Page 122 of Revenge

“Goodbye, Viktor.” I end the call.

His need for control is sometimes suffocating. Max knows his place. I’m with Viktor, there’s no need for Viktor to act this way. He calls back but I ignore it. I start organizing and dividing past issues into piles.

I look at my watch, it’s twenty minutes past the time Max and I agreed on, and it isn’t like Max to be late. Just as I’m about to call him, my cell rings, the screen reads Max.

“I was just going to call you. Where are you?”

“Downstairs. They won’t let me up.”

“I’ll be right down.” I take a few deep breaths, frustrated. After a second, I walk over to Marco, who is in the kitchen.

“Marco.” I can see on his face that he knew I would come to him.

“Before you ask, you know the answer. I’m sorry.”

“I’ll be right back,” I advise him.

“Mr. Manarch will have my head if I let you go downstairs.”

“You let me worry about Viktor. You should worry about what I’d do to you if I don’t go downstairs.” I dial Viktor as I head for the elevator.

“The answer is no,” he says, answering.

“This is my job. What do you think is going to happen?”

“Nothing, because he isn’t going upstairs.”

“That’s not your call.” I get in the elevator.

“He will not be alone with you. Do I make myself clear?”

“You will not tell me how to live my life,” I say as the elevator descends.

“Don’t fucking do this. You know what will happen if you disobey me. I have no problem showing you.” His words flutter my stomach. My darn libido. I’m trying to be assertive.

“I don’t want to argue with you,” I finally say, almost on the first floor. I won’t let Viktor use sex as a weapon.

“Then don’t. If you want to meet with Max, meet him at the office.”

“You realize that the office is the same as the house. You make no sense.”

“I won’t repeat myself,” he says.

The elevator opens in the lobby, and I go to the front desk, where I can see Max standing. I can keep fighting Viktor to get my way, but this is not a battle worth fighting. Arguing about something like this isn’t going to get us anywhere. It’s almost childish.

“Fine.” I end the call. I’ll be damned if he gets the last word. The cell rings, but I ignore the call again. I know I’m going to pay for that, but Viktor needs to learn. “Hi Max.”

“Hi, Ava. Sounds like life is crazy,” he laughs.

“Tell me about it. I know we planned to work here, but I don’t want to argue with Viktor.”

“Do you want to reschedule?”

“No. You can meet me at the office or wait for me for like ten minutes while I get Ailsing and Niko settled before we leave.”

“I’ll wait.” Max smiles.

“Thanks. I’ll be back as soon as possible.”

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