Chapter 36: Chapter 36

Blair

" Blair, you can consider me jealous, but I'm going to tell my boyfriend to buy me one just like it," Masha warned me, making me laugh.

" It's very nice," Katia agreed.

Everything was perfect. Too perfect!

" I also have a present," Olga called everyone's attention, causing me to frown, "I bought something for you, Dimulya.”

" What? " I stared at her in shock.

She has to be kidding!

" You're not one of those controlling girls who doesn't let her boyfriend get presents from her friends, are you, Blair? " she smiled as she handed a box to Dimitri, who accepted it instinctively.

Everyone in the room looked as shocked as I was, but I tried to recover quickly.

" I don't have to leave anything, I'm his girlfriend, not his owner.”I returned sharply.

" Perfect," her smile broadened.

" Gospodi," I heard Masha whisper in Russian to herself, but my gaze was fixed on Dimitri. He opened the box carefully, pulling out a beautiful watch.

A beautiful watch that would be perfect for hitting the face of the bitch who bought it!

" Do you remember? It's just like the one you liked when we traveled to Greece together, I asked you to engrave something on the back," she moved closer to him, smoothing his arm as she took the watch from his hand, turning it over to show some inscription in Russian.

My breath grew heavier at this gesture, I could fly into her neck right then and there.

" Olga, I think…”

" I can't accept it," Dimitri interrupted his mother, handing the box back to her as he walked away.

The anger I felt was hammering hard inside me, clouding my vision. All right, he had refused, but that didn't change her attitude!

"Why not? Your girlfriend already said that she doesn't mind, so you can accept," she insisted, putting the box in his hands.

I'm going to kill that bitch!

Yaroslav started to say something in Russian to both of them, but Dimitri ignored him.

" All right, I can accept, but I don't want to," Dimitri was emphatic as he handed the box back once more.

Part of me wanted to make her swallow that box whole, but another part of me didn't want to make a mess in my boyfriend’s parents’ house on my first visit.

A Russian argument broke out among the family as I felt my eyes begin to water at the impotence I felt at the situation. I should not have agreed to come!

" Blair," Masha called my attention.

" I need to go to the bathroom," I blinked to wipe the tears away.

I would never give her the chance to see me cry.

Masha motioned for me to follow her, and we passed through the dining room and up a flight of stairs to the second floor. She indicated the door to a large bathroom, and I immediately locked myself in, letting the tears fall silently as I finally found myself alone. I was crying from everything, frustration, anxiety, and mostly anger at everything that woman was doing that night.

I touched the necklace Dimitri had given me moments ago, thinking about all the mess that had taken over my sentimental life. Since when did I become so stupid as to accept such a situation in silence?

A small sob escaped my lips, and I quickly covered my mouth, trying to silence any other sound that might come out.

" Blair, may I come in? " Masha knocked on the door.

" Just a minute," I took a deep breath, wiping my blotchy makeup with a piece of paper to try to cover my crying.

I unlocked the door, letting my sister-in-law into the bathroom. She gauged me for a moment before speaking up.

" I'm sorry for everything that happened," she sighed.

" I'm fine, I…”

" I know we met today, but I wanted you to trust me.

I looked away, taking a deep breath to calm my anxieties.

" You probably don't want to hear the craziness that is on my mind right now. I am…”

" Out of my mind to kill that "Redheaded Bitch"? " Masha made quotation marks with her fingers, making my eyes widen.

Did she understand me?

" When the subject started, I activated the microphone on my translator. Here's a tip for when your boyfriend's clueless family starts talking in Russian next to you," she scoffed.

Great tip, but I bet if I understood half of what that bitch has been saying all night, I wouldn't control myself so much.

" You met me today and by now you must think I'm a jealous freak.”

" A freak? If I had gone through half of what you endured today, we would probably all be in a police station right now. Olga has crossed every line," she assured me, sitting down on the edge of the tub.

I felt a little relieved to hear that statement. At least not everyone in the family thinks I'm crazy!

" I don't know what my problem is.”

" What do you mean?”

" Your brother and I, our relationship has no future, we live on different continents, he has an ex-girlfriend who definitely wants him back and is practically part of the family and will always be present in his life. All the signs are here, and yet, I can't seem to stay away!”

I sat down next to her, putting out everything that was inside me, suffocating me.

" Well, there is an obvious explanation for this, you are in love. And you're not the only one, it's been a long time since I've seen my brother this happy.”

And it's been a long time since I've been this happy.

" Olga doesn't like him, she didn't care a bit for my brother in the two years they have been apart. She just doesn't want him to get over her. That's why she decided to try to get him back as soon as she heard about you."

We remained silent while I absorbed what my sister-in-law had just said.

" I know you probably want to hide for the rest of the evening, but we'd better go downstairs," she sighed, getting up.

I agreed before getting up and following her out of the bathroom. We met up with Dimitri on the stairs as he looked for us, Masha waved to her brother, leaving us behind as she ran down the stairs.

" Are you okay? " he stroked my face.

" Yes, don't worry," I assured him.

" After all that's happened? Impossible," he kissed my cheek, "my mom was worried when we couldn't find you.”

" I was upset, but I talked to your sister, and she made me feel better," I forced a small smile.

My answer seemed to reassure him.

" It usually has that effect on people. Shall we go downstairs?”

I took a deep breath, thinking about what it would be like to be back with that woman.

" Don't worry, my brother thought it best to take Katia and her sister home," he seemed to have guessed my yearnings.

" Good " my smile was more natural.

We went downstairs and Dimitri led me to the kitchen, where his mother was putting the dirty dishes in the washing machine and his father was sitting at the table eating the chocolates I gave him earlier, stuck in a conversation in Russian.

" I found her, she was with Masha " Dimitri caught their attention.

" Ahh, Blair. I'm so sorry for what happened " Joanne gave me a heartfelt look.

" Yes, no one expected things to get out of hand like that," Yaroslav assured her.

I felt bad for both of them, it was supposed to be a special night and I ended up turning it into a nightmare in one way or another.

" I'm sorry I ruined your evening, if I had known…”

" Ohh no, dear. You didn't ruin anything," Joanne assured me.

" Yes, the only person who should apologize for tonight's behavior is no longer here, so let's forget about it," my father-in-law endorsed, "let's concentrate on those chocolates, girl, if you want my blessing you'll have to buy me one of these every time you come to visit.”

I couldn't help but smile, feeling satisfied that I had gotten along with his family despite everything that had happened.

Masha shouted something in Russian from the room, attracting everyone's attention.

" Let's go," Dimitri indicated with a smile.

" Where?”

" Putin's speech has started, let's see," he explained.

" Speech?”

I checked the time, it was three minutes to midnight.

" Yes, he always gives a speech wishing a happy new year to everyone " Dimitri sat down with the whole family, ready to watch.

Really? Is this how I am going to spend New Year's Eve? Watching Putin give a speech?

I must be being punished for something! There is no other explanation!