Page 75 of Cookie: Part One
“Alik is over there. Can you get his attention?” I ask, but Misha looks up and goes still. He frowns and I look over to see why he’s so stiff when I see there’s someone with him.
She has her hand tucked confidently into the crook of his arm, a sleek, architectural blonde bob, and eyes that match the sapphire of her dress. She’s not just pretty…she’s breathtakingly gorgeous.
My smile freezes then melts away when she lifts the hand not clutching Alik as she speaks to a guest, taking a slow, elegant sip of white wine. The crystal catches the light from the chandelier, and my eyes zoom in on the two rings… one a massive, glittering diamond solitaire, and right beneath it, a simpler, thicker platinum band.Two.
A physical blow lands in the pit of my stomach, pushing out all my breath. My whole body turns to ice water and in that sickening moment, Alik looks up. His eyes, which were sweeping the room, slam right into mine.
My heartbeat skyrockets as the blood drains from his face instantly. It’s a terrifying sight. He goes from vibrant and strong to a chalk-white stranger. His sharp, dark brown eyes flash half red before he shakes his head and looks up. Those same eyes are wide, filled with a raw despair that makes my own heart twist.
The woman next to him must notice his state because she looks up and spots us. I can feel her eyes take in the group with a smilebefore her eyes land on me, and a scowl of disgust filters across her face. Her hand grips Alik tighter and possessively and…it hurts.
She tugs Alik forward and he moves like a zombie, eyes locked on me the whole way, a silent, desperate scream trapped behind his lips. They glide through the crowd and stop directly in front of me.
“Oh, look, darling!” the woman beside him murmurs, her voice smooth and melodic. Her eyes skip over me entirely, landing on Pyper and Misha. She smiles, a warm, genuine curve on her lips. “How are you?!”
“Helena,” Misha slightly inclines his head.
“Hi Helena,” Pyper smiles a bit more politely.
“Sister-in-law, who do you have here?” She turns her attention, keeping her arm held tightly through Alik’s, and turns her sapphire gaze onto me.
“Zhis is mine and Alik’s best friend, Constance,” Pyper introduces me and the woman looks me up and down, her smile dropping a bit.
“Best friend, huh?” she voices dryly, her voice faintly accented. “Hello, I’m Helena.Alik’swife.”
The final word echoes, obliterating everything else. I cut my eyes to Pyper and Alik who are now staring, speechless and horrified. My heart is frantic, like a panicked bird trapped in my chest. I feel my eyes burn, but Misha hugs me tight from behind and lifts my head, abruptly swallowing my internal scream in a kiss so deep it shakes my reality.
“Zhis is nozhing,” he whispers and I pant as he places a hand on my chest to still it, and I somehow paste on the brightest smile on my face. I might as well be in front of a billionaire client I’m trying to convince should hire me. I lift my chin, and extend my hand, keeping it perfectly steady. The pain is a sharp, clean incision,but I will not bleed here.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Helena,” I say, my voice light, utterly devoid of any true emotion. “I’m Connie.”
She gives me a brief, firm handshake. I feel the cool touch of her diamonds and step back. The distance I put between us is a chasm. I don’t look at Alik… or Pyper. I can’t. I just smile, polite and cold, waiting for this excruciating moment to pass.
“I’ve heard so much about you.” She keeps a flat expression, looking between Misha and I displeased, but I keep my smile, probably looking like a whole-ass villain when I came here to be a heroine.
“I hope what you heard were great things.” I cock my head to sidebecause I have heard nothing about you…
“I wonder...” She sips her champagne and I cut my eyes to Alik and Pyper, who look like wounded dogs.
“I wonder as well. But please… I’m drawing a blank… when exactly did you andmy best friend,”who just had had his face buried in my pussy.“Get married?” I ask, and she smiles smugly.
“This is going on the third year!” She grins, flashing the ring, and I feel like a horse kicked me in the heart. “We had been engaged for a year prior to that. Right, hunny?” She wraps her arms around Alik’s shoulders before she kisses him, and I feel my heart beating so hard I start sweating. My breath comes out rough and ragged, but Misha covers my eyes.
Wait… hold on…I do the math in my head… that was whenwewere dating… so he’s been married the entire time? Alik and I only broke up two years ago… and the realization causes my heart to stop beating in my chest.
And three years ago… was that…hold the fuck up!Was that around the time they had their family reunion? Alik had to leave for some time and Pyper followed soon after, both of them saying they had a long family reunion to attend and that’s why they couldn’t text me…was that Alik’s wedding?
My vision swims, and my body feels like it’s shaking so hard I feel like a coke bottle with a whole bag of mentos thrown in it. I feel sick to my stomach…disgusted… betrayed… hurt…
I open my mouth to say something, but a nothing comes out. Just an inaudible sound and a ragged breath.How could they do that to me?
“M-Misha… I… I c-c-can’t br-breathe,” I wheeze and clutch his jacket, gasping for air, and Misha growls.
“Alik… do somezhing or I vill…” Misha warns, voice booming and laced with malice, hand still covering my gaze.
“I… v-vill…” he croaks, and from the bottom of Misha’s hands, I see his feet shift. “Helena…”
“Oh it’s time to go already? Well, it was a pleasure meeting you,Constance,” she purrs and I see them shuffle off before Misha lifts his hand from my face and I don’t see them at all.
