Page 9 of Bratva, Baby
Frustrated that I didn’t get to finish, I now have Andy waiting for me outside, so I feel rushed. I jump out of bed and run to get in the shower. I need to get this day going and using myfavorite strawberry body wash is sure to set the vibe for the day I need.
Once I’m out of the shower, I head to my closet to pick out my clothes. It’s not that difficult of a choice since they are all primarily black or darker colored clothing. I definitely have an aesthetic that I like to stick to. Friends in past office gigs have called my style corporate goth, but that’s only because they never got close enough to see me outside of the office. Outside of the office, I still wear black, but it’s more of a relaxed goth look, seeing as I don’t go many places to dress up.
Looking at the clock as I walk out the door, I feel a sense of pride that I am not going to make us late today since it is only 7:00 am. As I am locking my door, I hear a low shout coming from somewhere behind me and swing around. At first, I don’t notice who is doing the yelling until I see him waving.
“Hey! Nice to finally meet you, I’m Mario.” He says as I walk closer, so I can hear him without him having to yell across the yard. “I just moved in a few days ago with my roommate, Ivan. If you ever need anything, just knock on our door. Someone is always home.”
The way he says it sounds more like a warning than an invite, but it doesn’t necessarily feel wrong either. Shrugging it off, I reply to him, “I’m Ava. I have lived in this house for the past 9 years, and took over the rent when my mom passed.”I chuckle without humor.Universe, why did you make me awkward?He doesn’t need my whole life story.
“I’m sorry to hear that, Ava. I mean it, though, if you ever need anything, let me know. Even if it’s just so you don’t have to be alone while you watch your sad chick flicks.” He jokes with me, obviously trying to lighten the mood.
“Thanks, I appreciate it. I have to get to work, my ride is waiting.” I explain so I don’t sound rude.
“See you later.”
Getting into the SUV, I am greeted with an annoyed look on a handsome face. I feel my cheeks heat as I recall this morning’s activities. “Hey?” I say with a questioning lilt in my voice.
“Who was that?” He asks. My first instinct is to tell him it’s none of his goddamn business, but I realize how rude I have been to him in particular, so I try another tactic.
“Apparently, that’s my neighbor, Mario. I met him just now when he introduced himself when I was locking my door.” I tell him. I expect an answer or some way to carry on the conversation, but I am only rewarded with a grunt.
Andy doesn’t say a word for over half the ride to work, when he finally says, “I am calling in our coffee date for today, after work. I was planning on bringing you home anyway, so this is a great time for us both.” He says this as if he knows I don’t already have plans. While he’s right, it’s still annoying.
“I guess you’re right. I’ll have to let Evan know when we get to the office that I am going to get coffee with you after work, so he knows not to wait for me.” I say, but am met with silence. When I look over at Andy, his knuckles are white, and he’s gripping the steering wheel so tightly. “Are you ok?” I ask.
“Yes, I am ok. I just don’t understand why you keep pushing me away, but apparently, you become best friends with the likes of Evan, Little Bird.” His reply shocks me. I wasn’t expecting his honesty.
“Oh. I am sorry I have made you feel like that. I will endeavor to be a betterfriendto you.” I reply. Being sure to insert emphasis on the word ‘friend’ so I don’t lead him on.
I can’t be certain, but I swear I hear him scoff the word ‘friend’ under his breath. He will have to accept it. It’s all I have to offer him.
“One day, Little Bird, you won’t be able to run from me anymore and you’ll grow to accept you are mine.” He says.
“I belong to no one,” I reply instantly, but he doesn’t get the chance to respond to my outburst because we are pulling into his parking spot and I jump out of the car, making a break for the elevator.
I am not so lucky when we get into the elevator this morning, finding it empty, and Andy has a stormy expression on his face when he enters the elevator alongside me. My only reprieve is knowing that the elevator ride is a short one.
But even that is an unreliable thought when Andy reaches up and slams his hand on the stop button as soon as it starts to move, preventing the elevator from ascending to the ground floor. Next thing I know, Andy has his hand around my throat, and he is only inches from my face. He isn’t squeezing hard enough to restrict my airflow, but he is squeezing hard enough to ensure my undivided attention.
“Listen closely, Little Bird, I wouldn’t want anyworkplace accidentsnow, would we?” He says, sounding nothing like his usual self. “You. Are. Mine. Whether you have accepted that fact yet or not is on you, but just know, there will be consequences for you when you allow other men to grab your attention from me.”
I am stunned into silence by Andy’s behavior. I have seen him angry at Evan before, but I have never seen him behave in any type of way but sweet before. Maybe keeping my distance was my gut instinct telling me that this man is a walking red flag?
Before my senses come back to me, he bends down, and his lips are on mine. At first, I don’t move, but then his tongue probes against my lips, exploring for an opening, and I give it to him. He tastes like mint and something that I can’t quite place. His tongue strokes my tongue as though he’s fucking my mouth, marking me with his energy, as if that alone would be enough to keep other men away from me.
If I had known talking to another man would result in a kiss like this, I would have done it sooner. It’s like coming up forair after being under the water for too long. That’s when I realize that he increased the pressure on my throat before dropping his hand altogether. As he backs away, I gasp for a breath of air, utterly consumed by that kiss and apparently having forgotten to breathe since I didn’t even realize he had tightened his hand around my throat sometime during the kiss.Wow. ‘The God’ can kiss.
Andy releases the elevator stop button and we finally ascend to the ground floor, where I exit and head straight for the elevators that will take us to our office floor. When I enter the elevator and turn around, expecting to see Andy, he’s nowhere behind me at all. Shrugging it off, I let the elevator slide closed and press the number 9 for our floor.
Entering the floor, I am met with glances and whispers, but I try to brush them off. This is only my third day, so it can’t possibly be about me, can it?
When I sit at my desk, a stocky coworker I have seen around the office sidles up and leans his hip against my desk.
“May I help you?” I ask politely.
“Yeah, I’m Daniel. I wanted to see if you felt like getting dinner and a movie with me one night this week?” He says.
Looking him up and down, I do something I rarely do and make a snap judgment... He isn’tunappealing in his own right, but you can tell by the way he dresses that he doesn’t take care of himself. His suit, while it is brand-name, is wrinkledas though he couldn’t be bothered with an iron, it is ill-fitting, and has a light odor that reminds me of mothballs.
