124.
Vera’s POV.
“Are you sure you’re okay, Vee?” Corbin asks, worrying his lips as he leads me outside of Days Dream.
“Yes, I am. Trust me. The dizziness is because of the stress I passed through. I guess.” I press his hand into mine, wanting to reassure him.
God! Even as I’m saying that my cramped bones barely let me walk in proper gait.
And the wave of dizziness is a constant slap to my consciousness.
Corbin is worried sick about me so I dare not reveal that to him.
I can’t. But seriously what can be the cause of this back-and-forth illness? I think to myself, mindlessly pressing my assistant’s hand, unaware of his winces of pain.
“Vera…could…loosen your…” I brittle from my dazed state and stare up at him. I see Corbin gesturing at something and bringing my eyes down, I find out I’m strangling his fingers into mine.
Embarrassed, I detach my hand from his and smile awkwardly. “I’m sorry…”
“It’s…okay.” He waves me off with a smile of his own.
God, did I mention how I kept losing my temper back in the practice room?
Hell, I nearly went into a fistfight with one of the models- my colleague. The reason is way too lame for me to do that but I just lost my temper and snapped.
The girl only wanted to use my eyeliner which I kept on the dresser without telling me- well she had said she told me- and I snapped at her.
Remembering that awkward moment makes my cheeks heat up and I’m sure it’s already a shade of red.
“Vera, you know you can talk to me if there’s a problem?” Corbin’s voice penetrates my ears and I stare up.
Looking at him and hearing him repeat the same words from seconds ago, my irritation bubbles up again.
Vera, keep it calm! The voice in my head chides.
I breathe in and out five times before saying. “Not to worry, Corbin I’m super good.”
The young man finally relents. “Fine. If you say so.”
He then tilts toward me and wraps me in a soothing hug before going back inside.
“Right,” I say under my breath as I make my way down the cobblestone steps.
Andrei is already humming the engine, ready to drive me back to my apartment.
I take the man in and I’m successfully reminded about him- David.
For five good days, I’ve distanced myself from him.
I never answered his calls, or texts where he’s constantly telling me to let him in.
How can I? After he made me pass through hell?
Broke my damn heart?
No! He should try again in the next five centuries.
‘Oww, you sure about that?’ That voice in my head taunts. I don’t answer it because I know…I mean it.
“Vee,” Andrei says by way of greeting and flutters the back passenger’s seat open for me.
I clench inside, sighing at the sear of pain I feel in my bones.
Andrei slams the door shut and settles behind the wheel.
Well, instead of putting the car in the drive, he turns to me.
“What?” I ask, annoyed and my brows shoot up into my hairline.
“Vera, don’t you think you should hear him out, yet?” His words spark my irritation anew and I bark.
“Andrei, please take me home.”
He nods way too quickly and starts wheeling the car away.
Mid-way, my phone vibrates and a message appears from an unknown sender. It just writes out my name in full.
I can’t text a reply back so I shrug it off.
We arrive at the apartment complex in time and I crawl away from the car, waving at Andrei as I slide into the lobby.
Taking the elevator, I arrive at my floor and pad down to my door.
I’m just about to slide in the key card when my eyes catch sight of the envelope attached in the crack of the door.
Brows scrunched, I tentatively grab the envelope and the scribbled words in front of it grab my attention and fists my heart a bit.
“Honor me with your presence tomorrow night, my angel.”
David, I call inwardly as I start unwrapping the envelope, only to find an invitation inside it.
He’s…hosting a gala, I think to myself as I read the words seamlessly.
The footfalls coming from the hallway bring a moment’s distraction and I look up to find out it’s Andrei.
His eyes are homed in on the invitation in my grip.
Stepping close, he whispers.
“I hope you attend.”
I scoff and push my door open, sauntering down to my living room as the front door slams shut behind me.
Getting there, I sink into the couch and sigh.
Emotions I’ve not felt before becloud me. But most of all, I miss being in the hands of a particular man.
David Truman.
No matter how much I’m convincing myself to hate his guts- everything about him for what he did to me I can’t hate him completely.
And even thinking about him now brings swirls of arousal.
The heady thoughts of him make me reach into my pants, finding my clit to rub.
But before I can enjoy the bliss of touching my clit, my phone blares.
“Who could that be?” I mutter, swiping the receiver.
“Vera Ivanovna?” A Male voice, a dark and husky voice harasses my ears.
“Yes. Who is this?” I ask.
“Oh, it’s the man you disappointed some time ago.”
The response sounds kinda vague. So I add pressure. “Who please?”
