I look around the room. Bianca, the secretary, has already left, and I didn’t even notice when. I glance at the clock. I've only been here half an hour longer. Then I shift my gaze to the closed doors to Andriy's deputy's office.
" Almost, " I reply.
" I'm as hungry as the devil, " he says huskily, leaning on my desk. He looks at me with a heated gaze." And I missed you.
" Mmm, Polyansky, " I support my chin with my hand and drawl dreamily. " Such words. And does your patience stretch to dinner?
" Milana, is this your veiled way of letting me know you've been thinking about me all day too? " he asks contentedly.
I just puff.
" Andriy, I’m here…, " I begin. I want to share my guesses with him, but the door to the boss's deputy's office suddenly swings open, and there she is, Bianca herself. An icy glance scans us both as if with an X-ray. Her dark eyes catch how he has leaned across the desk towards me. Too close, too intimate, and too unprofessional.
Then I see how this creature instantly stretches her lips into a falsely joyful smile that doesn’t even reach her eyes. No. There lurk dangerous sparks.
" Oh, Andriy, you’re here. I was just about to call for you, " she says cheerfully, though her malevolent gaze slides towards me again. She hesitates, then continues: " Will you come in? We need to talk.
" Certainly, " Andriy responds and turns his head towards me with questioning eyebrows.
" I'll wait. I've got work anyway, " I indicate at the documents in my hands, and cannot resist. I threw a look at Bianca with the unspoken but clearly understood: "Yes, we're going home together again."
He leaves, and jealousy fiercely tugs at my heart. I’d be lying if I denied the obvious. I am insanely jealous, knowing that they are there. Alone. Behind closed doors.
"Yes, breathe in, breathe out. Just breathe, girl," I tell myself silently and force myself to dive back into the documents. I review the six folders I set aside, and finally, a simple truth dawns on me. What links them is annulment. But not just a refusal from an employer. No.
I scrutinize more carefully. Indeed. All the applications were confirmed, meaning the employees were ready to be hired for the positions stated in the documents. But why are they listed as annulled? What’s going on?
My head spins. New information, like my guesses, gnaws at my brain. It feels like the solution is so close. Right under my nose. I just need to reach out and grab it. But what is it? What??
Silently grinding my teeth, I listen intently, trying to catch a snippet of conversation from behind those damn doors, but no. They are tightly closed, and nothing is audible, while that spiteful voice already boldly whispers and suggests various scenarios unfolding in that cursed office.
Damn. Why are they taking so long? It’s been at least half an hour. I start to get irritated. A nasty, sticky feeling spreads up my back, and my pulse quickens. I'm slowly going mad. And understanding the documents becomes increasingly difficult.
Suddenly, I catch myself squeezing one of the folders tightly in my hands. I breathe heavily, then abruptly relax my fingers, and the folder drops with a thud onto the others. The text before my eyes blurs with the anger and jealousy clouding my mind.
Eventually, I get up from the desk, tuck the selected six cases into a drawer, and stack a few more on top just in case " to avoid drawing attention. I grab my purse and am even stepping towards the exit when the blasted door opens and out comes Andriy.
I cast a cold sidelong glance at his smiling face, and it infuriates me even more
.
" See you tomorrow, Bi, " Andriy's calm, measured tone now openly annoys me.
" Yes, see you tomorrow, Endrus, " she drags out his name sweetly, Polish-style, and sparks almost fly from my eyes.
After that, I don’t wait, but dash out of the reception area, trembling so much that I only come to my senses when I step outside and see the black Audi. A wild thought instantly pops into my head, and I turn the other way. But before I can take a step, a broad male hand clasps my arm above the elbow and gently pulls me towards him.
" What are you doing? " he hisses angrily into my ear.
" Go to hell, Endrus, " I mimic Bianca's affectionate address and angrily pull my hand away.
" No scenes, Milana. Get in the car, " he growls softly, not letting go.
" It hurts. Let go, " I grimace and boldly lie. But it’s useless. His grip only slightly loosens.
" That trick won’t work. Get in the car. Let’s talk, " he says sternly and pulls me by the hand. His other hand firmly holds my waist, preventing me from getting free.
I just snort angrily, but trying to escape right in front of the building would have been too shortsighted. So, I just press my lips tighter and no longer resist when Polyansky seats me in the passenger seat and leans over to securely fasten the seat belt himself.
It irritates me even more. Because even in this moment, when I am furious, his proximity excites me, to the tingling in my fingertips. He leans back. His face is stern, his eyes sparking.
Ha! I almost puffed in his face. To hell with it, Polyansky! With one look, I show him my stance, and the door slams shut right in front of my nose. Look at him. He's angry. I silently hiss and turn my head to the window as he sits down next to me in the driver's seat. I can feel his irritated gaze on my skin, but I remain angry.
