Chapter 34 Nikolai
I sat in my study staring at nothing.
The clock on the wall ticked past five in the morning.
I had not slept. Because Anya was not beside me.
I had promised to protect her. But I had thrown her away like she meant nothing.
My hands clenched into fists on the desk. The wood creaked under the pressure.
I wanted to go to her and bring her back.
But I could not. Not with Katya in the estate. Not with Mikhail watching my every move.
A soft and hesitant knock came at the door.
"Come in," I said coldly.
The door opened and Katya walked in wearing a thin silk robe that revealed all that was underneath.
"Nikolai," she purred. "You are still awake?"
"What do you want, Katya?" I said with disgust.
"I wanted to check on my future husband." She walked closer. Her hips swayed with every step.
"I am fine. You can leave."
"But I just got here." She came around the desk and leaned against it. "We should spend time together. Get to know each other better."
"I already know you well enough."
"Do you?" She smiled. Then she leaned down and kissed me.
I pushed her away slightly. "Katya, stop."
"Why? We are going to be married. What is wrong with a kiss?"
"Everything. Everything is wrong with this." I stood up and tried to move away.
But she followed me, pressing her body against mine. "Come on, Nikolai. Stop being so cold. I am your fiancée. I am yours."
"No, you are not." I grabbed her wrists, pushing her away from me. "We may be engaged. But you are not mine. You will never be mine."
Her face twisted with anger. "Because of that slave?"
"Get out, Katya." I said coldly.
"Fine." She pulled away and straightened her robe. "But I came to tell you I prepared breakfast for you. It's a surprise. To show you what kind of wife I will be."
"I do not eat breakfast."
"Well, today you will." Her voice was firm. "Come. Let me take care of you. Like a proper wife should."
"Katya..."
"Please, Nikolai. Just this once. Let me do something nice for you." She grabbed my hand."I promise you will enjoy it."
I wanted to refuse and just lock myself in my study and never come out.
Mikhail's words echoed in my head. “Make this right for the alliance.”
"Fine," I said through gritted teeth. "Give me ten minutes to get dressed."
She smiled. "I will wait for you downstairs."
She left. I changed quickly into a fresh shirt and pants. Then I walked downstairs to the dining room.
Katya was already there, standing at the head of the table, smiling.
"Sit, sit." She gestured to my usual chair.
I sat, picked up a magazine from the side table and started reading. I would do anything to avoid looking at her.
Then Katya started shouting. "You! Bring the plates now! Faster! What is wrong with you?"
I looked up. She was yelling at one of the maids. The young girl looked terrified.
"Move faster! Are you stupid? Do I need to teach you how to walk?"
"Katya," I said coldly. "Stop."
"What? I am just telling them to do their jobs."
"You do not pay them. So you have no right to speak to them that way." I said coldly.
Her face flushed. "I am the woman of this house now. And women take care of the house. That includes managing the staff."
"You are not the woman of this house yet. We are not married."
"But we will be. In three months. So I need to start now. And get these lazy servants in line." She turned back to the maid. "Now go! Bring the food!"
The maid scurried away.
Then Katya clapped her hands. "Bring out the breakfast! Now!"
The kitchen door opened. Maids started filing out, carrying trays of food.
I went back to my magazine, uninterested.
Then I saw her.
Anya. From the corner of my eye.
She was walking out of the kitchen, carrying a tray. Her head was down. Her movements were slow. She was tired.
My heart stopped.
What was she doing?
She placed the tray on the table and started serving the food. Eggs, toast and fruit.
She did not look at me. She just worked silently.
When she was done, she turned to leave.
My hand shot out immediately, grabbing her wrist.
She flinched and turned to look at me. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying.
"What are you doing?" I asked. My voice was rough.
"I... I am serving breakfast, Pakhan."
"She made this meal!" Katya said loudly. "This is the surprise I prepared for you. Do you like it?"
I looked at the food. Then at Anya. Then at Katya.
"You cooked this?" I asked Anya.
She was shaking. Tears were forming in her eyes.
"Ye… yes, Pakhan." She stammered.
My blood boiled. My vision turned red.
"You made her cook?" I stood up. My chair scraped loudly against the floor. "You made her prepare all this?"
"Nikolai, I..." Katya started.
"Answer me!" I roared. My voice echoed through the dining room.
Katya flinched. Her face went pale.
"Yes! She's a slave after all!"
"You have no right!" I slammed my fist on the table. The plates rattled loudly.
"Nikolai, please, calm down." Katya's voice trembled.
"Calm down?" I laughed. It was dark and cold.. "She must have stayed up all night to prepare this and you expect me to calm down?"
The maids in the room shifted uncomfortably. Even Mikhail, who had just walked in, looked shocked.
I had never been this angry. Not in front of everyone. Not like this.
Anya grabbed my hand. Her touch was soft and gentle. "Nikolai, please. Calm down. It is okay."
And just like that, the rage cooled.
I looked at her tired face. At her beautiful, sad eyes and nodded.
I turned to Katya. "I am leaving. Eat by yourself."
I started to walk away.
"Nikolai, wait for me!" Katya called.
I stopped and turned back. "No. You will sit there. And you will finish every single bite of the food Anya prepared. Do you understand?"
"What? But I..."
"Vera," I called. The old maid stepped forward. "Watch her. Make sure she finishes everything. If she does not, you're fired."
"Yes, Pakhan," Vera said. A small smile played on her lips.
I looked at Anya. She was standing there, shocked and scared.
I walked to her and took her hand. "Come with me." I pulled her away from there.
We walked out of the dining room into my room.
I opened the door, pulled her inside and locked it.
Then I immediately pulled her into my arms, hugged her so tight I heard her gasp.
"I cannot… breathe," Anya choked out.
I released her immediately. Then I cupped her face and kissed her like she was the air I needed to keep from drowning.
When I finally pulled back, we were both breathing hard.
"I missed you," I whispered against her lips.
"Did you sleep well?" She asked softly.
"No. I could not sleep. Not without you."
Tears filled her eyes. "Nikolai..."
"Come here." I pulled her to the bed.
We climbed on together and I wrapped my arms around her. She curled into me.
This was perfect.
"What you did down there was wrong," Anya said quietly. "You should not have embarrassed your fiancée like that in front of everyone."
"I do not care." I said flatly.
"But she is going to be your wife. You need to respect her."
"I cannot respect someone who tortures you." My arms tightened around her. "When I saw you down there, serving food, looking so tired. I lost control."
"She is just doing what she thinks is right. She's establishing her place in the house."
"By breaking you? By making you suffer? That is not right. That is cruel."
Anya was quiet for a moment. Then she said, "I am just a maid now. My job is to serve."
"No. You are supposed to be in my arms, safe and happy."
"But I cannot be. Not with her here."
"Then I will make her leave." The words came out before I could think.
Anya pulled back and looked at me. "What?"
"I will end the engagement, and send Katya back to her father's house." I sat up. "I cannot pretend anymore, Anya."