Chapter 145

Vladimir:

It took every ounce of patience and self control in me not to go and punch the man in the face for being around my mate.

I didn’t know what he was doing, but I wasn’t dumb, I knew that they didn’t let her out of the room for no reason. And whatever that reason was, I intended to find out.

I didn’t expect to find myself being as attached to the woman, and that was one of the things that I knew that I needed to be careful of. The way that her eyes would meet mine from a distance, and the fact that I knew that she was mostly always waiting for me to come. I hated keeping her waiting, but I knew that it was unsafe for me to visit her when I knew that Konstantin had his eyes everywhere.

I heard her entering her room, and though I wanted to follow her, I knew better not to, not yet anyway. Batrov was back and that meant that the bitch maid was going to be a little more distracted. I knew that my words did not affect her as much as I wanted them to, but I also knew that I managed to get a few on my side, and that mattered to me more than having his right hand and spy behind me. 

“What are you doing out here?” Yigrette asked, and I scoffed.

“Do you really have nothing to do all day? I am curious because I seem to find you more free than any of the other maids.” I said, turning to face her. I pulled out a second cigarette and lit it up, taking a whiff of it. The woman looked down at it and I smirked, extending it to her. “Do you want one?”

“It kills.” She said, making me smile.

“I deal with a thousand things that can kill me on a daily basis. This can be added to the long list.” I said, and she nodded. “You are yet to answer my question.”

“I am leaving for London today. Boss has called for me to come, and I am going to head over to him.” She said, and I hummed in response.

“Sending information, I see.” I said, and she looked down at her feet, avoiding my gaze for a moment.

“What makes you think that I am a spy for Mr. Konstantin?” She asked, and I smirked. 

“I know a spy when I see one, a traitor when she looks me in the eye, and a dark soul that knows no mercy as she tries getting what she wants. The one question that I have for you right now is; do you really believe that the man would spare you a second glance?” I asked, shaking my head in question as I let out a sarcastic wink. I could hear her sucking in a harsh breath despite trying to keep herself calm, and I could tell that my question alone bothered her. “Do you believe that he would do more than just ‘touch’ you when he is bored?”

“He does not…”

“Oh, but he does.” I said, stopping her. Her eyes were fixed on mine and I stood, towering over her body. “You can go and report to him, tell him that his nephew found out that he has a spy lurking under his feet. You know, I would love to see how he reacts when he finds out that you have been a failure to hide your identity when it comes to being against his own blood, his heir.”

“He needs to know whether or not you are being honest.” She said, and I scoffed.

“And you believe that spying on me would make me more honest? You still have a lot to learn, I will give you that as an excuse. But if one wants to play you, he is not going to do it knowing that someone, no matter how small, is playing a darker game than they can handle.” I said, and she frowned. “Don’t worry, I won’t kill you. But I will not say that Konstantin won’t for failing. I am curious, however, at how long you will last before he snaps at your failures.” 

“I am not going to do anything that is going to harm…”

“Get you killed, you mean?” I asked, taunting her even more than she was. It was a game that I liked to play when I saw someone thinking that they were being smart. And though I had to admit, she was better than most, I wasn’t going to allow her to play me as she would with a ring wrapped around her finger. “Because, you know for fucking fact that this is what’s going to happen when he sees you as the failure that you are.”

“I am no failure.”

“If it makes you sleep at night, sure.” I said, looking down at my cigarette. “Now, can I smoke in peace? Or is there anything else that you need from me?”

She looked at me for a second before nodding at the cigarette in my hand. “Can you light one for me? I think that it can come to my benefit…”

**************************** 

“I take it that you have missed me.” I said, watching as Elena walked out of the bathroom, wearing a white nightgown. Her eyes widened in surprise, and I smirked. “I apologize for not coming earlier, but I had to deal with a little spy. You know, it would be bad for me to have to handle her telling Konstantin that I was visiting you at night.”

Her eyes were fixed on me as she closed the bathroom door, and I smirked, sitting on the edge of her bed as I did. Her heart raced, and though I didn’t expect her next reaction, I was surprised when she shook her head in question. 

“I was waiting, day and night, and you never showed up.” She said, voicing out her words. I stood up, my eyes widening in surprise as she did, and she raised an eyebrow. “Did you really believe that I did not speak?”

“No, I was aware that you did.” I said, shaking my head. “But why…?”

“I told you that I do trust you,” She said, taking a step back as she looked at the door for a second. “But you left the second that I did.”

“Elena…”

“Why?” She asked, shaking her head in question. I frowned, trying to process her question, and she sat on the chair where she normally sat. “Why do you keep coming back? I lost hope of you coming, why are you doing this? What benefits are you getting?”

“The fact that you are trusting me enough to speak means a lot to me.” I said, and the woman frowned at my response. “But I would rather keep my reason to myself, for now.”

She didn’t say a word for a minute, nor did she react, and I could tell that she was debating on how to react to my response. However, her momentary hesitation was controlled as she nodded before turning to the window. 

“Do you want to play a game?” I asked, and I could see the wrinkles around her eyes as she frowned, not bothering to look at me. “You ask a question, and I answer. I will ask you, and you’ll answer. The first to be caught lying has to do what the other asks.”

“You wouldn’t answer a simple question, what makes me think that you would…?”

“Some questions are best left unanswered.” I said, stopping her before turning to sit on the chair in front of hers. “What do you think, do you want to play or not…?”