Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 96714 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96714 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
“Have you worked for Ive long?” I asked.
Hubert turned his gaze toward me, and his lips seemed to tense. Back at home, I rarely asked him personal questions. I’d been too busy exploring, and of course I’d been a little too nervous to ask questions.
This was the problem with nothing to do. I was more than happy to be bored with no one for company but Hubert was here, and he was close to my husband … at least I assumed he was close.
“You don’t want to answer me. Is this some kind of code you guys have, that you won’t … I don’t know … talk about your time with your … master?” I didn’t know what to call Ive. Master, Boss, Monster. They all seemed befitting.
However, the tension in his jaw did seem to change, and there was a smirk, or what I believed to be a smirk. This made me smile.
“I’ve known Ive, personally, a handful of months. That’s it.” I tried to offer an explanation for my husband. “He seems a little, I don’t know, cold.”
Hubert didn’t move but looked straight ahead. “I’ve worked for Mr. Yahontov for over fifteen years. I started small and earned his respect to be able to stay close to him.”
This made me frown. “Close to him? You work at his country home.”
“Mr. Yahontov rarely spends time in the city. He always returns to his country home.”
“Oh, I see.” Okay, that stung. My husband doesn’t want to be with me. I could handle that. Easy. Fine. He didn’t like me, and that was fine. Of course it was fine. No one had to like everyone.
There was no rule. I didn’t even like Ive. In fact, I think when he first captured me, I told him to suck and eat his own dick. I had no idea what I was saying or threatening. It was all a blur. Fear did that to a person. I know it did to me, quite badly as well.
Getting to my feet, I made my excuses and walked straight to the main bedroom, through to the en suite bathroom.
Why did it hurt so much to hear the truth out loud? I already knew Ive hated me. That was why he never returned to his house. I was there. I wasn’t like the Sophies of this world.
No one wanted me. I’d been told enough times. It wasn’t like this was news to me. Being married didn’t come with an automatic value. I meant nothing. I was still nothing.
Staring down at the ring on my finger, I knew nothing had changed. The only difference was I wasn’t frightened of when my father would get bored and take his aggression out on me. I’d gotten out of the MC and away from it, but I’d been put in a different prison.
I heard the apartment doorbell ring. I glanced up into the mirror and saw tears in my eyes. I quickly swiped at them, not wanting them to fall. This was one of the benefits of not wearing makeup. I’d gotten used to hiding my tears.
Stepping out of the main bedroom, I saw the multiple packages waiting. Hubert talked, but I didn’t hear what he had to say. I picked up the packages and carried them through to the main bedroom. I could sort out the clothes. One by one, I unpacked them, feeling absolutely nothing. It was a feeling I was very much used to. I checked each item and when I got to the red dress for dinner, I kept that on the bed.
For the rest of the day, I stayed in the bedroom. Lunch came and went, and I didn’t eat anything because I just didn’t feel hungry. Hubert asked if he should order lunch, and I refused.
At six, I got into the red dress and pinned my hair up the best way I knew how. I didn’t bother with any makeup, there was no point. At six-thirty, Ive entered his bedroom.
“Ivan will meet us at the restaurant. Let’s go.” He held out his arm, and that was the extent of his invitation.
Taking his arm, we left his penthouse apartment, and I knew I didn’t like it. There was no character to it. Was that why he preferred to be at his country home? The one place that I’d been left, and he never was. I had that sick feeling in my stomach and I ignored it.
We traveled to the restaurant in silence. Ive was on his cell phone and he didn’t look happy. He didn’t take any calls, but he texted.
Hubert drove us to the restaurant, and once outside, Ive put his cell phone away and offered a hand to me. Part of me wanted to push the hand away, but I wasn’t going to be rude and expect his wrath.