AllFreeNovel
Share Us
ARSEN
The door to my office opens. “You haven’t left yet, Mila?” I ask without looking up.
“It’s me,” Galina says.
Spinning in my padded chair, I see that she’s lingering on the threshold. Without looking at my desk, I flip the notebook shut. Mila brought me excellent intel on Yevgeniy: he’s gotten word about my upcoming wedding. The leaks we carefully created to spread the word that I’m getting married have been a huge success. But these details aren’t meant for Galina’s eyes.
“What is it?” I ask, checking the time on my watch. “I know we said we’d get dinner together, but it’s a bit early.”
Shaking her head, she closes the door, resting her weight on it. “I wanted to talk to you about something.”
The way she phrases that makes me wary. “What happened?”
She glances at me, but she can’t hold my gaze. “I’m trying to think of how to bring it up.”
“Just say it,” I urge. “Nothing shocks me these days.” Galina continues to stare at her feet. One foot crosses the other, her toes rubbing her ankle. I turn my chair to face her fully. “Come here. I won’t bite.”
Taking short, stiff steps, she moves closer to me. She’s wearing her hair up in a messy bun. When I saw her earlier in the hallway, her long neck exposed down to her collarbone in her green dress, it took all my restraint not to snatch her up and kiss the indentation above her breasts.
Mila acted like she noticed Galina at first, but I saw her the second I turned the corner. It’s like I’ve developed a sixth sense for finding her no matter where she is.
“Galina,” I prompt.
Her rib cage expands to its limit as she breathes in. “Mila told me about Kristina. Details included.”
Icicles sprout along my veins. I realize I’m crushing the arms of my chair, but even though it hurts, I don’t stop. “Did she?”
“Yes,” she whispers sadly. Her bottom lip trembles; she’s on the verge of crying. “Arsen, I’m so sorry. I understand why you hate Yevgeniy. I really, really get it now. What kind of animal could murder a pregnant woman?”
I know exactly what kind. The kind that I’ll slaughter with a smile plastered on my face.
Shaking herself, she wipes her eyes and regains her composure. “Are you mad that I know?” she asks.
I force my fingers to stop clenching the chair. “No.”
“Really?”
“You would have found out the details sooner or later.”
For some reason, me telling her not to worry hasn’t erased the anxiety from her lovely features.
She frowns harder than before. “I haven’t told you everything about me and Simon.”
The cold that had begun to fade comes back tenfold. I don’t speak; I simply wait anxiously, my entire being straining as I prepare for the bomb she’s going to drop.
Galina covers her face with both hands. “I was pregnant with his baby. I was thrilled. I imagined names, baby room paint colors, preschool teacher meets … everything. Simon was also over the moon. But then, when we went to the doctor for that first ultrasound, we never heard a heartbeat.” She utters the last word like it’s rancid oil she’s spitting out.
All the growing fear is washed away by sympathy. Jumping to my feet, I sweep her into my arms, holding her like she could disappear at any moment. “Galina …”
“He blamed me,” she chokes out. Her entire body is shaking. “To be honest, I blamed myself too. I guess that’s why I stayed with him so long … That’s why I justified the abuse that he started throwing at me. I hated myself for what happened. And somehow, him hurting me made me think that it was what I deserved. It made me think that it was my fault.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” I state sharply.
“I know.” Her voice wobbles, making me worry she doesn’t believe that. “It took time, but I understand nothing could have stopped the loss. Simon never moved on like I did. It corrupted him, transformed him into a twisted version of the man I once knew.”
“There’s no excuse for how he treated you!” Cupping her wet cheeks, I stare deep into her beautiful, sorrowful eyes. “If it had been me … if we’d had a child and you lost it … I’d never blame you. Not even a little bit. Do you understand?”
Her eyes widen, new tears threatening to spill over. I see myself in their reflection. I have a front-row seat for how my pupils darken, shifting from the rush of emotion that comes over me. It flows through my blood until I think my cells are pockets of steam.
