AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Ivan. The girl,” I bark.
Chapter11
Kate
“Hey honey, how are you?” my mom asks.
I finally talked to my mom after I got out of a work meeting. We didn’t have an event this evening, but Renee called an early morning meeting to discuss some HR changes. Grabbing my bag out of my locker, I barely answered my mom’s phone call before it went to voicemail.
“I’m okay. Just got out of a work meeting, and I’m going to try to make the subway. How are things?” I fumble with my bag and walk toward the elevator with my head cocked to the side to hold the phone in place.
“Things are good. Remember how I mentioned I was seeing someone?” she asks.
Yep. This I do remember, although I don’t register it anymore. I love my mom. But she has a revolving door of men in and out of her life that I can’t keep up with. I push the button on the elevator and cross my fingers that I don’t lose service.
“Yes, Mom, I remember. Everything going okay?”
“Yes! That’s why I’m calling; I would love it if you would come out to meet him one weekend—he is interested in meeting you.” She sounds as if she is grinning, and the tone in her voice has my resolve breaking.
“Yeah, Mom. I’d love that. Let me text you my work schedule, and we can find a time,” I reply.
The doors chime open, and when I step out, I’m greeted with a monsoon. Sheets of rain pour down the floor-to-ceiling windows of the ground floor. The white noise rhythm of the pitter-patter would be relaxing if I were home with coffee and a book but, currently, it’s the soundtrack to a soaked afternoon.
Dang.
“Listen, Mom, it’s pouring down rain and I have to make my train. I’ll call you later.”
“Okay. Be safe.”
I hang up the phone and stare at my fate. There is no way I’m going to make my train if I wait for this to die down. I fling my phone in my bag and zip it before slinging it up and over my head. I charge through the revolving doors of the lobby and don’t stop, determined to get to the next subway station as fast as I can.
I’ve made it two blocks when I notice a black SUV behind me slow as it approaches where I’m jogging. My heart rate picks up as anxiety blooms in my belly. I slow down to a walk and remove the bag from over my head fishing around for my pepper spray. I keep my eyes straight ahead when I hear a window roll down, trying not to bring attention to myself. When the vehicle doesn’t move, I can’t help but look.
It’shim.
He sits back, far enough away from the open window to avoid getting wet.
“Do you often make it a habit to run alone in the rain?” he asks nonchalantly.
I notice his brow is furrowed and his eyes are glassy, like he hasn’t slept much. My eyes dart between him and the second black SUV that pulled up behind them. I’ve stopped walking at this point, and I’m staring at him through the open window. I have no idea if he is alone. Obviously, he has a driver I can’t see through the tinted glass.
“I—no. Do you often pull over to scold women on the sidewalk?” I say, but immediately snap my mouth shut. My mom always said my mouth would get me in trouble one day. His head tilts to the side as he eyes me. I catch his eyes flicking to my mouth, and suddenly I’m aware of my vulnerability.
The rain hasn’t let up, and it’s dripping down my face and into my eyes, making me squint to see him. My chest is heaving, and goosebumps pebble through my shirt. I tell myself it’s because of the cold rain claiming my clothes and not the flash of heat in his eyes as he trails them over me.
“No,” he says, and my head snaps back. His voice is a mix of silk and command. One word and I’m stripped bare. My mouth parts, and I take in more air, my tongue darting out to taste the rain from my lips. My insides are squirming, begging for relief from his stare. I mentally rehearse what I’m going to say, but the window climbs back up, and I blink several times as both vehicles pull away from the curb.
He didn’t offer me a ride.
* * *
I’m tremblingwhen I finally get back to my apartment. My hands shake as I try to gather the key to the door. I try again. Taking a deep breath, I shift on my feet, trying to calm my nerves. The sloshing coming from my shoes is the only sound in the quiet hallway. Finally the key slides into the lock, and I turn it as fast as I can, plowing into my apartment. Turning quickly, I slam the door shut, locking the door and deadbolt.
Back against the door, my body is on the cusp of breaking. My chest is heaving, and the water from my hair tickles my back as it rolls down my skin.I am safe. I’m okay.
I repeat these words to myself before hitting my head against the back of the door. Tears threaten behind my eyes, and I slide to the floor. I pull my legs to my chest and bury my face in my knees, choking back a sob that sounds akin to a strangled laugh.
Mr. Morozov had taken me off guard. I had no preparation for his threatening presence in my life—all because of an off-chance event that happened to us months ago. I don’t know why fate keeps having me run into him, but it’s prompting me to worry.
