I was going through the lists again and again, not paying attention to the the conversation between Theron and Ostin behind me.
My mind ran through all the moments I kept in my head. Why were they in contact with Eve? WHY????
"Were they in contact with Amy?" I asked, not even knowing whether they were listening to me or not.
"Yes," Ostin's equally shocked voice replied. "But they're ordinary messages there: 'let's have lunch,' 'how are you?' Sometimes she asked whether Theron was free at Dave's. But nothing more. She tried to seek meetings with him and shared her worries that he had completely distanced himself from her."
Could it be that I had failed in my assumptions, and I was merely chasing revenge for her? Out of jealousy because of her, not seeing the main point?
I was wrong…
Rising, swaying slightly, more from shock than from exhaustion.
I heard someone calling me, but I couldn't hear who. My thoughts darted back and forth, and I couldn't find any balance, couldn't catch silence in my head — the thoughts rang louder than words…
"Mirey," Theron's furious voice pulled me out of the auditory fog. His strong arms wrapped around me, pressing my back against him. "Calm down. Sit, let's talk," he said more calmly.
His firm hands seated me back onto one of the chairs at the large conference table, not far from the documents. Theron settled beside me, and Ostin on the other side.
"Tell him your assumptions," Ostin urged gently.
"I was wrong," I said calmly. "I was wrong…"
The words burst out of me, and I couldn't believe that I had been so wrong, I turned out to be completely useless in the end.
I believed in myself so much because of small victories that I decided I could play in the big leagues alongside Theron with Theron. How arrogant and foolish…
"I think you were right." I did not lift my eyes, looking at my hands on my knees. "I won't be able to…"
I stood up, already calmer, and took my coat and bag. Theron grabbed me, and his words burned with anger.
"Tell me," he insisted in a more commanding tone, squeezing my hand.
"There's nothing to tell. I was wrong," I answered just as calmly and tried to pull free from his grip.
"Running away again? How many more times are you going to run?" He pulled me closer. "I told you I'm here, and I believe in you. So…"
"Let go." I raised my voice and pushed him away.
His hand loosened, and I recoiled from him. Straightening the things in my hands, I calmly turned and left the office. The last thing I saw was Theron's heaving chest and the bridge of Ostin's nose, which he pressed as if trying to hold himself together.
I met Hilda's eyes and was glad she hadn't heard anything.
Maintaining control, I called the elevator and went down to my office. I was greeted by mountains of papers.
This must be my level — to sit and sort through papers…
I took a heavy breath and sat down at the desk. As soon as I let my feelings in, my head seemed to stop working properly. As if feelings had shut off my mind. "But the fact that they are interacting with the mysterious Eve… there was no logic in that either."
I shook my head. I need to stop thinking about things that are beyond me. If my abilities are to detect mistakes in papers, then I should focus on that. That way I'll be of more use.
I needed to throw this whole story out of my head, and Theron went with it. And his angry gaze burning into my back. I opened the folder and began reading the documents that we had taken from the companies under a pretext.
After an hour, I realized I needed a lot of caffeine and sandwiches. Going down to the café across the street, I noticed out of the corner of my eye that the guard was still somewhere nearby. "Don't think," I corrected myself and, buying two cups of coffee and two small sandwiches, went back to my papers.
Today I decided not to linger in the office, and as soon as four o'clock came, I gathered my things and left. But I exited through the main entrance and, out of the corner of my eye, saw the guard following me calling someone.
I wasn't going to run; I just decided to take a walk. They are such alarmists as soon as their routine changes.
I stepped outside and inhaled the cold air. There was no snow anymore. Perfect weather to wake up and refresh. I walked unhurriedly to the park and, settling on one of the benches near the entrance, simply looked around, letting my thoughts dissipate and relax.
I glanced back and noticed the guard not far from me. I waved to him, and he immediately approached.
"Sit down. I'm not going anywhere. I just wanted to take a walk."
He didn't reply, only sat on the other side of the bench.
I closed my eyes and just sat.
Long-forgotten thoughts crept into my head. I hadn't refreshed my stationery in a long time. I hadn't bought a book in a long time. I hadn't read in a long time. Everything had become "a very long time" — those ordinary things I once did… everything had turned into something like the past.
"Decided." I stood up from the bench, and the guard followed me. "I'm going to get books and pens."
I warned him, slightly turning, already seeing a phone appear in his hands.
"Then I'll get some pizza and go home," I smirked at him and quickened my pace.
At the bookstore, I chose an accounting book. I think it will come in handy, considering how many documents are in the office. The stationery took more time. I tried to mentally count how many colors and notebooks I would need — fifteen companies had sent documents, and I needed to sort them in the proper order.
