She came over to me with it. I knew I was being shown into the world inside her head. This was very important to her.
With a great show respect, I took the framed photograph from her and looked at it. It was the image of a man who bore some resemblance to Yuri, but there was something weak about his jaw, his mouth or his eyes. I didn’t know what it was. I only knew he wasn’t Yuri.
He however wasn’t what held my attention. It was the woman by his side. Yulia was the exact replica of her. The wind was in her hair. She was laughing, carefree. My heart took a dive into my stomach. I’d never seen Yulia laugh. Not once.
I was so engrossed by the photo that it was only when Yulia nudged me with her notepad, did I turn around to gaze into her eyes. I looked down at what she had scribbled down and the words seized my heart.
Mama and Papa were murdered.
“What do you mean?” I asked, shocked.
She opened her mouth as though she might speak, but suddenly she shook her head as if reminding herself not to. She took the photograph from me and returned it to its original place. Then she climbed into bed beside me and shut her eyes.
I understood what she was doing. She was deliberately closing the cruel world out. I could see tears slipping out of her closed lids. I let her cry. She needed it.
I waited until she was so exhausted that she fell asleep. I wished I too, could fall asleep and forget the world around me, but my mind wouldn’t slow down. Then, I got up and called Charlotte.
Chapter 19
April
“Yulia showed me a photo of her Mom and Dad,” I said the moment she picked up.
“What?” she asked, her voice groggy with sleep.
“The poor child cried herself to sleep,” I added sadly.
Charlotte yawned, and it was only then that I realized that she’d been asleep. My eyes darted to the clock on Yulia’s wall. It was past three in the afternoon. “What’s going on? Why are you sleeping at this time?”
“I’ll tell you later,” she croaked.
“Are you okay?”
“I am,” she responded. “You’re the one who sounds like you have the weight of the whole world on your shoulders.”
“It’s nothing. Call me back when you’re awake, okay?”
“No, let’s talk now,” she said, alertness coming into her voice. “I won’t be able to sleep otherwise.”
My heart swelled at her boundless selflessness whenever it came to me. After what had happened with Yuri, it was just the warmth my bruised soul needed. She’d been this way with me from the first day we met. Inseparable friends.
I went straight for it. “I slept with Yuri last night.”
Silence.
“Are you asleep or just stunned?”
“Umm…”
I could almost picture her rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.
“You actually did it?” she asked.
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t know. A part of me thought you wouldn’t. You tend to run away from things that are too threatening to your peace of mind.”
“Well, you’re not too far wrong. I packed up my stuff. Right now, my suitcase is in a closet in the foyer.”
“As expected. Does that mean he was a disappointment?”
“The opposite. I’m still sore.”
“Damn. A good fuck. So why the hell are you leaving?”
I gave her a half-truth. “He’s dangerous Charlotte. I was at his company yesterday, and there were guns everywhere. I think I even saw a dead body too.”
She was silent for a moment. “And?”
Her reaction shocked me. “Did you hear what I said?”
“Yeah. You saw a dead body.”
“Exactly.”
“What does that have to do with you? Your only business is with his niece. Are you that scared you’ll fall for him?”
“I’m not going to fall for him.”
“Okkkkay.”
“You know what? It’s fine.”
“By the way, I did more research on your boss. He owns a conglomerate, according to good ole Google. Construction, Manufacturing, Real estate, investing. Cyber security. A whole host of other things and now, you tell me he can fuck well too. What I wouldn’t give to be you right now.”
“Uh, well is putting it lightly.”
“Did you confirm his dick size?”
“Charlotte!”
“What? That was the main point of all this.”
“I didn’t,” I said. “All I remember was the ceiling… It was green. “
“Still, you should be able to gauge it? Did you guys do it on a bed?”
“I was pinned against a wall.”
“Damn, can I take your place? I think quitting is the right call to make. Recommend me as your replacement.”
“Charlotte,” I exclaimed, exasperated.
“I’m not joking.”
“That’s the whole problem,” I replied.
She sighed. “Can you come back to the apartment, tonight?”
I was about to refuse, but then I thought why the hell not? I could take Yulia with me. See what Charlotte made of her. “It might be possible. He’s away on a business trip for a couple of days, so I could come with Yulia. It will be a breath of fresh air for her.” I paused. “There’s security everywhere though. I don’t think it’ll be that easy. Let me think…”