind. I threw my arms around Liz's waist. Our bodies touched each other, and I held her tight so she couldn’t break the embrace.
Liza remained calm. Her cologne filled my nostrils, and my head lowered towards her neck. Slowly, I felt the sensation that began to overpower me. My face moved closer to her neck, and my lips nipped at her delicate skin. She moved her body as she exhaled. I knew she felt it. She liked it, so I went on. Her body melted against mine, and she sighed longingly. I longed for her, too. I longed to take her up in my arms and kiss her, touchher. I longed to satisfy her sexual desires, and the urge only became stronger by the second while my lips rested on her skin.
I raised her up in my arms. She had some weight, but that didn't matter. I loved the way she threw her hands around my neck. Her eyes flashed with passion, and I was ready to see more.
We arrived at the bedroom, and I gently let her down on the bed. My body lay flat atop hers, and her legs wrapped around me while she bit on her bottom lip. I let my hand glide through her hair. Her eyes were flickers of desire, and I kissed her hard on the lips. She didn't fight it. Rather, she kissed me back, and I felt the weight of her desire. She wanted me now, and I was pleased to give her everything she wanted.
***********
Afterwards, Liza lay down beside me. She smiled, and I liked that she did. It made me feel as though she was satisfied, and I understood the feeling. She took deep breaths; her lips were a bit swollen. Her hair tousled around her head. She turned to look at me as she traced patterns on my chest.
“What?” I asked in a low voice. Liza tilted her head to the side, as though to say nothing.
“I just…” she paused for a second, sighed, and then continued. “I just want to know if you’ve found my father yet.”
“No,” I said. “I haven't found him. Your father is still in hiding.”
“Oh,” Liza uttered and then collected herself. She lay back lazily on the bed, and I turned to look at her face. My elbows were stiff on the bed while I balanced my head on my hand.
“Tell me everything you know about your father,” I asked, and she released an exasperated sigh.
“Roman, if I knew something, I would have said something. I don't know.” Just as I suspected. She didn't look me in the face for once while she spoke, so I knew it wasn't true.
“I don't believe you,” I said. “Stop lying to me, Liza.”
“Why don't you believe me?” She turned to look at me before falling silent for a minute. Her eyes were wide open, and I was now back to seeing her innocence again. Her tone wasn't raised too high or pitched too low. It was certain and trustworthy. What if it was the truth? I thought. What if, truly, she didn't know anything about Arkady? I knew her father was a crooked man, a failed father and a debtor, a traitor, and a dirty thief. The chances of Arkady hiding such details from Liza were slim. Yet I wasn't convinced. She ought to know something about her father. Yet she claimed to know nothing. Not even the name of one of his registered foundations.
I gently shrugged off the thought, and I was back in the moment. She moved her body, as though in wait for an answer. A reason as to why I didn't believe her.
“If you want me to believe you, you'll have to give me a reason to. It's either that or…you're just a liar.”
Liza scoffed at my response, but I didn't care. Her face contorted, her mouth opened, yet she didn't have anything to say to me. For a short while, I thought of what Viktor said. The thing about breaking her to get the information we needed. At this moment, it didn't seem to be a bad idea. I would rather let Markov crash with all his allies than let the shame of his errors tarnish the Lobanov name.
I stood up from the bed and walked away from Liza. Although we had a nice moment, the feeling had died away like chaff in the wind, and I didn't want to be around her. I needed a lead, not disappointments. Liza made it seem as though I wouldn't get my answers any time soon, and it pissed me off.
