Chapter 119: Chapter 119

(Dmitri’s Thoughts)

Before my appointment with Nikolai, I need to drop by here. It’s very unusual for Nik to invite me for a lunch, so it may be somewhat, important. I am inside my car waiting at the airport for him, I tap my fingers on the stirring wheel out of boredom. I hate going to the airport especially if I am to drive and pick up.

I am used to riding a private jet after all, so waiting here, at the parking lot is not an easy or even a comfortable task for me.

“He said he would be out in a minute, where the hell is he?” I bite my lips out of frustration.

Finally, Greta announces a call going through, “Incoming call from a restricted number, should you answer Dmitri?”

“Connect me to him,” I command.

“Call connected,” Greta confirms.

“Where the hell are you? I’ll be late for work, hurry up,” I scold him.

“Duh, you didn’t tell me about your car, dummy! Don’t be so hot-tempered Dee!” he answers with a sweet voice.

Minutes after our last conversation, I can finally see his figure approaching my car, dilly-dallying under the sun, walking slowly as if she’s by the bay.

I honk my car, open the window car and yell, “Hurry, I need to be at the office!”

“Okay, okay, hotty Dee,” he shouts back.

He enters the car and sends me a wide smile.

“Where are your things?” I ask him when I see him carrying only a small sling bag.

“Uh, I ask someone to send it to the apartment’s address. We’ll go there right?” he says.

“What? No! You’ll be staying in my penthouse, I haven’t talked to her yet, she hasn’t moved her things out, either,” I explain angrily.

But he glares back at me, “We had a deal, Dee. I already gave you so much time to tell her, bring me there or let’s go to her now!” he threatens me.

“F-fine, but don’t you go out there for a while, I still need to–” I am still talking about important things when he hugs me from the side.

“God knows how much I miss you, Dee. It’s good to be back here,” he says while clinging his lengthy arms around my neck.

I tap his arms and remove it, “Okay, okay, let go now. Somebody’s going to see us,” but instead of letting go he tightens it more.

“Hey, come one, I need to drive you home and then back to the office,” I ask of him.

So he finally lets go and scowls at me, “I just arrived and yet here you are thinking on how to get away from me. You are not even willing to spend any moment with me. Do you still feel embarrassed of me? Why can’t you just accept the fact?” and he faces the other side of the window, turning his back at me.

So I tap his shoulder, “Hey, you know that’s not what I meant, right? I just have things to do at work, and then I promise we’ll hang out okay?”

Seeing his pouty lips make me smile. Somehow, I feel happy seeing him here in the States after so many years.

So I step on the gas pedal and drives back to Avery’s apartment, I mean, now, his apartment, not yet official, though.

As we hit the road, “So, how’s that ugly sister of yours? And your daddy dearest, too?” he says it with pure hatred. After all, the last memory he had with him was really terrible, causing him to leave abroad, instead of staying here.

I laugh at his inquiry and it even pisses me off, “Are you mocking me, huh?”

“No, of course, not! Relax, they don’t know you are here yet, okay?” I assure him.

“You better not tell them! Or else, I am going after your woman,” then he smirks.

“What? Why her now?” I ask.

“Nothing, just to be fair,” then we both laugh.

“So, when are you going to tell her the truth, huh?” his face suddenly becomes serious.

But his question silences me, I don’t even know when or how to tell her the truth without hurting her. I–I hsouldn’t have approached her that night, things probably get different if we didn’t meet, I mean, if I didn’t chase her. I sigh.

“I really don’t know. If I were you, how would you tell her the truth?”

He thinks for awhile, “Hmm, just tell her straight to the point, and let her decide. She deserves to know the truth, Dee.”

***

It’s a good thing I already have the duplicate keycard with me since we sometimes hang out here for sex.

Then, I enter her passcode.

“Oooh, sharing passcode, huh?” he whispers at the back of my neck.

I glare at him, “Stop doing that, will you? I am not your boy toy.”

“Ouch! That hurts! FYI, I only have one boyfriend, and you know that very well,” then he laughs.

“Whatever!” I turn my back to open the door, “Get inside, this wil be your new apartment soon. We are just finalizing things, and then it’s yours, okay?”

Then he squeals like a woman and hugs me tight, lifting his one leg backwards. His full-weight, is now onto me.

So I tap his shoulder and distance him to me, “You’re heavy you know that, right. Now go, you are going to like the bedroom.”

As excited as he is, he runs toward the bedroom and his eyes marvel at the beautiful scenery from the glass pane.

“God, I can’t even fathom how beautiful would it be once the moonlight and the night lights reflect and pass through it, “Your woman has great preference,” he says.

“That’s why she’s drawn to me, because of her great preference,” I say with my hands on my pocket. He looks back and grins, “Yeah, right? As if she had a choice, you already caged her since then, didn’t you?”

“Huh!” I scoff at his insult.

I watch him as he continues to enjoy the view, and mention how happy he is being back here. And so do I.

“Hey, like I said, I need to go now,” I didn’t tell him I am meeting my sister’s husband, because surely he will retaliate. That’s why I lie to him.

“Would you be okay?” I ask once more.

“Yes, go now,” he says.

“There’s coffee in the kitchen, I know you love them. You can call a delivery for some snacks, or maybe let me know if you want something, I’ll drop by later,” I utter.

“Okay, okay, now go. I’ll be fine,” then he pushes me out of the apartment.

I sigh. Once I am outside the apartment building I dial Nik up to know where to meet him.

And I drove there. But a few steps away from the place Nik has mentioned, I can see that he’s not alone.

I prepare myself, and approach them from behind. “Kendra?” I exclaim.

They both look at me, “Dmitri, thanks for coming,” Nikolai say. But Kendra looks away as soon as our eyes meet.

“I didn’t know you’ll be joining, I should have suggested a better lunchdate. Is Avery not with you?” I start a friendly conversation but she isn’t ready for any of it yet.

And for some reason, her aura is quire different from yesterday’s vibe. Today, she just doesn’t not like me, but I can sense that she loathes me.

I brace myself, “Shall we order?”

“Uh, yeah. Sure,” Nik says, and he orders for her and I give mine to the waitress standing beside me.

“So, what’s the agenda?” I ask immediately, hoping to get back to Avery’s apartment soon, or maybe meet her first.

Without any delay Kendra takes out a yellow envelope, and slides it to my side. She crosses her arms and speaks up, “You might want to take a peek, Dmitri Sullivan. And let me know when you are ready to talk.”

Her words are firm and her eyes are fixated on me. Nik looks back and forth on both of us and he tries to talk Kendra out, “Love, w-what’s that? You never mention anything like this, you said you want to talk about Avery, right?”

But she looks at him with those glaring eyes she’s been sending me since I arrive. I sigh and decided to do her a favor, “Hmm, let’s see what we have here, huh?”

But with just the first paper out, pictures fall out, and those are good enough to stop me from moving. My right hand begins to tremble on its own.

“I believe you know what it is right?” I gulp and lift my head with a worried look.