<b>Chapter </b>17
<b>Niki’s </b><b>POV</b><b>: </b>
1 wasn’t <b>prepared </b>for the way she came at me.
One moment I was walking to my car, trying to get some air after theplete disaster that had unfolded in that hospital room, and the next thing 1 knew, Elena was grabbing the front of my suit jacket, spinning <b>me </b>around with surprising strength
Her fingers fisted in my cor. Her <b>eyes </b>burned.
“WHAT THE HELL WAS. THAT?” she hissed.
1 blinked, stunned for a heartbeat, before my hands came up slowly to wrap around her wrists<b>, </b><b>not </b>yanking her off, but trying to <b>ground </b>her,
“Excuse me1” I <b>asked</b>, though part of me already knew what this was about
Even in her anger, her eyes looked impossibly vivid stormy, unrelenting, and yet still so goddamn pretty
“Don’t “excuse me me!” she snapped. “Why the hell did you say all <b>that </b>to Mom!! I was going to tell her myself. I <b>had </b>a n, Niki. I was going to ease her into it. But no–you just had to barge in and ruin everything!”
Iraised an eyebrow, trying <b>not </b>to let her frustration crawl under my skin. “And how long exactly were you going to wait! You hadn’t even <b>told </b>her Dmitri wasn’t going to be visiting
“That is none of <b>your </b>concern?” she retorted, fire licking her words. “You gave me a week. One week! You had no right to interfere before that
1 paused. That part! She was right.
Of course <b>she </b>was.
1 let out a long sigh, deting slightly as I looked down at the ground and then <b>back </b>up at her face, still taut with anger.
“You’re right,” I said quietly.
Her eyes <b>widened</b>. “What?”
“I said I’m sorry,” I repeated. “I shouldn’t have interfered. I <b>gave </b>you <b>a </b>timeline and I broke it. I was impatient.”
Elena stared at me like I had grown a second head. “That’s
1 frowned. “<b>What </b>do you mean?
Her features twisted once again, <b>looking </b>at me like I was stupid.
“<b>You’re </b>not even going <b>to </b>argue with me? Not going to deflect or make some grand excuse about responsibility or business tactics or. I don’t know, alpha–male instinct?”
<b>I </b>wanted tough at that <b>but </b><b>I </b>shook my head. “No. I overstepped. And it was unfair to you.
Her lips parted like she was <b>about </b>to say something else, but then she just stared at me for a few more seconds.
“Why did you do it?” she asked finally. Her voice <b>had </b>softened, the fury now dampened into something else. Curiosity? Or confusion?
I hesitated
“I went to check on your mom,” I said honestly. “To be polite. I thought it might be better to get the awkward part over with. I’m used to doing things efficiently. Ripping the bandage off and stuff. I didn’t think you’d still be hiding things. I assumed it would be easier on you, if she heard it from me directly. Instead of waiting to hear it the slow way”
She let out a huff ofughter, though it wasn’t quite amusing. “You really are something, Niki. Do <b>me </b><b>a </b>favor?”
Thooked my brow, “Yeah?”
“Don’t assume things next time, alright?” She said gritting her teeth, and honestly? I was surprised. She was over all that, this quickly!
She nced down, noticing her fists still clutched in my jacket, and with a murmur of embarrassment, she <b>quickly </b>let go and stepped back.
“Sorry,” she mumbled.
“It’s alright,” I said, brushing my coat lightly <b>as </b>I tried to y it off. “But <b>maybe </b>we should talk somewhere else? People are staring
<b>She </b>blinked, tuming to <b>look </b>around<b>–</b>and sure enough, several hospital staff, patients<b>, </b><b>and </b>even a security guard or two were casting us curious nces. One teenager was Elming us.
Lovely<b>. </b>
Her hands trembled <b>slightly </b>as she noticed the attention. Her eyes were rimmed red and I had noticed this earlier but she looked close to crying. The <b>guilt </b>in my gut thickened.
“Well it’s not like Mom would allow me back in anytime soon,” she muttered.
I finched. “She told you to leave<b>?</b>”
She gave me a t look. “What do you think?”
Yeah. That guilt? It now had its own weight and was currently crushing my chest.
Without another word, I <b>opened </b>the passenger side door and waited for her to get in. She didn’t speak. Just slid in, silent and stiff.
I rounded the hood, climbed in, and shut the door.
“Would you like to go home?” I asked gently. “Or somewhere else?”
liers rigid.
She was staring at the hospital entrance, her shoulders
<b>I </b>hesitated, then <b>spoke </b><b>again</b>. “Elena. I really am sorry for interfering. If <b>you </b>want, I can go back and talk to her. Try to <b>exin- </b>
“No,” she cut in quickly. “No. Never mind”
There was a pause.
“You know <b>what</b><b>?</b>” she said, voice low. “Maybe this is better. At least <b>now </b>she knows. And yeah, she’ll be mad… but she get over it. Eventually. I just…. I need to hold out a little longer. That’s all,”
I nodded slowly.
“Alright. Then, would you like toe to my office!”
She blinked. “Your office?”
“You don’t have anywhere else to go. Might <b>as </b>well be somewhere quiet. Or I <b>can </b><b>drop </b><b>you </b><b>at </b>
the mall if you prefer retail therapy”
“<b>Your </b>office is fine,” she said quickly, then after a beat, added with a <b>small</b>, <b>crooked </b>smile, <b>“</b>I’ve heard of take–your–kid–to–work day, but I think this is the first take–your<b>–</b><b>wife</b><b>–</b><b>to</b>–work scenario.”
The tension between us eased <b>a </b>little<b>. </b>
I <b>chuckled</b>. “Well, good thing I’m the <b>boss</b>. I <b>make </b>the rules.
She snorted, folding her arms over her chest and finally rxing against the seat as I pulled our of the driveway.
The day hadn’t <b>gone </b>the way either of us had nned. But maybe–just maybe–this detour would give us both a chance to breathe.
And hopefully she won’t question my reason for being in a hurry to marry her…not that I’d tell her theplete truth even if she asked.