Just as silently, he starts the car, and we drive off. We reached the hotel quite quickly. I intend to get out as soon as possible, to escape. Yes, because I no longer want to talk. But Andriy acts preemptively, shuts off the car, and locks the doors. He unbuckles his seat belt and turns to me halfway.
" Don’t you want to say anything? " his voice is stern with accusatory notes.
" Me?? " I fell for this provocation like a schoolgirl, but to hell with this scoundrel. " Maybe you have something to say, End…
" Don’t even think about it, " he growls.
" Why? Is it her exclusive privilege to address you by name in an affectionate form? " I unbuckle my seat belt and angrily tug at the door handle. " Unlock it!
" Milana, darling…
" I am not your darling, Polyansky! These misunderstandings create problems. Don’t you think?! " I exploded. " First, you say there’s nothing between you, and then you coo like doves together. What am I supposed to think? " I throw bitterly.
" At the very least, don’t throw a fit, " his turquoise gaze burns.
" Go to hell, Polyansky! " I snapped. " You know where, with your sensible conversations. I’m curious, if YOU would see me in the company of an ex… sweetly and nicely talking, almost in an embrace? How would you react?
I throw sharp looks at him like spears, and I see his expression change at my last words. “What, dear? Visualized the picture?” " I think spitefully.
" You wouldn’t like it, right? " I answer for him. I see how his jaws, covered with light day-old stubble, clench even tighter, his cheek muscles twitching with anger. " And keep imagining…, " I continue to provoke, whispering.
The tension between us becomes electrically charged to an impossible point. The air in the cabin even seems denser, and a tiny spark and everything will explode. We lock horns with stubborn glances, like crossing swords, and then Andriy cups my face with his wide palms and, with some low, almost animalistic growl, plunges into a fierce kiss.
He kisses hard. And even a bit roughly. Pulls me towards him, boldly maneuvers in my mouth with his tongue, forcing me to respond. Bites my lip, then kisses and kisses again. Sucks on my tongue, runs over it, eagerly alternates between my upper and lower lip. Kisses fervently, as if parched for a drink. And then finally breaks away.
We both breathe heavily. And finding words and putting them together is hard. It was like branding, God darn it. Just as I want to say this, he quietly etches:
" Mine…, and only mine, " gazes into my eyes for a moment, and then greedily kisses again.
When he finally breaks away, I slowly come back to my senses. Damn Polyansky. Knocked the ground from under my feet in a second. Breathe in, breathe out. His "Mine" keeps spinning in my head and makes me question all my complaints.
" Andriy, " I finally say quietly. " You may not like it that I ask questions, but this is how relationships work. Who, for heaven's sake, if not you, should know this? " I feel a tremor run through my body, because this man is painfully necessary to me, but not at the cost of humiliation and ambiguities. " You better decide right away whether you want to be with me on these terms, or you want… something else.
I can't bring myself to say "someone else." Just can't. And he is silent. For too long.
" Do you still have feelings for Bianca? " The question flies out faster than I can think it through.
" Milana, dear, I… um, " he hesitates for a moment, pondering something, weighing, then loosens his tie. " I didn't think it would upset you so much, " he finally says, and a different expression appears in his eyes. Remorse? Or does it only seem so? " Between Bi and I "is only friendship.
I roll my eyes.
" Andriy, I'll be honest, this 'Bi' annoys me incredibly, as does her 'Endrus." It's like you still have some common intimate secrets, " I blurt out. Even though I understand I have no right to forbid such things, I can, after all, express my disgust.
" I hadn't thought before what it might seem like. Just a habit… Um, " he coughs, bumping into my piercing gaze. " Sorry. I understand that it can indeed be unpleasant.
" Besides, Polyansky, " I sigh, " Your 'Bi' clearly feels more than friendly looks and feelings. Women’s intuition, dear, " a serious thing, and we usually see such things with the naked eye.
" I'll talk to her about this, but after we’ve sorted everything out. I can calmly tell her that my woman doesn’t like it.
God, those words: "my woman." I swoon, and he just slyly smiles, with such an insanely charming smile.
" Your woman? " I ask, somehow, and blush.
" Mine. And I'll try to build relationships differently. I understand that it’s unpleasant for you to hear this now, but yes, " relationships with Bianca were largely based on passion. We were quite young when we met, and both learned how it is to be together. As you can see, we didn’t succeed.
I sigh. I understand that I’ll have to endure for a while longer
.
" By the way, Andriy. I found something today, " I decided to switch to another topic.
I sigh, and he freezes.
" What exactly?
" Several annulled applications, " I say this out loud, and suddenly realize WHAT else was common among those cases. Something through the prism of jealousy, I couldn’t grasp and understand. I watch as Andriy raises his eyebrow questioningly, and I continue with a suddenly somber voice: " They were all confirmed by the employers. The annulment was done by your firm…