Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 120955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 605(@200wpm)___ 484(@250wpm)___ 403(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 605(@200wpm)___ 484(@250wpm)___ 403(@300wpm)
Before I’ve made it halfway across the floor, he grabs my wrist and spins me around to face him.
“You have to calm down, Katerina. I know this is upsetting for you—”
I yank my arm from his hold. “You have no idea how this is for me.”
He narrows his eyes. “As I was saying, I know this is upsetting for you, but she’s in good hands. It was probably just a little low blood sugar from adapting to the new diet.”
“You don’t know that. It could be a more serious problem. I want to speak to her, Alex.” I make my voice hard. “Now.”
He clenches his jaw. “It’s not even five in the morning there. She’s sleeping. You’ll speak to her later today.”
“Now,” I repeat. Unable to go to my mom or to offer my help is bad enough. His attempt to keep me from speaking with her makes me feel just a little hysterical.
“Katerina,” he says harshly, grasping my shoulders. “Get ahold of yourself.”
“No.” I twist out of his grip. “I want to see her. She’s my mother. Don’t you get that? She’s the only family I have.”
“Katyusha,” he says in a gentler tone, reaching for me again. “Don’t upset yourself so much, my love.”
I backtrack to the door. “She’s sick. She fainted. She fell, for crying out loud. I’m not going to sit here like a pampered princess while my mom needs me.”
The blue of his eyes hardens like glittering gemstones. “You’ll stay here or wherever I decide to keep you safe, and you’ll do as I say. That’s the only choice you have in this equation, kiska.”
The harsh words are like a blow to my head. We’ve been doing so great, getting along so well, pretending that everything is normal. Yet it’s not. And I can’t do anything about it.
Spinning around, I run for the door. To my relief, he doesn’t follow. He grants me the reprieve of solitude as I lock myself in the library and come to terms with the truth. Over and over, I come to terms with it. This is no honeymoon. No matter how great or adventurous the sex, no matter how well he treats me, there are limits to this arrangement, and only one person makes the rules.
Alex. He holds all the power.
Now that I’m slightly calmer, however, I have to admit he’s right about the hour. I’m not going to call my mom at five a.m. and wake her if she’s sleeping. I don’t have a choice but to wait until it’s later in the morning in the States, at least nine or so.
A knock comes from the door.
“Katyusha?” Alex calls. “Come have lunch. You have to eat.”
I have a good mind to throw a vase at the door, but he’s right again. Starving myself isn’t going to change anything.
Taking a few deep breaths, I get my emotions under control before unlocking the door. He stands on the threshold like a king, regal and imposing, his large frame dominating the space.
“I want to see her, Alex,” I say quietly. “I want to examine her for myself.”
“That’s her doctors’ job and what I’m paying them for,” he says in an uncompromising tone. “This discussion is over.” He holds out a hand. “Now come dress and have lunch with me.”
He’s not giving me a choice. Nothing has changed since we arrived in St. Petersburg. Maybe it will never change.
I don’t accept his proffered hand. Gritting my teeth, I go upstairs, change, and join him for lunch in the dining room.
Our meal progresses in silence. He tries to draw me into a conversation a couple of times, asking about the dress rehearsal and if I like the ball gown, but when he remains unsuccessful at getting a response, he eventually falls quiet.
He does wait with me in his study until the clock strikes four p.m. He works while I pace the floor. The minute the grandfather clock announces the hour, he connects his laptop and activates a video call.
When my mom’s face comes onto the screen, I collapse onto the sofa in relief at how well she looks. Her cheeks have a healthy glow, and her blond hair is prettily styled. She’s wearing her favorite blue sweater and a lighter blue silk scarf that brings out the color of her eyes. Judging by the painting behind her on the wall, she’s sitting in the lounge.
“Mom, hi.” I swallow to contain my emotions. “How are you?”
“Katie,” she says with a broad smile. “Alex. How good to see you.”
I glance up to find Alex behind me, leaning with his arms on the backrest of the sofa.
“So,” my mom says. “How are you two doing?”
I wave a hand. “Never mind us. Are you all right? I had such a fright. What happened?”
She utters an embarrassed laugh. “I didn’t want to worry you. It’s nothing. I told the doctor he shouldn’t even have called you.”