“It’s Anton…Anton Sokolov.”
My eyes widen as I feel equal parts fear and guilt about what happened to that brooady, stocky man.
“Hey. Hi. Um…” I stutter, not finding any words to say.
“Save yourself the stress. How are you?” He asks instead.
Then I go into chatting with him.
To my surprise, the boogeyman doesn’t seem the least bit angry with me.
He tells me just how bored he’s been since that night and I’m compelled to say what I said next.
“You mind being my date tomorrow at a friend’s gala?”
“You mean…you’re inviting me out? As your date?”
“Yes, I am. Anton.” I chirp, responding to him.
“Wow. Sounds great? How can I say no?”
Those words are edged with a chilling darkness. My body suddenly turns cold but I can’t bring myself to cancel what I already agreed to.
After that, we end the call. I think about my offer but all I feel is dread.
But what’s there to fear?
Nothing at all.
I relaxed on the couch and before long, I dozed off.
*
*
*
>>The Following Night>>>
“Oh. Shit!” I spit in annoyance and Evelyn’s standing ten steps away from me because I cursed her and myself as I search for what to wear tonight.
It sucks that I decided to attend that gala but have nothing to wear.
“How about this one?” I ask Evelyn, turning to face her.
She manages a tremulous smile and nods.
“It’s fine too.”
“Evelyn! This doesn’t look fine to me! I hate them all!” I snap, folding the dress and throwing it into the heap of clothes on the floor.
The hitch of breath comes from Evelyn and I roll my eyes.
I hear her clear her throat. Then. “Uh…Vera, why don’t you order a dress?”
Sharply, I turn and bash. “I don’t want to order, Evelyn! I must find something that soothes my taste in this closet!!!”
I fold the next dress and throw it across the room.
Evelyn shakes and takes three steps to bark.
Locking her eyes on me again, she says…”Uh…Vera, I think you should go to the hospital!”
Oh, oh…that increases my irritation.
I step dangerously close to her and lean in. “How does finding a dress relate to going to a hospital, Evelyn?”
The woman blanches. Her throat bobs as she swallows.
With a rusty face and hoarse voice, she says. “NO. I mean you’re losing your temper a lot these days.”
I grumble and step away from her space. “Evelyn. It’s because I can’t find anything to wear. You know what, find something that soothes your taste and I promise to wear it.”
I tell, slouching into the bed.
“Okay.” She nods way too quickly and dives into the heap of clothes on the floor.
Evelyn ransacks, throws, scrutinizes, and finally, she raises a pale pink gown up for me.
It’s a turtle neck and body hug too.
I stand up quickly and dash into the bathroom.
I walk out in time to see her arranging the scattered clothes in my closet. I towel my body and begin dressing up.
Done, I wear the sneakers she brought out for me and arrange my hair in a ponytail.
“Thank you, Evelyn. For managing my rupturing temper.”
She gives a quaking smile and nods. “Anytime, Vera.”
The flood of hormones makes me move and I flush myself in her arms, hugging her as tears rim my eyes.
Hell, what’s going on with me? I think inwardly as I break the hug.
After that, I dash outside and follow Andrei downstairs.
The ride to the hotel where the event is being held is a quiet one. And I love it.
I alight out of the car just as Adrei pulls up in the curb.
With a slow gait into the ballroom, my eyes run around searching for one man.
There he is…coming towards me.
“God, I don’t want him close,” I mutter to myself as David barrels close to me. His eyes searching as he takes me in.
I swallow, opening and closing my eyes…he’s almost here.
Hell, I can’t breathe!
Hold yourself, Vera! I chide myself, steeling my features.
Just as David’s about to reach me, my eyes land on the man who just walked into the ballroom.
Instantly, I hurry to meet him and I sling my hand into the loop of his.
“Anton.” I breathe, staring at the boogeyman.
David stops before us and his face goes dark at the sight before him.
Me and Anton.
As if that isn’t enough…I mutter to David.
“He is my date, David.”
Our eyes lock and something akin to a tremor flashes in David’s eyes.
Before I can breathe next…David pulls me from Anton’s grip, harshly and I yelp at the suddenness of it all.
I moved my mouth to speak as all eyes in the ballroom turned towards us before I heard the click of something.
Turning, I see Anton pointing a gun at David, smirking.
“The girl is mine,” Anton says.
But the surprise doesn’t end there as I hear another gun being clicked out of the safety.
My head snaps up, and I see David with a revolver…
His eyes are bloodshot as he mutters. “Over my dead body!”
To be continued….