Chapter 37 - Aleksandr

The unexpected visit from Nataliye had me reeling. The people who worked on the estate were my most trusted employees and had been with me for years. They would have done anything for my daughter, so it probably took little more than a smile to convince the men at the gatehouse to keep her arrival a secret so she could surprise me.

While looking for me, she'd come across the maid taking Katie's clothes and other items from the guest room, to return them where they belonged. I was thrilled she had come out of her depression enough to speak to me and even leave the house for a little while. My bed had been empty for long enough, and I was confident I could convince her to come back and share it with me.

Nataliye found me in my office, scrambling to get some paperwork done before Katie's spa day ended. It was a beautiful, balmy day, and I planned on having dinner served out by the pool, then maybe taking a little moonlit dip afterward. I was trying to keep my hopes at an even level so I wouldn't put any extra pressure on Katie, but it was impossible not to want to spend time with her again. I missed my wife, and as hard as I tried, my hopes that we could completely reconcile soared.

Then my daughter burst into my office, demanding to know who was living with me. Caught off guard, and with my mind full of Katie, I could only gape at her. She was furious and, worse, hurt that she'd been left out. We were normally close, and if this had been a more conventional relationship, she wouldn't have met the woman I was with by now.

The fact of the matter was, I hadn't had a serious relationship since her mother left. There was no point, and it wasn't like I ever lacked companionship when I felt it was necessary. I used my father's demands for a male heir as a convenient excuse to indulge in my instant obsession with Katie. It was much deeper than that, and there was no turning back.

I hated seeing Nataliye so upset and hearing her unwittingly spew terrible names about her best friend. I'd been pushing Katie's fears about how Nataliye would react to the background, not wanting to believe it would be as bad as she seemed to think.

In fact, it was worse. Much worse. Nataliye stormed off, vowing never to come back, and now neither of the most important women in my life were answering their phones. Fed up, I finally called Katie's new guard and told him to get her home no matter what she had to say about it. Then I called Nataliye again, and once again, it rang through to voicemail. This time I left a message.

"I'm very sorry you're upset. That's the last thing I want. But if you want to keep your apartment in Milan, your tuition, and your clothing allowance, you'll get your ass back home."

That was adding fuel to the fire, but if there was to be any peace at all in my life, the entire truth had to come out.

Katie arrived first. Her skin glowed, and her hair shone from whatever treatments she'd had at the spa, but her face was twisted with despair when she saw me.

"You told her?"

"How could I not?" I said. "Everything will be fine. She'll be back soon." She hadn't answered me, but I was certain my ultimatum would get her home.

Completely distraught, Katie started to pace, talking about packing a bag and hiding out at the apartment.

"Don't be ridiculous. We're facing this like adults."

She glared at me for a second, and I was so happy she was interacting with me at all that I would have taken an even worse death stare. With a groan, she paced the living area miserably until I crossed the room and forcibly made her sit down.

"It can't be good for the baby to be so upset," I told her.

She patted her stomach and frowned, but stayed put, only bouncing her foot as I started pacing in her place.

"So, you're nervous too?" she demanded.

"Of course I am."

"So much for everything will be fine."

I sighed. "Everything will be fine. It just might take a bit to get there."

Katie snickered. "It's going to—"

The front door slammed open, and my tornado of a daughter burst in. Katie's face drained of all color as we heard her slam her bag down and stomp toward the back of the house.

"Well?" she yelled. "Where's your bimbo? I'll say hello, but then I'm out. So much for a nice visit."

She slammed through the archway leading from the front hall. Her eyes blazed fire as she gave me her filthiest look. Then she noticed Katie huddling on the couch, and for a split second, she looked happy to see her. Relieved, like she might have someone on her side. I watched in real-time as it slowly dawned on her that her best friend was now my wife.

Which made Katie her enemy. Rage and hatred bubbled up on her face.

"Are you kidding me?" she asked in a small voice.

Katie started to cry, putting her face in her hands. Nataliye got so red that I feared she might have a medical emergency. My heart was torn, and there wasn't a thing I could do for either one of them. I loved them both so much, and yet, I'd caused them so much pain.

There was a brief moment of calm, with only Katie's soft sobs. Then the gates of hell opened, and all the demons were unleashed. Nataliye started yelling all manner of awful names at her. I tried to put a stop to that, hating the sound of the harsh words, and the way Katie flinched at every one.

"Let her get it out; I deserve it," she said.

