Chapter 84 Nikolai
The next morning came with the same routine.
I put on the filthy uniform, wrapped my bleeding hands and worked.
But today felt different, like something was about to happen. The air was heavy.
I was in the kitchens, scrubbing pots. The cook was yelling at me as usual.
"Faster, dog! We have guests coming tonight! Everything must be perfect!"
I scrubbed harder. My hands screamed in protest. But I ignored the pain.
"You there!" A guard appeared in the doorway. "You are needed in Miss Koslov's room. Now."
My stomach dropped. Not again. I could not face her again. Not after yesterday.
"Can someone else..."
"Did I ask for your opinion? Move!"
I set down the pot and followed the guard upstairs.
He unlocked Anya's door, pushed me inside and locked it behind me.
I stood there, waiting for her to appear to say something.
The bathroom door opened. Anya stepped out. She was fully dressed this time. Her face looked tired. Like she had not slept.
"Nikolai," she said. Her voice was quiet. "Thank you for coming."
"I did not have a choice."
"I know. But still." She walked closer. "I need your help."
"With what?"
"With this." She pulled out a folder from under her mattress. "Proof that Ivanov killed Dmitri and Maria."
My heart stopped. "How did you get that?"
"From his safe, last night. When he was sleeping."
"Are you insane? If he finds out..."
"He will not. Not if we are careful." She held out the folder. "I need you to hide this. Somewhere Ivanov would never look."
I stared at the folder. At the proof that could set me free.
"Why are you doing this?" I asked. "Why now?"
"Because you were right. I failed you. I believed Ivanov's lies. And I condemned you for a crime you did not commit." Tears filled her eyes. "I cannot change the past. But I can try to fix the future."
"By risking your life? By stealing from the man you are going to marry?"
"I am not marrying him."
"He said two weeks. I heard him."
"I will not live that long if I marry him. Because the moment I become his wife, I become disposable. He will use me. Then discard me. Just like he did to everyone else."
She was right. I knew she was right.
But still.
"Where do you want me to hide this?" I asked.
"I do not know. Somewhere in the servants' quarters? Under a floorboard? Behind a loose brick?"
"And when Ivanov realizes the files are missing? What then?"
"Then let's use them before he finds out. Let's take them to the council."
"They will not believe us. They are all on his payroll now."
"We will make them believe. We will show them the evidence."
I looked at the folder in her hands. Then at her face. I could see the determination in her eyes.
She was serious. She was really going to do this. With or without my help.
"This is suicide," I said.
"Maybe. But it is the only chance we have."
I took the folder, opened it and looked inside.
There were photographs of Dmitri and a medical report detailing his injuries. Blunt force trauma. Broken bones. Internal bleeding.
He wasn't stabbed by a knife.
This proved Ivanov killed him. Not me. This could set me free.
I closed the folder. "If I do this. If I hide this. You have to promise me something."
"What?"
"That you will wait until I have a plan. A real plan. Not just blind hope."
"I promise."
"And you have to stay away from Ivanov. Stop sleeping with him."
Her face fell. "I cannot. If I stop now, he will get suspicious. He will know something is wrong."
"Then we are already dead."
"Nikolai, please. Just trust me. One more week. That is all I need. Until we put him where he deserves."
I sighed.
Seven more days of watching her with him.
"Fine. One week. But if anything goes wrong. If he hurts you. If you are in danger. Tell me immediately."
"I will."
"I am serious, Anya. I cannot lose you too."
She looked at me. "You still care about me. Even after everything."
"Of course I do. I never stopped."
Tears spilled down her cheeks. "I do not deserve you."
"No. You do not. But I am an idiot. So here we are."
She laughed. "I am sorry. For not believing you. For choosing wrong."
"I know."
"Can you ever forgive me?"
I wanted to say yes. But I could not lie.
"I do not know. Maybe someday. But not today."
She nodded and wiped her tears. "That is fair."
A knock on the door made us both freeze.
"Miss Koslov?" A guard's voice. "Is everything alright in there?"
"Yes!" Anya called back. "I just needed help moving some furniture. We are almost done."
"Hurry up. Mr. Ivanov wants you in his study."
"I will be right there."
Footsteps walked away.
Anya looked at me. "You should go before they get suspicious."
I tucked the folder inside my shirt. "Be careful."
"You too."
I walked out of the door and I returned to the servants' quarters.
My mind was racing.
I had the evidence. The key to my freedom. Now I just needed to hide it somewhere Ivanov would never find it.
I went to my room.
I looked around frantically.
The floor was concrete. The walls were solid. But there was a loose brick in the corner behind my bed. I had noticed it weeks ago but never did anything about it.
I pushed my bed aside and pulled out the brick. Behind it was a small hollow space.
Perfect.
I wrapped the folder in a cloth, placed it in the space and put the brick back.
I pushed the bed over it.
No one would ever know.
I sat down and took a breath. This was really happening. We were going to take down Ivanov. He would wish he had never crossed me. He would wish for death. And I would give it to him, slowly.
A guard appeared at my door. "Markov. You are needed in the garage. Now."
"What for?" I hissed silently.
"Mr. Ivanov wants his car cleaned. He has guests coming tonight. Move!"
I followed the guard to the garage and started cleaning the car. But my mind was elsewhere.
One week was all we had. One week before that bastard married Anya.
We had to gather more proof before then.
Then we would strike.
And Ivanov would fall.
I was so focused on my thoughts that I almost missed it.
A conversation happening just outside the garage.
Two guards were talking in low voices.
"Did you hear? The wedding has been moved up."
"Moved up? To when?"
"Three days from now. Mr. Ivanov wants to
get married before the council meeting."
"Why?"
"Because once he marries her, she becomes his legal property. No one can touch her. No one can take her away."
My blood ran cold.
Three days. Not one week!