15. Forgiveness Is Easy

Rory returns to the apartment as the sun sets.

The lock jangles and I listen carefully for the sound of any other voices outside the door. I don't think I'd be able to handle seeing Nikolai this early after the meeting and everything that has happened between us. And if he's pissed at me, I can bet Alexei is just as mad. And angry Russians are terrifying.

I wring my fingers before wiping my sweaty psalm onto my sweat pants. I'm nervous. And scared. Scared that Rory will never want to talk to me again and realise that I'm a horrible person. I've never denied being a bitch, but I'd always felt like she's been able to see through my facade. And that it was all just a show. One big performance to entertain the masses and keep people at arm's length. It never deterred Rory and for that I'm grateful. That I could at least have one friend in this miserable existence of mine.

Rory looks beautiful. Her hair is tied up into a high bun and she's wearing a dress that I've never seen before. It's long and suits her figure well. I can tell its designer instantly as well. No way our college budget could afford something so stunning. Her two Russians must have taken her on a shopping trip. I wish I had a billionaire boyfriend. Or two.

She doesn't notice me at first, but after she closes the door behind her, her eyes lock onto me. For a fraction of a second, her face is emotionless, and then it morphs into... Concern? She drops all the bags in her hands and jumps over the couch, plonking herself on top of me in a huge bear hug. "Oh my gosh, you're alright!" She yells with relief.

Instantly my body releases its tension. She was worried for me? While I don't think that was warranted, I certainly prefer it over her being mad.

"I'd thought you had been kidnapped or drugged or something. One moment you were beside me, and the next you were gone. And then I literally bumped into Nikolai, and I mean literally. He was really mad at me for going out and hurried me to his car where Alexei was. He didn't even let me go find you to say goodbye! I'm so sorry, I should've been more attentive! Forgive me?" My brain tries to process everything she's saying, but her words are flooding my brain.

"Forgive you?" I question, like it's the most absurd thing in the world. And partly because it is. If everyone should be begging for forgiveness, it should be me. I was the one who should've been looking out for her, I should've tried harder.

"Yes, I promise it will never happen again. But that's partly because I think the guys will never let me step foot into a club again."

Rory pulls away from me and I notice the twinge of red coating her cheeks. She's embarrassed?

"Am I missing something here?" I ask. Did those guys do something to her? I swear if they did, I will end them with my bare hands, or at least die trying.

"I think they are serious about us." She says shyly.

"Us? What do you mean?"

"I don't know, I guess I just assumed we were hooking up, but they are really possessive. And it's kinda hot, I'm not going to lie. Though, they are now talking about me moving in with them in the future and I don't know because I've barely known them a week and—"

"They are talking about you moving in with them?" I choke out, sitting up. What the hell? "Don't tell me you're actually considering it?" She looks at me sheepishly. "You barely know the guys, they could sus or trying to use you or something." I try to reason.

"I doubt that, they are rich as fuck and they just spent a shit tonne of money on me, half the stuff they bought me is still at theirs. It doesn't make sense if they were just trying to use me."

"Well men's minds work in mysterious ways so I wouldn't put anything past them."

Rory rolls her eyes. "Whatever, they don't matter right now. I'm just glad you're okay. And how did the interview go? I tried to get something out of Nik but he refused to talk about it. He said I should ask you."

I groan internally. "I got a job."

"Congrats—"

"But not working for Nikolai."

"Then who?"

There's a moment of silence. I look down and fiddle with my fingers, but Rory nudges me with her elbow. "Leon."

"SHUT UP!"

"Yeah..."

"No way you are telling the truth, how the hell did that even happen, I have so many questions."

The last thing I want to do right now is talk about the job and how my life is now going to take a turn for the worst now that I work for my mortal enemy who is hell bent on making my life hell now that he has declared war all because of some petty drama that he can't get over. I mean talk about dramatic.

Somehow I manage to explain everything besides the whole elevator debacle (because that's a little too much to go into) to Rory without combusting, and by the end of it she has a puzzled expression strung across her features. "I'm confused."

"So am I. Right now I'm taking it second by second."

"I just don't understand why he hates your guts so much or why he doesn't want you dating his younger brother."

"I don't understand either, but the last thing I'm going to do is ask him about it. I just need to suck it all up and deal with his bullshit. It's just a temporary job until I'm able to get back on my feet and find a better job." I know that there's no way that I'll find a better paying job and Rory knows that two, but neither of us say anything.

"At least the pay will be good and you get free accommodation."

I smile and nod. That's about the only perks though. I just need to remain professional and it will all be alright. I'll just do the bare minimum when it comes to communicating with him directly, and I'm sure he will pay the same respects. As for dating Holland, it seems that perhaps he is more trouble than he is worth. I don't need the extra trouble in my life and I doubt it would've even gone anywhere anyway.

My thoughts suddenly drift back to that mysterious stranger in the club last night. The way he touched me and made me feel things I haven't felt in a very long time. I wonder where he is right now, and what he's doing. Does he think of me like I do of him? Maybe I should go back to that club sometime and see if I can find him again.

Or perhaps I shouldn't after last night.

"About last night..." I begin. "I was way out of line with how much I was drinking, especially when I knew that those possessive boyfriends of yours didn't want you going out. If anything, I should be apologizing for leaving you behind." I say solemnly.

Rory looks at me with those big beautiful eyes of hers. "Why don't we call it even? We both did things we shouldn't have last night and neither of us can be blamed."

While I still feel like I'm mainly at fault, I decide to say nothing more and instead tackle Rory onto the other side of the couch in a hug. She falls backwards with laughter, but quickly I hear a groan of pain come from her and I instantly move off of her, concern spreading over my face. "Are you alright? Did I hurt you?"

"No, I'm fine."

I eye her suspiciously, and wriggle on the couch. "Is your ass alright?"

Her eyes widen and she looked at me with a horrified expression. "Yes, why are you asking?"

"Cause you're wriggling like you got a bad sunburn."

"I'm fine, just tired. I'm going to go to bed." She says abruptly before standing and grabbing her things then rushing down the hall to her room.

Okay then...

I slump back onto the couch as my phone buzzes with a notification. It's an email from Leon with my contract. That was faster than expected, but at least I can read it and get it out of the way now.

It's all standard stuff you'd see in a contract, nothing out of the ordinary which I am pleased to see. Some part of me thought Leon would try and sneak in something to get me to sign away my soul, but thankfully it is looking normal.

Just as I'm about to close it and call it a day, I receive another message over text. I click onto it only to find an image of me from when I was a child. I'm sitting atop a swing, danging my legs off the edge. It's a completely normal photo other than the fact that someone has blacked my head out completely, like they've pressed their cigarette onto the photo and burnt my face from the image.

Cold sweeps over my whole body. Utter dread leaves me frozen.

Is it him? Surely not, there's no way he could have this image. And he has no reason to be so ominous, he's never been one to hide his identity, and yet who else could it be?

I shake the nasty thoughts away. I'm not going to let his mind games get to me.

Not when I know I'm safe.

At least for now.