Chapter 85 FOR ONCE.
\~~~RAINA.
It was finally time to wrap up at the office and I’ve never felt happier.
I gathered my things hurriedly and stuffed them neatly into my bag. My desk looked tidier now, so I stood, smoothed my skirt, and grabbed my coat from the back of the chair. A quick glance in the small mirror by the door confirmed my makeup was still okay, and there was no smudges from the long hours.
I stepped out of the office, locking the door behind me with a click, and just as I reached the front steps, I heard the low rumble of an engine so I quickened my pace, still humming, my body shaking a bit with that giddy energy from escaping the office grind. But then the driver's door opened, and a tall figure stepped out. My feet froze mid-step, the hum dying in my throat.
“Viktor?” My brows furrowed as I stared at him. He was dressed in his usual dark suit, broad shoulders tense, and face set in that unreadable mask. He bowed slightly, a stiff gesture, but his eyes stayed glued to the ground, not meeting mine for a second.
What was his deal?
This man acted like I was poison every time we crossed paths. Did he hate me that much? Or was it something else? Maybe he had a thing for Luciano or something.
Were they perhaps fucking?
It didn't make sense, but his coldness always left me wondering.
“Where is Gabriel?” I asked, forcing my voice to stay steady as I approached the car. He opened the back door without a word, gesturing for me to get in.
“I will be driving you from now on,” he said flatly, his tone like chipped ice. He closed the door with a firm thud, and I slid onto the leather seat, the scent of the polished interior hitting me.
I waited until he climbed into the driver's seat and started the engine before speaking again. “Why? Luciano didn't tell me that. Gabriel dropped me this morning and didn't say a word about any change.”
“Boss's order, madam,” His response was curt as usual, and his eyes were fixed straight ahead as the car pulled away from the curb.
The energy in the air thickened, colder than the autumn chill outside. Viktor had always been frosty, but tonight it felt like a wall of frost between us. His hands gripped the wheel tightly, knuckles pale, and he didn't so much as glance in the rearview mirror.
I sighed, sinking back into the seat, the city lights blurring past the window.
“Play the music,” I groaned, rubbing my temples. The silence was suffocating, and pressing in like it wanted to choke the life out of the ride.
Then there was no response or movement. He just drove on, and the engine's hum was the only sound.
There was no way he hadn't heard me as the car was quiet, and just the two of us were in this enclosed space. My irritation bubbled up. “Viktor, the music,” I repeated, sitting up straighter and leaning forward.
I caught a tiny twitch in his shoulders, a subtle shift, but he still ignored me.
Fine. I don't like him either, his perpetual scowl, and the way he treated me like an intruder, but I wasn't going to put up with outright disrespect.
Not after everything I had been putting up with. 'You’d better play the music right now, or you will hear from my husband.”
That did it. The invincible stick he had rammed to his head just to not answer me fell off and then he leaned toward the dashboard, his arm rigid, and flicked on the radio.
Soft jazz filled the car, low and mellow, but it did nothing to thaw the tension. I scoffed, crossing my arms and turning to stare out the window.
Finally, the car slowed in front of our gated estate. Viktor pulled up to the entrance, the iron gates swinging open automatically. He parked smoothly and got out to open my door, still avoiding my eyes.
“Thank you,” I muttered, stepping out without waiting for a reply. He nodded once and drove off toward the garage, leaving me at the front steps.
I entered the large house, ascended the stairs, and then pushed through the heavy door of our room.
Dropping my bag on the vanity, I kicked off my heels and walked to the closet. Luciano wasn't in and the room felt bigger than usual.
I freshened up quickly and then changed into my comfortable lounge clothes of a soft sweater and leggings.
But I needed to talk to him. About Viktor, and about... everything. The secrets piling up were starting to suffocate me. So, I left the room in a hurry, checked downstairs again, but he wasn't there, so I headed down to his study.
I knocked lightly on the door and waited for a beat before pushing it open. There he was, seated at his massive oak desk, phone pressed to his ear. His dark hair was tousled, sleeves rolled up, and his forearms corded with tension.
He looked up briefly, or did he? His eyes stayed on the papers in front of him, his voice low and commanding as he spoke into the phone.
'...and make sure the shipment is rerouted through the secondary port. No delays this time.' His tone was all business, sharp and unyielding. I stepped inside, closing the door softly behind me, and stood there, watching him.
He didn't acknowledge me, he just kept talking, something about contacts in the city, numbers that meant nothing to me.
Minutes ticked by, and my legs grew tired from standing in the doorway so I moved to the chair opposite his desk, and settled on it.
Folding my hands in my lap, I waited, studying his profile. The jawline seemed harder than usual and I couldn't help but wonder what was stressing him.
Finally, after what felt like forever, he ended the call with a curt 'Handle it' and set the phone down. I straightened up, offering a small smile. “Hey. Long day?”
He nodded once, barely a dip of his chin, then flipped a page in the folder before him. His eyes scanned the text, ignoring me completely.
I tried again, leaning forward. “Luciano, can we talk? I have something to talk to you about.”
There was no response, just the rustle of paper.
Frustration crept in, hot and insistent. “What is going on? You're being weird. Did I do something?”
He sighed, not looking up. “Nothing's wrong, Talia. Just busy.”
“Bullshit.” The word slipped out sharper than I intended. I leaned in closer, my voice dropping. “I have something important to tell you. Please, just give me your full attention for a minute. It is about…”
He cut me off by standing abruptly, his chair scraping back. “I have no audience to give you right now,” His tone was cold and final. Without another word, he strode past me, brushing past me without a glance, and yanked the door open.
I sat there, my mouth agape, staring at his retreating back as the door clicked shut behind him.
Wait. What the hell was that? My heart pounded, a mix of shock and anger flooding me. I turned slowly in the chair, blinking at the empty space where he'd been.
He wouldn't even give me a little attention.
He had never been like that.
I wanted to tell him…
I was really going to come out clean to him.
That I am Raina and not Talia.
And how I had been blackmailed.
For once, and for the first time, I wanted to get things straight and right with him.