"Don't patronize me," Nataliye sneered. "Of all the people in the world to be so low, I never believed it would be you. And you just sat there, letting me pour my heart out."

"I'm still your friend," Katie said.

"Like hell you are." A new stream of vile names poured out of her mouth, and I finally slammed my hand against the door frame.

"Stop it," I bellowed, cutting her off in the middle of a word. "I'm sorry I happened to fall in love with someone you know, but that's how it is."

"I'm so sorry," Katie said. "I didn't think things would get so far, but I really do care for your dad."

"Oh, please. It's more like you care for this cushy life you finally got back. I know you hated struggling, but did being poor really suck so much that you had to stoop to this? You couldn't find some rich guy who wasn't my father?"

"That's enough," I said, my compassion waning. "Katie never asked me for anything for herself. And whatever I give her doesn't take away from what I give you. You have to know my love for you isn't affected. So, does it all come down to the bottom line? Is that why you're so upset?"

Katie sucked in a breath, and Nataliye's angry face crumpled into tears.

"How could you say something like that?" Nataliye cried.

I waved my hand. "Am I the only one saying hurtful things? Help me understand."

"You'll never get it." With a long, pained look at Katie, she shoved past me. "I hate you both and hope I never see either of you again. Go ahead and cut me off. I don't care."

A moment later, the front doors slammed again. She was gone. Katie took a big, shuddering breath and reached for a tissue to blow her nose. I could only stare at where my daughter stood, trying to remember the last time she said she'd never speak to me again. It was nice to have a precedent, so I could cling to the fact that she wasn't serious this time, either.

This time I'd done something far worse than tell her she couldn't go to a party, though. It might not be forever before she spoke to me, but it would certainly be a good long time.

"She'll come around," I said, breaking the long silence in the room.

Katie looked at me like I was insane, but to my utter surprise, she burst out laughing. It was borderline hysterical, and she stood up, scraping her fingers through her hair. Was she going to run out of the door now, too?

Instead of running past me, she walked straight into my arms, her laughter vibrating against my chest as she wrapped her arms around me. Pretty soon, there was nothing left to do but join in.

After a few minutes, she looked up at me, her eyes still sparkling with tears. "Just tell me things won't get worse."

"I'm not sure I can promise that," I said, holding her tighter. "But I'm so grateful you're here in my arms."

She rose on her toes, her chin tipped back. "I guess I'll stay."

"Damn right you will," I said, kissing her. "God, I missed you so much."

She melted against me, then pulled away. "Come on," she said, taking my hand and tugging me out of the room. "I'm hungry."

"Let me order something for us," I said. "Or I can heat up whatever Olga left."

She shook her head, pushing me toward a kitchen chair. "I'm going to make us dinner, and you better not argue with me about it."

I smiled as she pulled down her favorite apron and wrapped it around her waist. She was in her element, looking over the ingredients in the refrigerator as she decided what to cook.

"I wouldn't dare argue with you," I said.

Her eyebrows rose as she took celery and tomatoes out of the fridge. "Oh really? That's new. I can get on board with that." She put the veggies on the counter and rested against it a bit too casually. "Then I guess I better inform you of some other things, too, while you're in such an agreeable mood."

"Go for it," I said, delighted by her. I could still see the echo of pain in her eyes about Nataliye, but I had enough optimism about my daughter coming around for the both of us. Before she could speak, I jumped up and hurried to her, pulling her to me. "But first, I have to inform you of something."

She looked up expectantly, and I kissed her gently, brushing her hair behind her ears.

"Tell me," she whispered against my mouth.

"I think you know."

"Tell me anyway," she urged.

I leaned away, my hands on her shoulders. "I love you, Katie. Now and forever."

Her beaming smile had stolen my heart already, but it was like being captured all over again. She playfully shoved me away, blushing.

"I love you, too. But now, my demands." When I was seated, she put her hands on her hips, and I wondered what I was about to have to do. I was ready for anything. "First, we're going on a proper honeymoon. I don't care where. And as soon as we get back, I'm starting up the lunch box business again."

She bit her lip nervously as if she'd actually asked for the world. As if there was anything I wouldn't give her. I couldn't stay in my chair another second and rose to yank her close again. I kissed her soundly until she was limp against my chest.

"Anything," I told her. "Just tell me that you're mine."

She reached to run her fingers through my hair, the vegetables forgotten for the moment behind her.

"I'm yours, Aleks. Just the way that you're mine."