As I approached the pizzeria, it became clear that all the worries of the morning had dissolved in these lively streets. The problems that had wrapped around the past few weeks seemed to vanish. It all felt like a dream.
The guard helped and took the pizza himself. As soon as we stepped outside, one of Theron's cars met us. Without thinking, I got in. I didn't expect him to be there… considering how we had parted.
He didn't look in my direction. Cold emanated from him stronger than from the street. It went unnoticed. The smell of pizza in the car made my stomach tighten. I was already imagining taking a bite, the cheese stretching… Mmm…
As soon as we arrived, Theron just as silently took the bags and the pizza, giving me the chance to get out of the car after him.
We went up in complete silence. The guard, with his bag from the restaurant and his briefcase, followed us as well.
Then everything was as usual: they brought the things in and left. He laid out my bags, glanced around, and began unpacking his own.
And I, just as silently, began setting the table and opening a bottle of wine while he went to the shower.
That closeness we had worked on for so long disappeared because of my push.
Should I talk… or apologize?
Useless even in romantic relationships. I no longer even remember what ordinary communication is.
I didn't wait for Theron and began eating while the food was still warm.
As soon as the shower turned on, I slightly reheated the food and set it on the table, pouring the wine.
He came into the living room in his usual robe, drying his hair with a towel. Sitting at the table, he cast a glance at my food but said nothing.
I understand why he has such a perfect body, proper nutrition and all that. But I couldn't refuse pizza, even if I gained weight.
He took a sip of wine, and only after that did I do the same.
He routinely consumed his food, and I kept wondering what to say, what to do to make up for my rude behavior this morning. Our usual silence cut my throat today.
He finished eating and, after washing his dishes, headed toward the couch.
"Theron," I called, and he stopped.
I could never have imagined that my little apartment, where we had always felt so calm and cozy, would become so uncomfortable because of his silence.
"I'm sorry."
Only silence from his side.
"I…" I wanted to say something, but I didn't know what would be right in this situation.
"It's all right," he finally answered in an even tone and sat on the couch.
"No, I was wrong. I should have listened to you from the very beginning." I stood up from the table and came closer. "I was the one telling you how couples should behave, yet I'm no better."
"It's really all right," Theron turned on the TV.
Even when he said it was all right, it wasn't all right inside.
I took out my book and sorted my pens.
"Will you join me?" Theron asked calmly, scrolling through his phone with one hand and patting the couch with the other.
I took my book and dropped onto the couch, on the other side. Just like on our first day.
But I didn't read, only covered my face up to my eyes and let my gaze run over him — over the half-open robe, the slightly damp hair, and the light stubble.
"You'll burn me through with your stare, Mirey," he said with a smirk, not taking his eyes off his phone.
Mr. "I know everything, I see everything, I control everything." But I didn't stop looking.
Theron turned off the phone, tossed it aside, then the TV. He moved closer to me and, carefully taking the book, set it aside.
"You shouldn't worry," he said, taking my hands in his. "You are my only exhibit in my gallery. And I will blow the dust off you, as long as you feel good. As long as it means you are safe."
I wanted to say something, but he immediately covered my mouth with his palm.
"So even if you tell me to go to hell or something like that, I will still be there. Even with your 'go to hell,' I will be much calmer than without you."
"Yoo'rrre crrrazy…" I said into his hand.
"Mirey, you have such control over me right now, you don't even realize it," he removed his hand from my lips and kissed me briefly. "And you, foolish girl, don't use it."
He smirked and fell silent, letting me speak.
"I just wanted to be very smart," I began uncertainly. "I thought I could somehow be on your level. But most likely you're right… it's different. I don't have an education, no respectable family or upbringing. So I just wanted to be strong and smart so that I wouldn't seem so small next to you." I took a breath, releasing thoughts I had always kept locked away.
"You are smart and strong, Mirey," he gently kissed the knuckles of my hands. "Don't underestimate yourself because of one mistake. And don't doubt yourself. You can't know everything for certain, especially when it concerns such complicated matters. I will always be ready to listen to you, to rationally weigh your words. That's how it has been and will always be…"
He was right. He always listened. Never accused. With his brother, with Liana: I always presented arguments, and after considering them, he made decisions himself.
"I just don't know…"
"Then don't," he stood up and pulled me toward the bathroom, turning off the lights along the way. "It will be calmer for me this way. If you are detached from my problems." He handed me a toothbrush and toothpaste. "When you decide or want to, I will listen to you."
He said it and kissed my forehead.
