Chapter 25: Chapter 25
"Seigfried?" I blurt out using a high-pitch voice. Unable to comprehend the situation, I get cold feet and just want to be eaten by the ground, but Dmitri reassures me by holding me tighter.
"Is that your boyfriend?", he firmly asks.
"Ex-boyfriend," I corrected him, "Yes, he is Seigfried Cohen, and beside him is the not so likable, Barbara Cohen," I explain him.
Of all people, at all the possible time I could meet him and Barbara, why now, in this situation? I look at Dmitri and Seigfried back and forth, like a wife cheating on his husband and will soon get caught with her other lover. But wait, a thought comes to my mind, "Seigfried and I broke up before I went to Austria. And Dmitri isn't my lover, either. So why do I feel like cheating?" I scoff at my own stupidity. Then Dmitri's voice pulls me back to reality, "Do you trust me?" I nod.
"Then let me handle this and follow my lead. Let me do the talking," he insists.
The two of them haven't noticed us since they are currently talking to someone just outside the elevator. Despite the cold temperature inside and out, I could feel the sweat all over my body, the nervousness gets the best of me. All this time, I thought I wouldn't care much about what Seid would say since the two of us had already broken up days ago. But now, that I am in front of him, I still wouldn't want him to think of me as a cheap girl who got laid off because he wouldn't want to have sex with me. My head suddenly hurts because of stress. I feel my stomach is about to blow cause I've never had any scandal in my life before, this could probably be the first, though. Oh, god! Help me, God! I am in a hot spot. My legs wobble a little, emphasizing my weight. Dmitri probably notices since he carries my weight, so I could balance myself. I murmur, "Thank you."
We continue moving forward in their direction, though I hesitantly make a step, Dmitri's walking pace forces me to walk a little faster, given his wide strides. At last, all of them notice Dmitri's presence. So are Seid and Barbara. Both of them almost drop their jaw upon seeing me next to Dmitri. Barbara's face looks like someone who swallowed a sack of chili hot pepper ready to shower me with curses anytime. Seid on the other hand tries to remain calm while stopping his mom from doing something unforgivable. After all, Dmitri's company, I believe, is way bigger and more powerful than them.
"That's more like it," a thought suddenly pops into my mind. Sied, will always, in any way, will put business matters before me, that's why we broke up. A thought, that I must admit, hurts me dearly until now. But I have decided to do something for myself, so I need to show him that I can stand on my own decision. I will believe Dmitri, and let him drive the situation. The closer we are, the more Dmitri pulls me to his side, standing tall, like a man leading the battle. Seid's eyes and mine meet, but I try not to show any emotion or weakness, not if that would give him any satisfaction. But he, on the contrary, looks hurt and is at a loss for words. His eyes are almost filled with tears but he tries to compose himself in front of everyone here.
Dmitri stops right in front of Seid and Barbara and intentionally ignores their presence when he leads me to face the elevator instead. Now, Seid and I are just inches apart. And now, I can clearly see Barbaras gloating face from my peripheral view, which at some point, gives me pleasure. I never like the woman anyway. I can see Seid trying to reach out to me with his trembling free hand, still, contemplating whether it is the right decision or not. He closes his fist and looks straight ahead to me, and the moment he garners all his strength to speak to me in a very weak voice,
"Ava, I-", is the same moment Dmitri casually fends him off.
"Ms. Anderson is my guest right now, Mr. Cohen, so if you don't mind, save your sentiments for later and address her properly until this meeting is over," Dmitri mercilessly lashes out at him.
"Of course, Mr. Sullivan," Seid couldn't do anything but to adhere.
The elevator dings and the tension between them end when the elevator door opens. Dmitri instructs her secretary to enter the elevator first, so she did with the other four employees. They stayed at the farthest. They are followed by the directors from Seid's side, a total of four I presume, lining up to the second lane. Then commands Seid and Barbara to go inside, as he wants us to be the last to enter. Despite Seid's reluctance to enter before us, he doesn't have any other choice. They make the third lane inside. Then, Dmitri and I step in as well. There is a total of thirteen people inside this spacious elevator. It isn't cramped at all, but weirdly, I feel so intensively hot. Dmitri notices my sweat so he utters something that made the whole elevator quiet,
"You're hot, aren't you? Do you want me to take off your coat for you, just like I did in the hot tub?", my cheeks blush in embarrassment while he chuckles.
"Dmitri, shut up," I feel like melting anytime soon. Although, I have to admit my heart raises of his comical remarks. I want to experience a hot elevator scene after all.
But, I guess, not now, not in front of my ex-boyfriend and his monster mom. I slightly punch Dmitri's arm for pulling up a joke like that but what he did after surely tramples Seid's pride.
Dmitri swiftly, pulls my lower body facing him, our feet almost an inch apart. He grabs me by my back hip causing me to curve my body. I put my arms on his chest to block him, but his other arm is quick enough to immobilize me completely. As he secures me, he slowly moves his face to my lips, trying to claim a kiss. I close my eyes hoping this is all just a dream.