Aftermath

For the first time, I couldn't wait to return to the penthouse to break down. I was about to cry–over a man who was threatening my father. 

When I got to the penthouse, I locked myself in the bedroom, stripped off my clothes, and got in the bathtub. 

I had a bottle of wine that I had sneaked off Milo's liquor cabinet. I poured myself a glass and drank while I listened to soft music. 

It was better to drink than to cry over Milo. We hadn't even started sleeping together, and I was already asking him if he was seeing other women. 

I sounded clingy and desperate because I had no claim over him. 

His words rang over and over in my head: "I don't enjoy…normal sex…" his voice almost trailed away. "I'm a dominant man in bed. My preferences are…rough. You're not ready to relinquish control of your body to me."

Was I ready to give myself over to a mobster and murderer?

After overthinking all I could in the tub, I realized I was getting cold. I got out of the water and got settled in bed in my pajamas. I still felt bad about how the night went but the alcohol was starting to hit hard. 

As I watched cute dog videos to fall asleep, I received a text message from Irina. 

I opened it and immediately regretted it. It was a photo of Milo with a woman on his arm. He was holding her waist and smiling while she stared at him adoringly. 

And she was his type. She had sharp striking features and the body of a model. Most of all, she looked classy and mature. She was perfect and I hated it. 

Irina wrote a few cutting words after sending the picture. She said that she had warned me that I wasn't Milo's type and he wouldn't be able to stand me for a long time. She also added that my time was up. 

Milo was moving on to another woman. After all, why would he want a woman who wouldn't submit to him completely in bed?

If that wasn't worse, Irina also sent a link to an article. 

Milo and his model were photographed by paparazzi and the article suggested the two were dating. The woman was actually a model. 

The part of me that wanted to hurt stalked her using Instagram almost all night. I couldn't stop staring at her perfect appearance. She had even been on the cover of Voguw magazine. 

By the time I was done stalking her, I was jealous. I couldn't compete with her. 

That night, I tossed and turned in bed almost all night. I couldn't stop picturing Milo with that woman. It was immature but I couldn't help it. 

I didn't understand how a man so evil could have my attention so much. 

I was cranky come morning. I had to pull myself out of bed, shower, and have breakfast. Since I had nothing else to do, I decided to visit Zoya. She and I had already fought for way too long. 

At the end of the day, she was my best friend and I loved her like a sister and I wouldn't allow Ivan to break our decade-long friendship for sport. 

As soon as I stepped into the living room, I gasped. 

Sitting on the coffee table was an extraordinary bouquet of red roses arranged in an oversized white wicker basket. The roses were dark and densely packed, creating a vibrant sea of rich red blooms. 

Each rose appeared fresh and lush, with tightly coiled petals that highlighted their classic beauty. 

I'd never gotten flowers before in my entire life. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach and just like that, I forgot Milo and I hadn't seen eye-to-eye the previous night. 

I walked to the flowers and grabbed a card that was on top. 

It read: I hope you slept well, gorgeous. 

Simple. There was no apology, no explanation…nothing else. The note made me mad. For such a gesture, he should have at least reassured me that he still wanted to be with me. 

I crumpled the note in my hand and walked away. I grabbed vases, put water in, and then added flowers. I may have still been angry at Milo but I wouldn't let the flowers die. 

As soon as I was done, I had breakfast. Life was getting boring without anything to do in the penthouse. How long was I going to live like that? 

I texted Milo, even though I had promised to give him the silent treatment. I told him I was bored and I wanted to work. He replied almost immediately but it wasn't the answer I was hoping for. 

He told me we would talk. He and I both knew he would avoid me for some time like he always did. 

"This is stupid," I grumbled as I picked up my bag and left for Zoya's place. I would go crazy if I stayed in that penthouse any longer. 

Luckily for me, Zoya was home and this time, Ivan wasn't with her. When I looked at her closely, I noticed she seemed sad but she tried to hide it. 

"I've missed you!" She exclaimed and threw her arms around me. "Don't ever refuse to speak to me again," she whispered into my shoulder. 

Immediately, I felt guilty. I shouldn't have pushed her away for loving Ivan. She couldn't control her feelings. 

"I've missed you more," I told her. 

When she looked at me, she furrowed her eyebrows. I could see the wheels turning in her head as she took in my appearance. 

"You've changed…"

"Excuse me?"

"You've changed Emilie. You don't look like the weight of the world is on your shoulders anymore. You look…happier."

Happier? Nothing about being Milo's sex slave was happy so why would she tell me that?

"You don't know what you're talking about," I said to her as I laughed. I walked away, hoping she would drop it but she didn't. 

"Yeah, I do. You're wearing nice clothes and carrying an expensive bag. Do you even know how much that costs?" 

Fuck, I didn't want Zoya to know the arrangement Milo and I had. She would try to save me and her parents would get in trouble. After all, they worked for Milo. 

"What are you saying, Zoya?" 

"That there's something you're not telling me. You don't live in your old place anymore. I went to look for you."

She crossed her arms against her chest like a parent reprimanding their child. 

"It's okay if you don't want to say, Emilie. Just make sure you know what you're doing. One thing about a man is that he will lift you up and thrust you back down fast."

Was it that obvious that a man was taking care of me?

I shook my head and laughed it off because she was right. Once it was all over, I would go back to my poor life.

"What man? I don't have a man, Zoya." Then I added, "Do you want to go out and drink tonight or just speculate about my life?"