“I don’t think you should come. I’ve seen him angry before, but never like this. It’s a scary sight.”
“Then what about your jobs?” I cried guiltily.
“There’s nothing you can do either way. You’re automatically fired too. The only person that could probably change his mind is Mr. Vasiliev.”
“Who is that?”
“His best friend. You know that big guy with tattoos on his neck and face that’s always around him,” she explained.
Oh, yeah. “Do you have his number?”
“Of course, but I’m still bound by my NDA. I am not allowed to give it out under any circumstances,” she paused. “Give me a minute, Anton,” she said, referring to the aged gardener.
“Oh my God, did he fire Mr. Orman too?” I asked in shock. He was one of the few people I actually liked when I was introduced to the staff that first day I arrived.
“No. Not him. He’s like a father to Mr. Volkov. He is the only one left and the security. The very ones who didn’t do their jobs in the first place. No offense to you, dear.”
“I am so sorry. He was meant to be away for two days. I didn’t know that he would return so suddenly in this way,” I cried, filled with remorse. “I’ll find a way to fix this. Please send me Mr. Vasiliev’s number.”
Seconds later, I received the text message containing the number.
Charlotte was sitting on the couch watching me, a steaming cup of hot chocolate and marshmallows in hand. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so bothered,” she commented. “Calm down, will you?”
With shaky hands, I paced around our tiny living room as I waited to be connected to the giant’s number. My heart slammed painfully against the wall of my chest when the ringing stopped. “Mr. Vasiliev? T-this is…er…April Winters. Yulia’s nanny.”
“Yes. What do you want?” he asked coldly
At his tone, my hope died on the spot, but I couldn’t give up. Not until he told me no to my face and even then I wouldn’t stop trying to sort out the mess I caused by my careless actions. “Could you please help me by speaking to Yu—I mean…Mr. Volkov. Taking Yulia from the house was my sole doing. None of the other staff were even aware. He can’t make everyone suffer on my account.” I could hear my voice begin to crack so I paused and took a deep breath.
“Why are you contacting me?” he asked indifferently. “I’m not the one who fired them.”
“You’re the only… I heard you’re the only one he listens to.”
“Yuri listens to everyone,” he said.
For a moment, I was taken aback. Whether his words were bad, or good news, I couldn’t tell.
“Now, if you excuse me, I have other matters to attend to.”
Suddenly, there was nothing but silence on the other end.
I stared at the empty screen of my phone until Charlotte’s voice pulled me back to the present.
“What did he say?” she asked.
“He said he couldn’t help. That Yuri listens to everyone.” I stared at her. “What does that mean, anyway?”
She gazed at me blankly, then grimaced. “That can’t be good.”
“What do I do now?”
She raised her eyes to the ceiling to think. “No one listens to everyone. Who is this guy? Is he as hot as Yuri? God, that Yuri is holy-moly-macaroni hot.”
“Charlotte!” I nearly screamed. “Not now.”
“All right. All right. Calm down.”
“These bloody Russians. They are so freaking cold and unfeeling. They speak as if words cost money.” I racked my brain for an answer. “What if it means just what he says? Not that he listens to everyone, but that he gives everyone a chance and then makes his own decisions?”
“Doesn’t that mean the same thing?” Charlotte asked. “Since he is Russian too, maybe it’s a second language thing.”
“Yes,” I said distractedly. “I can’t see I have any other choice, but to go and see Yuri.”
She smiled mysteriously. “Hmmm.”
“What do you mean Hmm?”
“Nothing.”
I shot her a dark look and hurried off to get ready.
Chapter 22
Yuri
When I drove home with Yulia in the backseat, I should’ve been relieved, instead I was infuriated. What I really wanted to do was go back and take April into my arms. I wanted to scold her for being so careless and willfully negligent and…then punish her. The way I knew would drive her crazy. I wanted to whip her ass until it was as red as her hair and when it was burning with pain, I would fuck her so that every time I pushed into her she would scream with pain and pleasure. I wanted to see her spread open before me and begging me to use her. Not creeping down the stairs with her fucking luggage to run away.
I glanced into the rearview mirror at Yulia. She was staring sullenly out of the window. The morning sun had turned her bright red hair into a halo of fire. When I had found them, my niece looked happy. I hadn’t seen her happy for so long. I can’t even remember when I last saw her laughing.