Nik’s body stiffened like a board, and Linstantly regretted what I’d said. His shoulders squared, jaw clenched, and I could see the shadow of something cold flicker in his eyes. I didn’t want to give him the wrong idea that his attitude towards me was making me doubt my own feelings.
ced cheerful smile and nodded toward the te on the table. “Nevermind that. Are those for me
He blinked once, the tension easing slightly from his face as he followed my gaze. Then he nodded, a small grunt of confirmation escaping his lips.
I reached out, picking up one of the sandwiches. It was still warm, the bread lightly toasted and crisp beneath my fingers. I took a bite, the savory vors melbag on my tongue, grounding me. I was starving,
But the moment was short–lived.
Niki asked suddenly, his voice low and <b>hard </b>
“What did Moresov do?” Na
1 stilled, mid–chew, and blinked. “Lazar?”
“What do you mean?” tried to sound casual, but my voice came out higher than intended.
His eyes didn’t leave mine. “You pped him yesterday. Did he do something?”
My heartbeat stuttered. Right. He was stalking me.
swallowed the mouthful of food, pushing it down my throat like it was made of sandpaper,
looked up at him, trying to mask my rm with dry humor. I tilted my head and smirked. “Do you… stalk me everywhere?”
He didn’t even blink, didn’t offer a sheepish shrug <b>or </b>augh. He just nodded, like it was the most natural thing in the world. “You’re my wife”
That made something in my stomach twist, not from fear, but from something far more unsettling. Comfort. Like this wasn’t new. Like like he had always been watching Because I knew he had been….otherwise how would he have known beforehand that I woulde to his office that day?
I looked away before I could drown in that thought, letting out a long breath. “He <b>was </b>just being rude. You don’t have to w
worry about 1”
Thated the way my voice came out
out soft, defensive. I didn’t want him interfering, not when things were alreadyplicated enough. Professor Vasily had made it very clear- <b>was </b><b>on </b>thin ice.
I pushed the rest of the sandwich onto the te, suddenly not hungry. I stood and walked toward the stove, intent on making the porridge for Morn before the woke up. My mowments were methodical, <b>familiar</b>, I scooped the oats into the pot, added water, a pinch of salt, some milk, and stirred.
The porridge bubbled gently as I added the honey, just the way she liked it. Cinnamon next, Behind me, <b>Niki </b>stood from his seat, pushing it back with a scrape. “Te leaving,” he <b>said</b>.
Hurled around, and before I could respond, he walked up to <b>me </b>and pressed <b>a </b>sudden, quick kiss to my lips.
Tulinked, stunned.
<b>His </b>using dropped into that maddeningly deep, smug tone. “See you at night, malishka”
“You’reing back | asked, my voice rising
His smile alterent, just slightly, but enough for me to feet a par in my chest. “Should i not?”
I saw the hint of disappointment in his eyes, <b>and </b>guilt gripped me
“That’s not what I meset. You’re very wee, in fact, that would be easier on me too. I’m just wondering isn’ting and going hard for you?”
His face it up like I handed him the moon. His lips curved into something soft, tender. “I don’t thinking and going just once is that hard, malishka. My wife is working to hand after all
My face heated, and I looked away, pretending to check the porridge.
He chuckled under his breath, and then he was gone
served the pomidge into a bowl and carried it carefully to Mom’s room. She was sitting up already, propped against the pillows.
“Good morning” I whispered, cing the bowl on her bedside table
Shekiled. “Smells <b>like </b>cinnamon.”
I sat with her for a while, while she ate, sipping at the coffee had made for myself. She asked about Niki and I told her he’d be back at night.
“He’s going to be staying here?” Mom looked at me with raised brows and I smiled, “Yeah.”
She owned then, “You don’t need to do this for me Elena, I can just—”
out her off before she says anything further, “It’s <b>not </b>for you. It’s for me. I can’t live separately from you mom. Especially not when you’re still
“I’m way better now, I can go up and down the stairs myself.” She says, and I see the worry in her eyes as she continues, “Wouldn’t this be a hassle for
“Of course not. He’s the one who volunteered.” I smile, even as my heart aches, because there’s a part of me who does believe that <b>this </b>might be going too far I need to get my emotions under control starting today.
