Chapter 13
THE ATTACK
Five hours had passed yet Ivan refused to stop his questioning. For three days in a row, he had summoned her, subjecting her to questions she had no answers too.
“The day before you were meant to arrive back in London, you told me you had something to tell me. Do you remember what that was?” Ivan questioned.
“For the hundredth time Ivan, I’ve told you I don’t remember”
“What about those flashbacks you claim to have, anything about that day?”
“None!” She snapped back.
The door opened and Dimitri walked in.
“Ivan, when are you going to let Katerina be? Isn't this interrogation turning into torture considering the poisoning incident?”
“She’s well recovered now” He said coldly.
Katerina got up, tossing the countless objects he had shoved at her in his attempt to get her to remember.
“Can’t you see this is not working?” She said in frustration and walked out.
“Ivan, I know you’ve never listened to anyone but I think you should slow it down. That lady is your wife”
“A traitor” he corrected.
“You have no proof of that. Why not take this as heaven’s miracle and stop trying to dig up wounds that were barely healed”
“If reopening them would bring out the truth” Ivan said “Then I’d do it”
Dimitri exhaled and turned away. As he stormed out of the study, he met his daughter in the hallway.
“Dad” she said, noticing the tension on his face. But he walked past her without a word.
In an outburst of anger, Ivan threw a wine glass across the room and it shattered.
“Ivan” Yelena moved in fast. “Why did you do that?” Her hands running down his shoulders.
“I want to be left alone” he said.
“Left alone? No way I am leaving you alone, you look a mess. It’s Katerina isn’t it?”
Ivan said nothing.
“Sit down” she pushed him to his seat. “ I know that we are practically cousins, but hey, I’ve been here longer than Katerina has and I know you when you are hurting. I think it’s better you send Katerina away”
“Away?” Ivan sat up shocked at her suggestion.
“Yes, take her away from the estate. She’s way too comfortable here that’s why she is yet to come clean”
“I can’t possibly send her away”
She got up. “Oh come on Ivan, you can. Take her to the cabin in the country … lock her up. Get someone to watch her. When she is miles away from the city, the silence will cripple her and she’d begin to spill”
Ivan considered it.
“I can find someone to watch her, you don’t even have to be worried. As much as I hate it,I know you don’t want her dead.”
“I don’t”
“So…. I know you need the truth and the earlier it is, the better. Then you can get out of whatever this phase you are in”
He rose slowly “ I’ll consider it”
“Good, let me know so I could be in on the arrangements.”
“Sure”
———
Katerina sat on the edge of the bed, her brown satin night wear revealing her curves. It was late into the night her body begged for sleep but her mind refused to surrender. She was awaiting Ivan’s return. For days they had shared the same room, yet lived like strangers.
Tonight was different, Katerina had another flashback, this time, of a night before her supposed trip. They had hot sex, she saw herself moan almost to death in extreme pleasure. After the sex, she broke the news to him that she intended to travel the next day. He had questioned her sudden distance, her unavailability and her deep focus on work but she had only brushed it off promising that everything would make sense when she returned.
Though uncertain, she felt that she was close to having a breakthrough in the case, maybe that was what led to her traveling
The door opened and Ivan walked in.
His eyes briefly met hers before he pulled off his wristwatch. Katerina got up, pretending to remove her earrings, then she caught a scent. It was Yelena’s”
“Yelena is back?” She asked.
Ivan nodded.
“Hmmm, interesting.”
He raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“You know she likes you right?”
“She’s my cousin Katerina”
“The heart wants what the heart wants Ivan”
“What are you getting at?” He asked.
“Oh nothing. Can’t a wife just pick up another woman’s scent on her supposed man?”
He brought his hand to himself checking for a scent.
“Nothing happened”
Katerina laughed and eased back onto the bed. Why did he care so much to defend himself? She rested her leg, her night wear revealing her laps just enough to catch Ivan’s gaze.
Ivan’s eyes lingered on her legs.
She had always dressed covered up since she moved into his room, what changed tonight?
“I find it quite funny that she disappeared the same night I was poisoned. I mean of all nights, it had to be the one that your beloved wife almost died” she said, playing with her hands.
He could spot the sarcasm in her voice.
“She had an important meeting the next morning”
“Interesting. Or perhaps she poisoned me?”
He walked up to her, “Don’t you dare lay an accusing finger on my family” Then he turned and sat on the sofa.
Katerina thought for a while, and suddenly her eyes lit up as though she had solved a puzzle.
“Maybe that’s it. That’s what blinds you Ivan.” She said, chuckling.
“You’re so blinded by your loyalty to family that you can’t even see that the hand holding the knife might just be theirs”
“You know what Katerina, maybe you’re right.” He got up “Maybe I am blinded by loyalty, what about you? You have nothing to live for.”
He paused “And why the hell am I even trying to make you feel comfortable at the expense of my own comfort. I own the bed, the room and the entire estate. Get up and go to the couch”
“You don’t bloody think I’d sleep on the couch” she asked.
“Oh yes, that’s what’s gonna happen.”
“In your wildest dream” she said as she got under the duvet feeling comfortable.
Ivan dragged her off the bed, the duvet clinging to her. He didn’t notice, so he kept pulling until he got tangled too and they both fell.
“Ow” Katerina cried out. Her head hitting the floor first.
They froze at first and then burst into laughter, Ivan still on top and Katerina still below.
His closeness to her made her heart skip a beat. She looked at his face, his eyes and his thick eyebrows that made him look so handsome.
Ivan on the other hand stared at her lips, the lips of the woman he once used to kiss everyday. His hands slowly coming to her hair, he brushed it. Admiring its softness. His eyes back to her lips, he leaned forward and kissed her.
Katerina closed her eyes, feeling her world drift away as she fell into his. His mouth swallowed hers, not giving room for hers to travel. Slowly he began to give her room and this time she reached out to his, bringing him into her world. She flipped him over, the duvet giving way. She kissed him passionately.
As though empowered, Ivan flipped her over, his hands gripping her neck, his lips on hers.
What was she doing? She had let this man break into her such that there was nothing left to hide.
He slowly eased his hands away and drew back his kiss.
“Don’t stop” she muttered.
Ivan saw the desire in her eyes, a desire that didn’t match up to his.
Then, he kissed her again, this time he didn’t stop. He lifted her up, placed her on the dresser, sending objects to the floor.
He kissed her like a man who had been starved for years and she liked it. She felt that she belonged entirely to him and she liked it.
“I am all yours,” she whispered.
Suddenly he stopped.
What had she said wrong? She thought to herself.
Suddenly his affection turned to disdain, a surge of hate rushing back in. He raised his fingers pointing to her, about to say something but he didn’t. Rather, he used his hands to wipe his lips. He turned his back and left.
Katerina felt all sorts of emotions.
What had she said wrong? Why did he stop ? Did he not want her as much as she wanted him?
She needed to know. She had to chase after him. Hurriedly, she adjusted her clothes and opened the first door silently hoping he was right there, but he wasn’t. As she approached the next door, she heard faint sounds; thuds, grunts, a muffled cry . Peeping, she saw two men beating someone.
Instinctively, she hid behind the wall. She looked again. The man on the ground groaned in pain, his body curling with every blow. She squinted and her heart stopped.
It was Ivan.
Her Ivan.
Blood all over his mouth.