Tabitha

Chapter 9

Tabitha

We were married at the Consulate General of the Russian Federation because non-Muslim individuals could not marry in the court, or the judiciary. Since this was just a legal contract, we decided to forgo the church.

It was a quiet and simple affair which took less than thirty minutes. I wore a cornsilk color suit with white satin shoes and a matching lace headdress. Zakhar wore a Forrest green suit with gold tie and handkerchief, and a gold Vacheron Constantin watch which I knew to be super expensive. His assistant was our witness, and his younger brother Nikolai was our photographer.

I was surprised at the gentleness and warmth he showed his brother. Nikolai was a carbon of Zakhar and could have passed for his son. The resemblance was uncanny, which made me believe that they looked like their father. There was an older brother in Russia and a sister somewhere in Europe whom I was yet to meet.

Zakhar's mother had passed away, and his father was divorced from his second wife who was Nikolai's mother. He told me they were a typical family, and I should not feel uncomfortable. Who was he kidding? Images of his home in Russia showed something like a castle sitting on a vast estate. There was nothing typical about the family.

To celebrate our marriage we had a simple lunch before he took me to the airport. He was flying back to Russia as well and would stay at the airport until his flight time later that evening. I felt strange, being married … again.

As I sat on the plane, I held my hand out to view the wedding ring he insisted I wear. It was too much for me and not the kind of ring I'd choose for myself. This man was going out of his way to do things he thought women liked. Such as lavishing me with more gifts after the wedding. Another set of jewelry – earrings and bracelet to match the necklace he bought me. I would have given it back, but I promise to open them on the plane and not before.

My eyes flitted back to the huge princess cut diamond – three carat center stone, and about another two carats of smaller side stones on platinum. It was heavy on my finger, and I was tempted to take it off.

Girl, you trippin', keep the damn thing on your finger. The man has an image to uphold. What would people think if he got you a cheap ass ring? That was how the conversation went inside my head and how I was convinced to keep the jewelry.

No man has ever lavished me with expensive gifts, although they were actually on loan until this marriage ended. All the jewelry and nice things I owned were bought by me. They were nowhere as expensive as these, but they were mine. Since I'd gone into this contract with this man as his wife, I convinced myself that I needed to play the part of a rich tycoon's wife.

All he needed from me was an heir, but I knew the role came with more conditions. I didn't think he would keep me in the bedroom until I became pregnant. Would he? Shit, the memory of our lovemaking made that prospect very enticing. I wouldn't mind being fucked like that daily.

The plane landed while I was thinking about Zakhar. Linda came to pick me up and we chatted about everything. She was more excited about this marriage than I was and acted as though this was fated to be.

"It's a contract, nothing more," I reminded her.

"Girl, you know it's more than that. That glow you have means you did it," she said excitedly. "And you loved it! He that good?" She nudged me when I kept silent. "Huh?"

"A girl doesn't kiss and tell," I replied, choking back some laughter.

"Stop messing with me. Is he good?"

I sighed and relaxed. "Sis, I haven't had sex like that in …," I wracked my brain and came up with nothing. "Never."

"Wow!" she exclaimed before dampening my mood. "Well, you only had two guys before Gary and then your sex life took a deep fucking dive."

I slapped her shoulder and the vehicle swerved. "You promised me to lay off the swearing."

"Alright. No need to be so aggressive."

Linda stayed the night with me, and we had a long talk about what it would mean for me to spend most of my time in Dubai until Zakhar decided to return to Russia. It meant I'd have to move my new business to Dubai and leave the old business under executive management. It gave me space to concentrate on this new venture without Gary breathing down my neck trying to steal it, because that was what he did best.

* * *

Things were chaotic in the office as the company was being audited because my business partner was being audited by the IRS. Trying to reach Gary was futile as he was not picking up. He should have been back from his trip days ago, but it appears he was in hiding because he was in trouble. I knew he was a shitty dude, but leaving the country in a time like this was sinking too low.

Since he was a partner, his finances were directly linked to ours and there was nothing I could do or say at this point to stop this audit. I was supposed to leave for Russia in two days but that would be delayed because of this issue. I could do nothing but call Zakhar and explain that I couldn't get away right away. He answered the phone after two rings.

He didn't say hello, instead, "I was waiting for your call."

"And hello to you too."

Ignoring me, he continued, "You should have called the moment you landed."

"You were waiting for my call?"

"We are married, it's only natural."

"I'm sorry, next time I will call you. However, I have a company crisis, so my leave for Russia will be delayed."

"What's the crisis?"

"It's nothing. I'll deal…"

He wasn't listening. "What is the crisis?"

"We're being audited because of my ex."

"Gary Beckett," he grunted. "I assure you; you will make that flight. Everything will be sorted before then."

"What do you mean?"

The line went dead before an answer came. I would have called back but I was summoned by the auditors. I spent the rest of the day talking to the external audit team, our audit team and accountants trying to sort out everything. Since I was partner, I too was in trouble and had to show them my personal financial records.

Things were not looking good, and I was beginning to think I should just walk away from this. The stress was killing me. Gary was killing me and now he was nowhere to be found. I swore to myself that I would kill that bastard whenever he decided to show.