We brushed our teeth and immediately went to bed. He wrapped himself around my waist, and I ran my hands through his hair.
"I thought…" I began, but he squeezed me tighter.
"I'll listen in the morning if you still want to talk. And now I want to fall asleep peacefully, holding the woman I love."
"Love"…
My hands froze, and he smirked.
"Sleep, Mirey. Sleep, my love."
At night, Theron would sometimes wake up, pull closer to me, and simply kiss me gently — without words, without excess lust. So in the morning he was already asleep, buried against my chest.
I was awakened by his hands, moving along my spine and back beneath my nightgown.
"Good morning," I broke this harmony.
"Morning…" he murmured sleepily, pressing closer to my chest.
I knew it was a wonderful and tender moment, but for some reason it made me want to open up, to say everything I thought.
"That evening, when I was talking to Amy…" I spoke slowly, calmly.
Theron lifted his gaze, and there was not a drop of calm in it. There was a storm in his eyes. But I was not going to stop; I would say everything.
"She told me that you were using me so that I would do all the dirty work, and then you would return to her, like it had been… that you always returned to her, even after you fucked me in my own home… that you always returned to her…"
Those words meant nothing anymore after yesterday's confession from Theron. But he froze, as if I were holding a block of ice.
Theron rose on his arms and pulled away. It was visible how the gears in his head were turning, how he analyzed every word.
"Theron…"
He pulled me to him.
"I always tried to avoid talking about her not because she was something dear to me, but because before you appeared, I had plans and decisions that were laid out. And you changed all of that. You changed everything."
He continued to hold me in his arms.
"And what about 'leaving crime to be worthy of a princess'?" I said caustically.
Theron pulled back and looked at me carefully.
"Do you really believe everything written in the media?" he smirked. "Mirey, my sunshine, I decided to take the clan and the family out of crime because it is no longer relevant. With all the technologies and surveillance, it has become more dangerous and costly. I learned to make money in a safe and legal way. I just wanted to leave it behind. I wanted to find peace in my own way."
He stood up and began to get dressed. My gaze involuntarily slid over his bare body, and he continued:
"In the eighties, everything was simpler: no cameras, no wiretapping — nothing. Back then, yes, it was easier to run robbery and smuggling. But now everything is different. Times change, and I decided that the clan must change too."
He walked to the wardrobe, chose one of my gray suits, threw it onto the bed, and gestured for me to come closer.
"I wanted to change the system not because of her or any other girl, but because it has become irrelevant in our time. And now let's get ready, otherwise I'll fuck you in every possible position in this room again… because your eyes, it seems to me, want to take off everything I've just put on."
And that, damn it, was true. I wanted him again, even though my body hadn't yet rested.
"You're right, she knows more than she should. She was never allowed into the company's affairs and certainly not into any information that concerned you."
Theron went into the bathroom.
"I decided that she was getting information from Dave. After all, even he told me at the party that I couldn't compare to her and that I wouldn't beat her as easily as him and Liana."
Pulling on my stockings, I noticed Theron appear in the room with a toothbrush in his mouth and a question in his eyes.
"My brother?" he asked after all.
"Yes. I think he likes Amy more as a sister-in-law," I smirked, already moving on to the skirt.
"Logical," he cut shortly and returned to the bathroom. I followed him.
"So I decided they were interacting. And maybe she is somehow involved in the buyout of your properties. I haven't determined the reason yet."
I wrapped my arms around him from behind while he rinsed his mouth, running my hands over the defined muscles of his torso.
"I can understand your logic," he stopped my hands and turned around, looking for a towel.
"I think I just wanted revenge on her… for my father. Or maybe out of jealousy. Most likely it was her manipulations, just words to make me doubt you."
Theron turned me to face the sink.
"Wash your face and cool down," he smirked, holding my hands. "We'll go to the office, and you'll tell me everything you found and what you were thinking about. And then we'll decide what to do with that information."
I followed his instruction. When I came out of the bathroom, he was already fully dressed and speaking on the phone, wary.
"Did something happen?" I asked when we were already putting on our coats in complete silence soaked with his tension.
"Vel is waiting for me at the office. Ostin said he has an important and profitable deal for me."
"Vel?" I repeated, not believing he had said the name of my former boss.
"Yes," he confirmed strictly. "He said it's about the last building that was sold."
My emotions surfaced: caution mixed with fear.
Theron pulled me closer by my coat and gently kissed my forehead.
"Don't worry. I'll handle everything."
Then he held out his hand, and our fingers intertwined.
"We will handle everything," he repeated in a confident voice, and we left the apartment.