Especially after that change in demeanor in the kitchen. It’s <b>very </b>clear that he’s ufortable mentioning feelings. He just wants friendship and sex. So that’s what he’ll get.
No emotions
Mom finally gives up trying to convince me and after she’s done with her breakfast, I kiss her forehead and gather my bag and leave.
At university, I walked straight into Professor <b>Vasily </b>near the admin office.
His expression was tight as he greeted me. “Llena. Did you apologize yet?”
I stiffened. He still remembered that? “Sir, 1-
Iined to exin, “I pped Lazar because he touched me without permission. It wasn’t a misunderstanding”
The professor’s mouth ttened, and then his eyes shifted downward in disappointment. “Thadn’t expected this from you.”
My spine straightened. Lecuse me?”
He sighed, as if I were <b>a </b>child throwing a tantrum over a toy “I didn’t think you’d have <b>such </b>backwards thinking, <b>Elena</b>. I spoke to Lazar yesterday. He said he touched you identally, and you reacted…disproportionately
I stared at him, my chest burning. “He did not do it by ident. Sir, I’ve been ends with many guys, and I’ve never just pped them for touching me or hugging me. Why would <b>you </b>think I d
I stopped
<b>2 </b>
<b>60</b><b>% </b>
The look in his eyes
was the same look the loan sharks had given my parents. That nk, annoyed state like your existence was a nuisance. A problem to be ignored or
I bit the inside of my cheek until it hurt. I needed this professor on my side. My next project would be under him. I couldn’t afford to be cast out. I couldn’t Laford to argue or be made
He hated loudly. “Nevermind. I better not see such a thing happening <b>again</b>. I apologized in your stead earlier… just know that I’m disappointed.”
My stomach churned. My teeth ached from how tightly I was clenching my jaw
pologize si grit out
I turned on my heel and walked to my bench. My hair was braided today–a small, mundane thing, but I hadn’t done it in a while. It stayed out of my face, letting me focus. Well, as much as I could before my braid seminded me of Niki’s wordsst night. Braids suit me huh?
es went by in a blur, buried myself in work, careful not to attract attention.
After the final lecture, I stepped out into the warm air, only to freeze.
He was standing across the courtyard, talking to Lazar. They were far enough that I couldn’t hear them, but close enough to make my skin crawl. Dimitri’s ays locked in mine,
Tignored him.
I walked straight past them, not giving either of them the <b>satisfaction </b>of a second nce.
The streets outside the university were bustling. I book the tram into downtown and walked thest few blocks to the cafe. The bell above the door jingled as I entered.
My manager nced up from behind the counter. “Hey<b>, </b>Elena. How’s your mom?”
I smiled, shrugging off my bag. “Doing better. She’ll be back to work in a week or so.”
“Good to hear Clock in whenever you’re ready”
nodded and mowed behind the counter, tying on my apron. The familiar grind of the espresso machine, the smell of coffee <b>beans </b><b>and </b>fresh pastries, wrapped around me like a safety.
Hours passed
By the <b>time </b>I hung up my apron and stepped outside, the sky was painted with the warm hues <b>of </b>early evening. The streets were quieter now, a few cars rollingzily by, headlights blinking in the dimming light
I wrapped my cardigan tighter <b>around </b>me, heading toward the <b>tram </b>station..
And then–Het it
A sudden chill crept down my <b>spine</b>. Not from the breeze, but from something else
watching me
I didn’t stop making but my pace quickened. My eyes scanned the dim streeters, the emply cale windows collecting distorted glimpses of
movement.
Mast one of Niki’s people?
13:11 Fri, 25 Jul G
He was the cal
But this this didn‘ Heel good. This wasn’t protective. This let
iken who had eyes on me it that were the case then wouldn’t I have felt eyes on me all day!
tective. This felt
Like someone way leering at me from the shadows
Thit my fp, hands curling into fists imide my sleeves.
Why did it feel so temblet