Chapter 159 Tell her the truth
ELENA'S POV
"Stay here with me. Don't leave, Elena."
A month later, when it was past the time for our contract to end, Volkov asked me to stay with him. To permanently move into his home and out of my studio apartment across the city. I couldn't say no, not to him.
Volkov and I didn't talk about what happened that day he momentarily disappeared. Although I didn't know what became of Viktor. I heard rumours from the other dancers that there had been an incident at the theater when Luke was fired. I didn't bother asking because all that mattered to me was that all those vile men were out of my life.
No one knew the full story, and I think it was better that way. Especially with the new sense of relief that could be felt in the other dancers at practice. All the contracts were over now, and our new unnamed owner immediately implemented salary raises and the end-of-the-year bonus.
Volkov didn't say anything about it, but I thought I knew who it was. Volkov was probably the owner of the ballet. His knowing smile whenever I came home and told him the news practically gave it away. I couldn't say I was surprised but...
"Baby girl, your friend is here," Volkov's voice from downstairs distracted me while I was putting on my necklace with his initial. He'd picked it up the night of the gala, and only this past month had I been wearing it again.
Smoothing out the pale blue dress I wore for Christmas dinner, I took one last look in the mirror to ensure all the love marks on my neck were covered with foundation. Volkov’s family was joining us for the holiday dinner, along with Ricky and his boyfriend Devin.
"I'm coming," I called back. Opening up the door to the bedroom, I yelped when I collided with a hard body. Volkov's hands wrapped around me, and I blushed. I hadn't even heard him come up the stairs.
"You should only come when I'm with you," His salacious words in my ear made me shiver. He pressed a kiss on my cheek, and my face felt hot.
"Volkov hush!" I giggled, peering down the stairs, where I heard voices talking.
"Oh! baby YA zastavlyu tebya priyti pozzhe," I didn't need to understand him to know that it was an indecent promise. His voice was erotic and always made my heart beat faster. There was something in his tone tonight, more raw, more commanding.
"You better behave tonight," I warned him as we went down the stairs. When I gave him a side eye at the bottom, he merely smirked in response.
"Ricky, Devin I'm so happy you could make it," I leapt into Ricky's arms, giving him a massive hug as if we hadn't seen each other last week at practice.
"I wouldn't miss this for the world," Ricky replied.
"Where do we put the flowers?" Devin asked, and I finally noticed the armful of glittering red presents in his arms.
"Presents go in the living room upstairs," Mira answered as she swept into the front foyer from the kitchen. Her dress matched the presents, and I absolutely loved it.
"Oh! More dancers! This is a good Christmas for me," She shimmied with delight as she glanced over Ricky and Devin from head to toe, like a hungry lioness.
"I will take them to drop off the presents. Will you check the food in the oven?" I placed my hand on Volkov's chest to get his attention. His smile could have knocked me off my feet. "Anything for you, baby,"
"Devin, follow me, and I will take you to the Christmas tree upstairs. Mira, will you make sure Volkov doesn't burn anything?" I asked her on my way past.
"Of course, pretty girl. YA ne podpushchu yego k plite," She nudged her nephew on the arm, and my lips curled into a smile without realizing it.
"I know how to cook! Why are you all so rude to me?" Volkov chuckled as Mira shoved him into the kitchen. Their laughter faded as I took Devin and Ricky to the living room to leave the presents.
A tree that was almost taller than me sat in the back left corner in front of one window. You could see the gold and red ornaments and glimmering light from the street, and it was one of my favorite sights to come home at night. Devin carefully stacked their gifts on the already towering pile of presents, and the sight made my heart feel full.
For Christmas last year, I was in the hospital celebrating with papa. We exchanged small presents and drank hot chocolate while watching Christmas movies. While his loss was still a dark hole in my chest, I knew he was somewhere better with my grandmother and my parents.
"Elena, your boyfriend is so hot," Ricky pretended to fan himself.
"What a man. I wish you'd introduced us sooner,"
"Babe, did you forget I'm right here?" Devin waved his hand over his face in a dramatic flair.
"I could never," Ricky threw an arm over Devin and pulled him closer. He caught my eyes again, and his excited smile melted into something else.
"You have been doing so much better lately, Elena. Is he good to you?" Ricky asked in a serious voice.
"Yes," I replied without hesitation. "Volkov is amazing. He is a good man. But I will let you see that yourself tonight. I'm going to make hot chocolate from scratch, but I think Mira is going to try to sneak some liquor into it."
"Well, then we should get back down there and make sure she does," Devin poked me in the nose before heading for the door. Ricky squeezed my hand as he walked past, and we shared content smiles as the Christmas lights reflected in our eyes.
Ricky and Devin turned left to the base of the stairs and followed the sounds of Mira in the kitchen. The scents of a massive holiday dinner and chocolate wafted through the air. Little Christmas decorations led the way all over the house, since Volkov let me decorate whatever I wanted.
However, just as I was walking out of the living room, I heard hushed voices, aggressively whispering in the front foyer. I blinked in the kitchen's direction, but my feet were frozen in place as I recognized Mira's voice.
"It's going to tell her soon. You shouldn't worry about it," Volkov snapped back at whatever Mira said. Assuming it was an argument, my first thought was to walk away. However, my feet remained frozen to the ground and didn't want to move.
"She really needs to the truth today," Mira grumbled.
What truth?. My heart beat faster when I heard Mira's words.
What did she mean by that?!