Chapter 82: Chapter 82

“Lying? I am not lying. I just don’t see the need why he has to know you are here,” I answer which I strongly believe is the truth.

But that smile of his never disappears from his lips, he even mocks, “So, he didn’t know that we met yesterday, huh?”

“Like I said, it doesn’t matter. So, if you’ll excuse me, I have a lot of things I need to tend to,” I roll my eyes at him and coldly ignore him.

But he never backs down, “Well, Miss Anderson, I believe your task is to accompany so I can pick a painting for my restaurant here in France.”

In my mind, “He has a restaurant here?”

I look at him and smile fakely, “Mister Sullivan, you can roam around the area and then let me know what you want to buy,” and I go back to what I’m doing.

He clears his throat and his face becomes serious, “Miss Anderson, you are a curator here aren’t you?”

I look up, well, I wouldn’t be surprised if he knows where I live at this point, “Yes, I am,” I answer straightforwardly.

“Then, it is your job to inform me which piece is suitable for my taste,” he insists.

“No, a curator’s job is to find great artwork that could be displayed somewhere, so they can be appreciated,” I correct him.

“To find a great artwork a home, which at this point, would be my restaurant, plus you are an intern here, right?” he disagrees with my point.

I sigh, “So what?”

“An intern’s job is to assist me, so Miss Intern Curator, you may lead the way,” he commands.

“Fine!” I stamp my feet like a child when I stand up, and scowls at him. I see him smile as I follow his command.

We visit each art piece one by one, and as much as I hate being with him, I love telling stories behind each artwork.

There are at least twelve artworks in our possession, and now we are at the sixth one. However, throughout the time I am discussing, his eyes are just fixated on my face, and not on the artwork.

And I feel a bit awkward and uncomfortable, I gulp as my throat begins to dry up. He probably notices so he asks me some kind of ridiculous questions,

“Do I make you uncomfortable, Avery?” I nod.

“Do I make you feel nervous, Avery?” I gulp and avoid his gaze.

The way he says my name echoes in my ears and mind. I remember how I felt when he used to call me before, a sensation that I haven’t felt for two years.

I try to divert the topic so I bring it back to the art discussion, “As per this, what you are seeing right now is th-”

But as soon as I speak, he holds my arm upward, then pushes me on the wall a little aggressively.

“Ugh,” I groan, “What are you doing?” I hiss at him.

But he pins me more, my arched back kisses the wall behind me, and he holds both my hands above my head.

“Hey, Dmitri, let me go,” I struggle, but his big build makes it impossible for me to overpower him.

So I try to ask nicely, “D-dmitri, please let me go,” and I avoid his gaze. I look sideways.

I can’t stand the look in his eyes. I am afraid to look at him, afraid that whatever feeling I have for him will suddenly rekindle, like a fire igniting.

“Damn it,” he curses out loud, something that he doesn’t usually do. I couldn’t move and I couldn’t speak. I thought he’s going to let go of me, but I was wrong.

The moment our eyes meet, he no longer controls whatever is running to that mind of his, instead, he kisses me deeply.

He owns my lips once again as if everything that happens was just yesterday. He claims my kisses as if he didn’t know I am engaged.

And he repeats the same action that will lead to another heck of a scandal. Yeah, the scandal that will haunt me forever.

“Scandal,” the word triggers me to do something while I can, while I can still resist the dangerous potion of his warm lips, I slightly kick his stomach with my knees, and it breaks the kiss.

The kick loosens his grip, and I am able to remove my hands from his, so I duck and move away from him completely.

He seems surprised with what I did, I don’t know if he’s surprised by my attack, or that I will refuse his kiss.

He stares at me blankly, still processing what happened.

“Dmitri!” I call him out, “I think you need to leave!”

My voice brings him out of his reverie, “Avery, I… I am sorry,” surprisingly, he apologizes.

The look on his face is genuine. But genuine with what, that he doesn’t know forcing himself to me is a bad thing, or shocked that no one has ever refused his charm?

“It’s fine. Just go. Please,” I step back further and further away from him.

“There’s a camera all over, please, I love working here. Don’t make the same mistake I beg of you,” my tears burst.

