Chapter 200: Starting to love him

"I have a feeling that Andrey doesn’t fully take of you", Mira immediately changed the subject when we saw Elena walking back towards us.

“Of course, I’m, Mira, my driver takes Elena to her doctor appointments and I do everything I can to help her.”

“Then why is she the one making dinner?” Mira snapped back.

“Poor girl, slaving in the kitchen when she has a big, strong man to cook. Ni na chto ne godynyy plemyannik.”

“She was already cooking when I got home, I was just telling her to take it easy,” I explained myself like a little kid which was innwardly annoying me but I played it cool.

“He is right, Mira. He was just telling me to rest more. But between you and me, I’m not going to listen to him,” she giggled, and the sound was sweet. I smiled at her despite the brief statement she made.

Mira barked out her laughter and curled her hand around Elena’s arm. “Good. Men are useless.”

“I’m going to tell Uncle that you said that,” I quipped lying to Elena more. Mira waved me off and turned back to Elena at the stove.

“Why don’t you stay for dinner since you’re already here,” Elena offered. My knees felt weak and I wanted to pull my hair when I heard it.

I wanted Elena all to myself, but here she was inviting Mira.

“Oh! Sweet girl! For you, I stay.”

Mira was a storm of energy swirling around Elena, helping her finish dinner, putting rolls in the oven to bake and fetching a bottle of wine for her. Her movements were graceful but calculated, I could sense the wolf beneath her skin even when she smiled.

It didn’t look as though I would get the dancer to myself tonight, so I buckled up for a long evening instead.

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ELENA’S POV

In the past, I had to constantly remind myself that what I was doing was worth the price I was paying. To sell my soul for the security of the ones I loved. I would do it over and over again without hesitating.

When I looked at my grandfather, now so frail and nearly swallowed up by the blankets in the hospital bed, I knew that I would go into the arms of any danger if it kept him with me for one more day. He was all I had left for the family.

Now I was halfway through the contract with Andrey Volkov, and it had become the easiest sacrifice I ever made. The money to support Papa’s medical bills was a godsend. Even if I still owed several thousands, it had helped me more than Andrey would ever know.

I knew that my decisions would always haunt me, but when I thought of what they gave me, it was easier to live with. This was the best hospital in the entire city, and without a doubt, they were the reason my grandpa made it as long as he has.

“Papa, what am I supposed to do?” He was asleep, but still, it made me feel better to talk to him. To open up in his presence and help me ease the burden on my heart. “I’m in love with him, and it’s not even real. None of it is real.”

I buried my head in my arms at the foot of the hospital bed, wishing he was awake, or that I could tell him the truth about my life. How could I do that to him?! It would break his heart if he knew what I was doing to pay his bills.

A live-in plaything, I thought inwardly, remembering what the theater choreographer had called me. It made me sick to my stomach, but he was right. That was the truth.

To make matters worse, like an idiot, I had fallen in love with my owner , while knowing it was all fake from the beginning. He did so well to remind me of that last night before Mira showed up.

\[Then why am I here?\] I had asked.

I heard the second part of his response echoing in my head all night and this morning on my way to the hospital. \[It would be a waste of money for me if you were recovering in your tiny apartment across the city.\]

A waste of money?! Nothing about how he might genuinely want me there just because he enjoyed my company. No — he was getting his money’s worth out of me.

Although he wasn’t touching me day and night anymore, he still wanted his pretty little possession on his arm. It felt like the equivalent of wearing an expensive watch even when it stopped working.

Andrey Volkov and I had only been intimate twice since the accident. While he was doing his best not to touch me and let me recover, I could admit that I was the one who initiated those nights. To be honest, it didn’t take much to get Andrey riled up. All it took was rubbing against him in the right way while we were in bed, and moments later he was slipping inside me and filling me in the ways I wanted.

Slow and sensual. Touching and moving romantically in the dark. Andrey was being careful with me in my recovery, but I could sense his strain in refraining from what he truly desired , like he was holding back something far more dangerous than lust. Just as he had refrained last night before we were interrupted.

Andrey was a rough and dominating man who took what he wanted, when he wanted it. But for my sake, he was now holding back.

How was I supposed not to love him?

He looked at me like I was the only star in the sky. However, I knew once the contract ended, my light would fade away, and Andrey would move on to the next. I would be pushed aside just like his assistant when she lost her usefulness and our contract came along.

What would have happened to the woman, Harriet, if Andrey had never laid his eyes on me?! Would their working relationship have become something more?

I didn’t know where she was now or what Andrey had done, but now I felt bad for her. It ruined me that she pushed me down a flight of marble stairs and took me away from my ballet, but I couldn’t stop myself from pitying her.

Harriet was obviously in love with Andrey. But Andrey Volkov left a trail of broken hearts in his wake. It was now my turn.