Chapter 13 KATYA...
THE ORLOVA’S MANSION
Mr. Orlova’s hand connected with Katya’s face with a loud slap.
She staggered back, shock and pain flashing across her features.
"What is wrong with you?" Mr. Orlova roared, his chest heaving with anger. "Why do you badly want to tarnish this family’s image? Do you have any idea what you almost did?"
Katya lowered her head, trembling.
"I would have been tagged as the father of a bully and a murderer," he continued furiously. "Thank God those videos were not posted online. If they were, do you know how fast my name would have been dragged through the mud?"
He pointed a finger at her, his eyes blazing.
"You almost killed someone just because you claimed you were having fun. Fun!" he shouted. "I heard the girl is your roommate. Your own roommate!"
Katya’s lips quivered.
"If you had succeeded in killing her," he said coldly, "I would have personally taken you to jail myself. I would have signed the papers with my own hands. You useless daughter"
Tears spilled down Katya’s cheeks.
"Your brothers and sisters do not stress me at all," he added bitterly. "Why you? Why are you the only one who keeps embarrassing me?"
Katya fell to her knees.
"I’m sorry, dad" she sobbed.
"I’ve learned my lesson. Please. Can you unfreeze my accounts and take me away from that hostel?"
She sniffed loudly.
"Please let me move to a two-man room. Or let me stay at home. I can’t live like that anymore"
Mr. Orlova laughed, but there was no humor in it.
"Over my dead body"
Katya gasped.
Mrs. Orlova finally stepped forward.
"Darling, please listen to your daughter," she pleaded. "Take her away from that hostel. Let her move to a two-man room or allow her to stay at home. Or better still, rent her an apartment"
She held his arm.
"And unfreeze her accounts. My baby needs to get important things for herself. She cannot keep asking me for money. She needs the latest clothes, the latest cars"
Mr. Orlova yanked his arm away.
"She will get none of it"
Mrs. Orlova frowned. "You’re being unfair to her"
"No," he snapped. "You are the one being unfair. You are destroying her life without knowing it"
He turned sharply to Katya.
"And you," he said coldly. "Leave this house and go back to your hostel. I don’t want to see your face"
Katya’s eyes widened in panic.
"Dad, it’s past eleven pm," she said quickly. "I won’t be allowed into the hostel"
Mr. Orlova’s eyes narrowed, the anger in them still smoldering.
"Fine," he snapped, finally relenting, "only for this night. But I don’t want to see your face tomorrow morning"
Without waiting for her response, he turned and stomped up the stairs to his room, leaving a tense silence behind.
Katya exhaled sharply, glaring after him. "dad is so stubborn" she muttered under her breath.
"I need to make him see sense. He needs to unfreeze my accounts… I need to buy my things"
"He’s angry right now. I’ll talk to him when he’s calm. For now, you should go to your room" her mother said.
Katya’s lips curled into a wicked little smile. "Fine" She turned sharply and stormed off toward her room.
Once inside, she slammed the door behind her and went straight to her drawer, the one she kept her personal items in. She opened it carefully, pulling out a black dildo and a vape. Her fingers lingered over the objects for a moment, a smirk tugging at her lips.
Katya leaned back against the wall, her eyes glinting with mischief and something darker. Tonight had been a disaster, but she already had plans to reclaim her power her way.
She flicked on her vape, inhaling deeply, letting the smoke curl around her face.
•••
NEXT MORNING...
Liana walked into the room slowly. She and Anya had left the clinic together earlier. Anya had gone straight to her room, while Liana headed to hers to get ready for class.
Soft guitar strings filled the room.
Liana paused.
At the far corner, her roommate sat on her bed, fingers moving smoothly over a guitar. Raina’s head was slightly bowed, dark hair falling over her face as she played a calm, almost melancholic tune.
Liana hesitated, then cleared her throat softly.
"Good morning"
Raina’s fingers stopped. She looked up, surprised, then nodded slightly.
"Good morning," she said quietly. "I heard what happened last night. I hope you’re fine now?"
Liana blinked, clearly not expecting that.
"Oh. Yeah… I am. Thank you" she replied, then glanced at the guitar. "So you play the guitar, huh?"
Raina nodded. "Yeah. I discovered I had the talent when I was seven"
Liana’s eyes widened. "Damn, girl"
Raina chuckled softly.
"I’m sorry I haven’t really talked to you since you moved in," she added. "I don’t get used to people easily, I observe first"
Liana smiled, instantly understanding. "I totally get it. So… we’re cool now?"
Raina nodded again, this time with a small smile. "Absolutely"
They shared a quiet moment of mutual ease before Liana walked toward her bed.
She reached for her jewelry box, humming faintly to herself. She opened it, then frowned.
Her brows furrowed.
She checked again.
Empty.
Liana bent down, searched under the bed, then checked her bag. Her movements became quicker, more frantic.
She straightened and turned to Raina.
"Um, Raina… did you maybe help me see a gold earring? It’s very expensive"
Raina shook her head calmly. "Nope. Check well. It’s probably hiding somewhere right in front of you"
Liana nodded and continued searching, but no matter where she looked, it was nowhere to be found.
She sighed, frustrated.
"I’ll check it later," she said, forcing a smile. "I have to prepare for class now. In case you see it, please let me know"
"Sure" Raina replied simply.
Liana began pulling off her clothes and grabbed her towel, heading toward the bathroom.
She stepped inside and closed the door behind her.
The room fell quiet again.
Raina stared at the bathroom door for a brief second, then slowly looked away, her expression unreadable as her fingers returned to the guitar strings.
The soft music filled the room once more.
•••
ANYA’S HOSTEL ROOM
Anya pushed open the door to her hostel room, exhaustion from the previous night still tugging at her body.
The room was alive with activity. Katya and her minions, Daria and Olga, were all there, preparing for class. Except for Olga, who looked hesitant and a bit uneasy.
Katya’s eyes immediately locked on Anya. Without saying a word, she grabbed her bag and walked out the door, Daria trailing silently behind her.
Olga shuffled closer to Anya, fidgeting.
"Anya… I’m so sorry about last night. I didn’t join in the bullying, remember? I’m sorry I couldn’t stop Katya either. I didn’t want her to turn against me" Olga murmured, eyes downcast.
Anya stared at her for a moment, her chest tightening with anger.
"There’s no difference between you and her," she said quietly. "You and the others watched me almost drown to death. You didn’t do anything"
Olga flinched. "I’m sorry…"
Anya ignored her. She didn’t have the energy to argue anymore. She moved to the bathroom, letting the water wash away the night’s terror. Once clean, she dressed for class.