Chapter 85 Anya
I went to Ivanov's study as requested.
He was sitting behind his desk, smiling.
"Anya. Come in. Sit."
I sat across from him. "You wanted to see me?"
"Yes. I have wonderful news. I have moved up our wedding."
My heart stopped. "Moved up? To when?"
"Three days from now. This Friday."
"But... you said two weeks." My voice shook.
"I changed my mind. Why wait when we can start our life together sooner?" He stood up and walked around the desk. "Unless you have a problem with that?"
"No. No problem. I just... I need time to prepare."
"You have three days. That is plenty of time. The dress is ready. The venue is booked. Everything is arranged."
"Everything?"
"Yes. I have invited all the important families. The council members. Everyone who matters. It will be a grand celebration."
I forced myself to smile. "That sounds wonderful."
"Good. Because I need you by my side. Especially now."
"What do you mean?"
"There are people who want to see me fail. And I need to show them that I am stronger than ever. That I have everything under control."
"I understand."
"Do you?" He grabbed my chin and forced me to look at him. He was still smiling. "Because if I find out you are betraying me. There will be consequences."
"I'm never betraying you." I forced a smile.
"Good." He released my chin. "Because I would hate to have to hurt you. You are too valuable to me."
Valuable. Like a possession.
"Now," Ivanov said. "Go get ready. We have guests coming tonight. I want you to look perfect."
"Yes, of course."
I left his study and went back to my room. My legs were shaking.
Three days!
Three days to get more evidence. To execute our plan and escape.
It was not enough time. But it was all I had.
I needed to tell Nikolai.
But how? I could not just walk down to the servants' quarters. I was being watched constantly.
I needed to create a distraction. Something to pull the guards away. Something big enough that they would not notice me slipping away.
An idea came to me. It was dangerous, but I had no choice.
I waited until evening when the guests started arriving.
The mansion was busy. Servants were running everywhere. Guards were stationed at every entrance.
Perfect.
I went to my room. Changed into a simple dress. Nothing fancy that would draw attention.
Then I waited, listening to the sounds outside.
When it seemed like everyone was distracted, I opened my door and peeked out.
The hallway was empty. All the guards were downstairs.
This was my chance.
I slipped out.
I walked quickly but quietly. Down the back stairs to the servants' quarters.
I had never been down here before. The walls were bare. The floor was cold. Everything was dark and cramped.
I looked at the doors, trying to figure out which one was Nikolai's.
"What are you doing here?" A voice came behind me.
I turned. An older woman stood, dressed in a maid uniform. She looked shocked to see me.
"I need to find Nikolai. It is urgent."
"Miss Koslov, you should not be down here. If Mr. Ivanov finds out..."
"Please. I need to speak with him for a moment."
She hesitated. Then pointed to a door at the end of the hall. "That one. But be quick."
"Thank you."
I ran to the door and knocked softly.
"Nikolai? Are you there?"
The door opened. Nikolai stood there.
His eyes widened when he saw me. "Anya? What are you doing here?"
"I need to talk to you. Can I come in?"
He looked around. Then pulled me inside and closed the door.
The room was tiny. It was barely big enough for a bed. The walls were cracked. The ceiling was low.
This was where he lived. This was what he had been reduced to.
"What is wrong?" Nikolai asked. "Did something happen?"
"The wedding. It has been moved up to three days from now."
He didn't look surprised. "I heard."
"You know already?"
"Yes. I overheard the guards talking about it earlier."
"We have to do something."
"Like what? We have evidence. But we have no way to get it to the council without getting caught."
I paused. My mind raced with impossible solutions.
"What if we do not go to the council. What if he went directly to the people."
"What do you mean?"
"We release the evidence publicly to the media, newspapers, everyone. And make it impossible for Ivanov to cover it up."
Nikolai thought for a moment. "That could work. But how do we get the evidence out? We are both being watched."
"I have an idea. Tomorrow night, during the rehearsal dinner. Everyone will be distracted. That is when we make our move."
"What move?"
"We steal a car. Drive to the city. Find a journalist. Give them everything. Then we disappear."
"We could get caught!"
"Not if we disguise."
Nikolai looked at me. "You are serious about this."
"Yes. Because I cannot marry him, Nikolai. I cannot become his wife. I would rather die."
"Okay then, let's do it."
I nodded. Relief flooded through me.
Footsteps sounded in the hallway, coming closer to Nikolai's door.
"You need to go," Nikolai whispered.
I opened the door and peeked out. A guard was walking toward us.
I slipped out and walked quickly in the opposite direction.
I turned a corner just as the guard reached Nikolai's door.
I pressed myself against the wall and held my breath.
"Markov," the guard's voice. "What are you doing in there? You should be working."
"I was resting. My hands..."
"I do not care about your hands. Get back to work."
"Yes, sir."
Footsteps walked away.
I waited a moment. Then I made my way back upstairs to my room.
We will escape tomorrow night. We would expose Ivanov. And I would finally be free.
I just had to survive one more day. One more night of playing his game.
Then it would all be over.
I went to bed. But I could not sleep.
My mind was racing.
Because tomorrow night, we would either escape or die trying.
And I did not know which one it would be.
A sound woke me. The door opened and footsteps approached.
I opened my eyes. Ivanov stood there, looking down at me.
"You were out of your room tonight," he said. His voice was cold. "Where did you go?"
My blood turned to ice. "I... I went to the kitchen. I was hungry."
"Liar." He grabbed my arm and pulled me out of bed. "I have guards everywhere. They saw you go downstairs to the servants' quarters. Why?"
"I... I was looking for a maid. To help me with my dress."
"At this hour? Try again."
"That is the truth!"
"No. It is not." He pulled me closer. His face inches from mine. "You went to see Markov. Did you not?"
I said nothing. My heart was pounding.
"Did you not?" He shook me.
"Yes," I whispered. "I went to see him."
"Why?"
"To tell him about the wedding. To show him that he lost."
Ivanov stared at me, searching my face for lies.
Then he smiled. "Good. That is exactly what I wanted you to do. Make him wish he had never been born."
He released me. "But do not go down there again. If I find out you did, there will be consequences. For both of you."
"I understand."
"Good. Now get some sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a very long day."
He left. The door closed behind him.
I collapsed on the bed, shaking. That was too close.