Chapter 30 30

Chapter 30 30

The room was quiet. The morning light slipped weakly through half-drawn curtains. A jacket hung carelessly over the back of a chair and one of the pillows had fallen to the floor during the night, lying beside a pair of boots kicked off in a hurry.
Ivan got out of bed, completely exhausted. He stared at his bruises in the mirror.
That jerk.
He picked up his jacket and slid into it. Briefly, his mind traveled to what had happened the night before. Seeing Katerina and Slavik in front of the house really did upset him.
He had warned her about meeting with Slavik, but she just didn’t like to listen.
Maybe it was time to stop being lenient with her, he thought.
He had tried not to be so cruel to her, but every time, she proved otherwise. He wasn’t gonna have any of it.
He walked towards his dresser, picked up a top and shorts, and changed into them. He picked up his phone from the mini cupboard beside the bed and dialed a phone number.
“Hello… come meet me at my wife’s room right now,” he ordered, heading straight to Katerina‘s room.
He knocked, then opened. Katerina sat brushing her hair. The ray of sunlight hitting her face made her hair shine bright.
“Ivan,” Katerina said, getting up.
“We need to talk.”
“Okay, is there any problem?”
“Yes, you are the problem.” His voice was thick.
Katerina sighed, waving her hands in frustration.
“Is it because of Slavik?” She walked toward Ivan. “I’m sorry, I needed to get something from him. It was just a harmless visit.”
“Harmless visit again, just like the last time. Soon, I’ll see him in your bedroom.”
“Oh, stop being paranoid.”
“Paranoid? You’re the one being paranoid right now.”
A man stepped into the doorway behind Ivan.
“Change the locks,” Ivan commanded.
Without a word, the man nodded and got to it.
Katerina’s eyes widened. “You’re changing the locks? Why?”
“I have allowed you enough freedom.” Ivan took a short stroll around the room.
“For a minute, I questioned myself, why did I let a traitor into my house and then allow her so much freedom to the point that she brings in unwanted guests despite my various warnings? And I couldn’t find any answer, so I decided, rather than struggle to get one, why not just take off the obstacle?”
“What are you getting at?” Katerina wanted to know.
“From henceforth, Katerina, you will not be allowed to leave this room that you so desire to stay in,” he replied.
“What?”
“Shhh,” Ivan quieted her. “Even if the house were burning down, you would stay in here and never leave. The only time this door is permitted to be open is when Sabrina brings you your meal or if, for some reason, I decide to call on you or come see you.” Ivan continued.
“You’ve got to be kidding me! You really want to keep me locked up in here?” Katerina said.
“As you can see, the locks are being changed.”
Katerina charged towards him in rage. He held her amidst her attempt to hit him and threw her on the bed.
“You are nothing but a traitor, and you will remain that way,” he said. “You know, I’m pretty impressed at your ability to be so good at what you do. I was this close to believing that you had amnesia, only to find out that there was no record of an accident.”
Katerina regained her strength; she sat up.
“Who fed you that lie?” she said.
“I should be the one asking you that. My guess is you lied so much about your amnesia that it’s suddenly becoming your reality. What do they call it? Losing sight of what’s real.”
Katerina chuckled and then gave him a dead stare.
“You know what, you can believe whatever it is you want to believe. I am a traitor, agreed. I killed your father, agreed.”
“I never said you killed my father.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, your majesty. I was an accomplice to your father‘s death, agreed. I cheated on you with Slav…” Katerina stopped halfway.
“Look into my eyes, Katerina, and tell me you didn’t sleep with my Slavik.”
Katerina froze.
She wasn’t sure if she hadn’t.
Ivan scoffed.
“See? I thought so.”
“Look, I never said I did.”
“But your silence did.”
“I can’t remember.”
“Lies! That’s all that comes out of your mouth.” Ivan said coldly.
“I am not lying, Ivan. I don’t recall a thing. Just once…”
“Just once what?”
Katerina suddenly realized what she had said. She placed her hands on her mouth, wishing she could take her words back.
“You'd better start talking.”
“It was just once.”
“What happened once?”
“I don’t know. I had a memory flash. It didn’t last up to two minutes… We were in a hotel room.”
“Wow! A hotel room? Where?”
“Mexico!”
“Same Mexico? You both did have a time of your lives right?” Ivan laughed in disdain.
“I don’t know if anything happened. Ivan, you’ve got to believe me.”
“Newsflash! I don’t, and I never will. If I could get rid of you right now, at this moment, I would jump at the opportunity. But because I haven’t found enough evidence to prove me right, I guess I’m just going to have to manage and deal with you and the mess you’ve created for yourself and for me.”
“Ivan…” Katerina said.
“If you know what’s good for you, you’ll stay in here and not try to pull a stunt. Where is your phone?”
“My phone? What do you want to do with it?” Katerina asked.
“Where is it?” Ivan yelled.
“I am not giving you my phone.”
“Then I guess I’m going to have to forcefully take it.”
Ivan went on a rampage searching for the phone. He pulled off the bed covers and the pillow but still didn’t find it. Then he checked the side cupboard. Katerina rushed towards him. He found it. She tried to drag it from his hands, but Ivan pushed her off, causing Katerina to hit her head slightly on the bed.
Katerina fell to a sitting position. He turned to leave, then paused and turned to look at her. It was at that moment that he noticed she had hit her head on the bed frame. A sudden wave of guilt filled his face.
“Did you get hurt?”
“Get out,” Katerina said, her voice breaking in tears.
What have I done?
Is she hurt?
Did I push her too hard?
Ivan thought.
The questions echoed in his mind, but pride drowned them out. Without another word, he turned and walked out, leaving the sound of her quiet sobs behind him.