Chapter Ten
1377 Words
~Valentina~
I have never met man more infuriating than Nikolai Vetrovski.
The way he shrugged off my touch this morning really hurt.
I didn't have a fragile ego or anything, but having my concern being disregarded like that was rather bruising.
To top it all, I couldn't catch a wink of sleep after he left this morning.
I felt tired and angry. What a perfect way to start my first day as a married woman.
The only person that was stopping me from balding myself was Rita, Nikolai's housekeeper.
She was a very lovely woman who looked to be in her mid sixties but moved with an agility I couldn't even replicate. The fact that she reminded me of my mother made me warm up to her very quickly.
We were expecting my family for dinner and had been working all day to make sure that everything was set.
It was almost time so I quickly went to freshen up.
I wore a simple strappless red dress that hugged my curves and fell a little below mid thigh. I left me hair to fall in waves down my back. I applied mascara then used a red lipstick.
I was taking in my reflection when I heard the bell ring. I quickly grabbed my heels and ran down the stairs. Once I was at the door, I slipped them on and opened the door.
The door was barely open when arms were wrapped around me and I was pulled into a warm hug.
"Val!", I heard Mia squeal as she squeezed me tight.
"Mia", I grumbled, yet a giggle slipped from my lips.
She let me go and I watch her wipe a tear from her cheek.
"It feels like we haven't seen in years", she said, as she pulled me away from the doorway.
"I know right", I agreed, even though yesterday was my wedding and she barely left my arm.
I finally looked up at the other guests to see my cousins, aunts, uncles... I had a large family.
They filed in, smiling as we exchanged greetings. I scowled at some of my male cousins when they ruffled my hair.
When everyone was in, I looked to Mia as I realized that two faces, excluding Luca's, were missing. I knew that Luca had been in a meeting with Nikolai, although I believed that they should be on their way already.
"Where is my mum and Uncle Stefan?", I asked Mia.
"They should almost be here. Uncle wanted to speak to your mom", she said.
"Okay...", I said. I wonder what was so important that it couldn't have waited for after the dinner.
"Why don't you show me around, Mrs, Vetrovski?", Mia asked in the worst British accent I've ever heard.
"Please don't", I pleaded and she laughed at my expense.
"My British accent isn't that bad", she defended playfully as she dragged me into my new home.
"Sure", I answered.
♣♣♣
My mom and Uncle Stefan finally arrived and I was so happy to see them. You can't blame me. Those two were my world.
I tried to not overthink the evident anger that my mom wore when she came in. Her conversation with Uncle Stefan probably didn't go well. It wouldn't be the first time though.
"I know you just got married yesterday, but how is your marriage going", she asked as she pulled me into a corner of the room where we relaxed into a couch. Music had been turned on and food and drinks were being passed around.
"I think my husband's abscense speaks volumes", I replied as I tried to tone down my annoyance at Nikolai.
Luca arrived over an hour ago. From a meeting he had with Nikolai who somehow still hadn't arrived.
My mom squeezed my hand and I relaxed at the gesture.
"It's okay", she said, "It wouldn't always be like this. He'll come around, eventually", she said, and I rose my brow at her admission.
"He will. They always do", she said confidently and I didn't know how much I needed her certainty until I heard her words.
"But how do I cope, Mum?", I ask, my voice cracking a little at the end. I cleared my throat and blinked away the tears that were forming.
"You are a smart girl. Men are not as complex as they try to portray. You'll figure it out", she patted my cheek and pulled me up with her.
I felt the energy in the room change and I knew without looking up that Nikolai was here.
I looked up and despite being in a room filled with my family, I found Nikolai immediately. His eyes were already on me and his gaze bore into mine, causing a shiver to run down my spine.
I looked away from him and looked to my mother.
She gave me a weak smile.
"It's going to be alright", she muttered and we made our way back towards everyone.
I ignored Nikolai through out the time with my family. I felt his gaze on me and it filled me with a deep satisfaction.
I spoke to everyone but him and I knew my family could sense the drift between us. Not like we were ever close but at least on the wedding day we stood together.
Finally, it was time for everyone to leave. We hugged and said our goodnights. They would be leaving for Brooklyn tomorrow and would stay at our guest house tonight but Mia would stay around for a week though.
Nikolai stood closely behind me as I waved at my family. He was so close, I felt his warmth and scent envelope me.
When the last vehicle had driven off and I had closed the door, Nikolai trapped me by the door, my chest pressed against it.
"Valentina, why aren't you speaking to me?", he asked angrily against my ear.
I kept quiet, mostly because his proximity was distracting. My breath quickened in anticipation of the unknown.
"Valentina", he said, this time he pushed into me and felt his chest flush against my back.
I pretended like my heart wasn't beating a mile a minute and kept up with my silent treatment.
"Valentina", he said again, this time he pushed his pelvic into me and I gasped as I felt his hardness pressed into my lower back.
"Nikolai...", I warned.
"So now you speak", he grunted, in frustration, "Why are you hell bent on pissing me off".
I pushed him away a bit so that I could turn around. I heard his breath catch as the movement caused me to pressed against his hardness.
When I was finally looking at him, his glare was relentless.
"I'm the one pissing you of???", I said, almost yelling, "What is even wrong with you".
"Excuse me?", he asked.
"I can't organize the first dinner with my family and you choose to just miss most of it. Your meeting ended hours ago, for crying out loud. I know you don't care about me, trust me, the feeling is mutual. But you would not disrespect me and my family like this again", I yelled.
I let out a breath in frustration and closed my eyes to reorient my self.
When I felt calm again, I opened my eyes and looked straight at him.
"I don't have the energy for this, Nikolai. Let me get through", I said, pushing his bicep.
I felt him stiffen at the contact.
This is the second time he had reacted weirdly at my touch. Maybe his response isn't even about me.
He stepped back from me and I walked away from him.
"Something came up. If not, I would have been home earlier", he explained, making me pause.
I didn't show that I appreciated his response. He owed me an explanation but he wasn't obligated to give me one.
I continued walking not giving him a response.
I reached my room and paused at the doorway.
Something wasn't right. Someone had been in here. The evidence was the small black box that sat at the end of my made bed.
After looking around to make sure there was no one still in the room, I skeptically grabbed the box and opened it.
- Writer
