Sophia’s POV
I looked toward the door to find Daisy and Nick gaping at us. Relief washed over me, if it was someone else other than them, I wouldn’t know how to explain our situation. Me and Ivan, alone in a dark room, my dress was a rumpled mess, and my once carefully styled hair was all over my face.
Ivan didn’t look any better, pink lipstick was smeared around his mouth, and his hair was dishevelled from the way I grabbed his hair when he went down on me.
Yeah, they didn’t need to be told what we had just done, it was glaringly obvious.
“Sophia, what the fuck?” Daisy whisper-shout. “What if someone other than us walked in here?” She fumes.
“Well, we actually went in search of her, it’s not like anyone would randomly come to an abandoned dark room,” Nick pointed out and that earned him a glare from Daisy.
“Mr Kozlov.” Daisy snarled, pointing a finger at Ivan. “Why are you here? First, you kidnapped her, and now you show up unannounced?”
Ivan gave her a flat look. “Leave, you’re being irrational. You can talk to her later.”
Daisy gasped, her expression morphed from disbelief to rage. “How dare-”
Nick slapped a hand over her mouth and tugged on her arm. “Let’s wait for them outside, anger won’t solve anything,” he hissed.
She slapped his hand away and stormed outside, slamming the door behind her. Nick shot us a pointed look before joining her outside.
“You talked to her about me,” He said flatly after a beat.
I blew out the breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. “She was with me in Moscow, she knew it was you all along.”
“Okay.”
“You were rude, she was only looking out for me,” I explained.
He ignored me and instead, his gaze roamed from my head to my toes “Fix yourself up before leaving. Goodbye.” Ivan said, his tone a little tight. And then he left, without another word.
I sagged back against the desk and closed my eyes trying to swallow the thick lump in my throat.
Why does he affect me so much? It makes no sense. I knew for a fact that this thing between us meant only pleasure, I was the only one stupid enough to develop a crush or something. I’d let him turn me into one of his numerous mistresses and hurt myself in the process.
I blinked rapidly as angry tears blurred my vision. What is wrong with me? I had to fight back the urge to rush to Ivan’s side and beg him to take me with him.
Dr. Amelia was wrong. I am definitely sick in the head.
I wiped tears off my face and got busy with fixing my appearance so I could go back to the party being held for me downstairs.
The engagement party was over, finally, after long excruciating hours. Harry dropped me off at the new apartment I bought after my last fight with Dad. I figured it was long overdue, I’d be getting married soon anyway. Thankfully Harry had been oblivious to the fact that I was losing my shit while guilt ate me up. It’s a good thing we don’t live together yet.
It was 2 am and I was being scolded by Daisy, she and Nick were already waiting for me at my apartment, which wasn’t surprising at all. The moment she had caught me in that room with Ivan, I knew for certain that I wouldn’t hear the last of it. I know I deserve it, sometimes we need that one person who snaps us back to our senses.
“To be fair, I would have jumped him too even if it were my mum’s funeral,” Nick said in a serious tone. He turned to me, “Please tell me he lets you call him ‘daddy’ in bed?”
“I swear to God, Nick!” Daisy snapped.
“What?” He raised his hands in mock surrender.
“This is a serious matter,” Daisy pointed out.
“I get that but-”
“There is no but,” She cuts him off.
“Guys, calm down,” I hissed. “And, Nick, I do not have ‘daddy’ kink.” I rolled my eyes at him.
“Too bad, he’s got that ‘daddy’ vibe going on,” he muttered under his breath.
“Did you even have to reply to that? You’re just enabling him or are you just trying to avoid the reason why we are here?”
I let out an exasperated sigh. “Fine, go on with your sermon, but I already told you, it won’t happen again. I let him know that too.”
“You said that the last time before you had your first therapy session,” she pointed out. “And you hooked up with him the very first time you saw him in weeks. What would have happened if any other person or Harry walked in there? I know your marriage is nothing but business but that wouldn’t look good for you if you had been caught!”
“Jesus fucking Christ! Fine, I messed up, one time. I won’t have sex with him anymore. It’s not like I’ll be seeing him, I’ve made my decision and I let him know that already.”
“I’m just worried about you! I don’t like the idea of you hooking up with him again, after everything that’s happened. Do you know how fucked up this is?”
“Don’t act like you didn’t turn into the biggest fool known to man while you were still fooling around with Ryan! You’re probably still waiting for him to love you back till this day!” I spat out before I could stop myself.
She and Ryan had decided to stay friends after I was kidnapped. He’d shown up with a friend from college as his girlfriend, much to Daisy’s dismay. But she had accepted his decision and tucked away her feelings. And even now, she was still in love with him.
She looked hurt by my outburst. And I instantly regretted it. “Shit, I’m sorry. I-”
“Fuck you!” She snapped.
“Shut up! The both of you. I can’t believe I have to be the sensible one here. Now chill the fuck out and let’s have a proper conversation and provide a solution,” Nick said firmly. He glared at both of us. “Sit down,” he ordered.
I plopped down on the sofa as Daisy moved to sit on the other end.
“Sophia, that was uncalled for,” said Nick in a matter-of-fact tone.
“I-I know, I’m sorry, Daisy,” I said softly.
“Whatever,” she mutters.
Nick rolled his eyes. “If we are going to have an adult conversation and provide solutions, you’re gonna have to make up.”
He was right, and since I’d been the one to fuck up, it was on me to make things right. I stood and moved over to Daisy. I crouched down and took her in a bear hug. “I’m sorry, I should never have spoken to you that way or talked about something that is a sensitive topic to you in such a manner,” I mumbled against her neck.
She hesitates a little, then she wraps me in her arms too. “It’s fine, I forgive you. I may have pushed you too far, but I’m really just worried about you.”
“I know… thank you, for everything,” I whispered and pulled back to look at her, hoping she’d see the sincerity in my eyes.
“Aww aren’t you two just the cutest?”
“Shut up.” We both scolded him fondly.
“Alright, enough bonding, how do we handle this issue?” He probed.
I inhaled deeply. “Guys, seriously, I’ve made my decision. I’m not hooking up with Ivan, ever again. I know he is bad for me, besides it’s not like he lives in London.”
Daisy shot me a disapproving look. “Yea, but he was at your engagement party even though he wasn’t invited. Which by the way, was creepy as fuck. Now I’m really worried about your safety, need me to move in with you?”
“You’re overreacting again,” Nick pointed out.
She scowled at him, “No, I’m not. That guy is dangerous.”
“He is, but he wouldn’t hurt me. Ivan doesn’t act without a reason and I haven’t given him a reason to do so,” I explained.
They both stared at me in silence as if they were trying to read me. I shifted uncomfortably, scared of what they might see. Could they tell I had it bad for Ivan? That I was royally fucked?
“If you say so,” Daisy grumbled. “What about Harry? How would you handle this whole charade?”
“I dunno yet, to be honest. I hadn’t thought about anything else other than getting married to him and claiming my inheritance and position in the company.”
“You could divorce him though,” Nick said quietly.
“Fuck, you’re right! Why didn’t I think of it sooner?”
“Would Harry agree to it? You said his family wanted him to get married also,” Daisy muses.
“Harry is kind and understanding, he’d definitely agree to it. All I need to do is find the right time and we can plan to dissolve our marriage on mutual agreement.” I grinned widely.
For the first time in weeks, it was the first time that I felt things were going my way. I didn’t need to feel so bad about getting married on a whim anymore. I could endure all these until I got what I wanted.