Just the thought of losing my job here suffocates me. It is a good thing that I am the only one who has access to the security cameras here. And we are the only ones here.

I couldn’t control my tears anymore, the unexplained feelings I’ve been having since I saw him yesterday, pours out right now.

“Avery, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. I promise I’ll solve this. I, I was a fool. I just missed you so much. I am sorry I kissed you. I was impatient,” he keeps on apologizing, but I don’t hear what he’s talking about. All I hear is my own cry.

Yes, I cry aloud so he will see how frustrated I am right now. He doesn’t leave, and I think he doesn’t have the intention of leaving. So, I go back to my seat in the reception area. I access the security cameras for today’s record, and I remove all of them. I will just make an excuse later or maybe tell them it is broken.

I collect all my things, fix my table and get the key card.

I look at him and command him nonchalantly, “Please, step outside, Mister Sullivan.”

“Avery, I’m sorry, I won’t-” he is still explaining when I block him angrily.

“Step the fuck outside, Dmitri, now!”

I am done being the nice girl.

After I shout, he silently walks himself out.

I quickly secure the lock of our museum door and then walk as quickly as I can. I need to distance myself from him, as soon as possible.

I don’t look back at him. I don’t wait for him. He’s been calling me but I don’t give a damn. All I think about is to go home, to a place where my boyfriend who really loves me, is waiting.

But even before I could go far, he grabs me by my hand, which I counter immediately. I throw his hand in the air, and I look at him with such disdain, “Don’t touch me without my permission ever again. Or I swear to God, I will sue you.”

I’m tired of being nice. I’m tired of being locked in my memories with him. If I let him play with my feelings ever again, how could I ever be freed from him?

“Talk to me, Avery. I am sorry,” he apologizes.

“What do you want me to say, huh? I already told you, stop following me! And the very next day, you showed up to my workplace, and did all of that?” I laugh and clap sarcastically.

“You really are something else Dmitri. You know very well that I am engaged, and yet, you dare kiss me?” I scream at him.

He just stares at me as I nag.

“Why did you go here? Do you plan to ruin my life again? Isn’t one scandal enough?” I will say what I want to say now. I won’t let him trample or play with my feelings ever again.

I’ve been building myself for two years now, I won’t let him take away all of that.

“I swear to God, Avery, ruining your life has never been my intention at all. I got back at Jen Storm for you. I told you to wait for me and let me fix everything, but you, you disappeared from my life. You chose to walk away from your life, not me,” he has now lost his cool.

And a slap lands on his cheek for the second day in a row.

“You don’t know what you are talking about! I chose to stay away from your limelight so you could get your life back! I sacrificed my career, and my life for you, you jerk!” I cry and pound him over and over on his chest.

The people are looking at us. And one thing slips my mind, this busy street is filled with people who know both me and Jeff. It was too late when I realize that.

I just wish they didn’t understand a thing since we got in an argument using English.

With every ounce of strength left in my body, I leave him behind. I don’t know how many times it has been, but all I ever did since seeing him here in France is leave him behind.

This time, he chose not to follow me around.

***

I come home and the lights are already out. I stop by the kitchen sink and wash my face, I get some ice cube and pat it on my swollen eyes, trying to reduce it even for a bit.

I wash my whole body and sanitize my lips which Dmitri had kissed. I try not to cry, as I feel so guilty going home to Jeff tonight.

After I take a quick shower, I scoot in beside Jeff who is peacefully sleeping.

But when I lay down beside him, he turns around and hugs me back. He kisses my forehead and reaches for my lips, as well.

And with my whole body still trembling from all the hidden pain I’ve experienced today, I want to end my day, still with him, so I shyly say to him,

“Babe?”

“Hmm, yes?” he answers.

“Are you tired?” I ask him.

“Well, not really. And you?” his sweet voice sounds like good music to my ears.

“No. Are you sleepy?”

“Well, just a little, what is it?” he opens his eyes and begins to touch my face.

I look him in the eye and boldly say, “Make love to me.”

He smiles and he embraces me, he puts me under him, and our night ends in a romantic love-making.