by A. Marie
Avelina walked out of her room and headed into the piano room, where Adrik occupied his time.
He noticed her right away. It was difficult for him not to cringe at the sight of the ugly dress, but he managed. She looked as if she was heading to a funeral, wearing such a somber color. Although Adrik was immensely grateful that she didn't leave to see Johnathan in a dress that would help bring out her beauty.
Blue was his favorite color on her; it brought out her beautiful eyes. He also liked the gold dress she wore at the wedding because it showed the person she truly was on the inside. The kind of girl that makes the darkest room shine.
"Hi," she smiled before walking over to the piano.
He anticipated her sitting on top of the piano like she typically did, but Adrik was quite shocked to see her sitting down beside him on the bench.
Her intense eyes gleamed happily into his as her fingers hovered over the keys. He watched her questionably but didn't bother to interrupt.
Suddenly, she began to play the beginning of one of Beethoven's most popular songs. It left a smile on Adrik's face as he watched her. Even though she only played the piano for a few seconds, the mere fact that she tried meant more to him than anything else in the world.
"Für Elise," she said, stating the title of the song. "While you were away at work all day, I watched a bunch of tutorials on how to do that. See, told you I was a magical pianist."
"I see.”
She gave him a wink before repeating the same intro to the song and not missing a single key. He enjoyed listening to her play and wished she could finish the whole piece. It felt good knowing he could share what he's always been so passionate about with his favorite person.
When she finished, Avelina got up from the bench and plopped down on top of the piano like she always managed to do.
"Play the rest of the song.”
"Only if I receive a kiss," he said.
Avelina smiled at him before sliding off the piano and placing herself onto his lap. She cupped his cheeks and embraced his lips in a kiss.
He gripped her thighs while pushing her against the keys of the piano. A harsh sound echoed through the room from the pressure Avelina applied to the piano.
A soft moan coaxed out of Avelina when he began to lift the bottom of her dress until it was over her hips. Her hands wandered up to his hair, where she removed his bun from its restraints. She especially loved his hair when he wore his hair down.
She ground her hips against him only to be immediately welcomed by his hardening length. He got more aggressive as he pushed her harder against the piano rather harshly to decrease the amount of space between them.
Before things could get even more heated, Anton walked into the room and immediately froze.
"Uh…"
Avelina quickly snatched herself from Adrik's hold while pulling her dress back into place. Adrik looked completely unfazed while Avelina's mind was busy screaming at her negligence. She stupidly made out with Adrik, where almost anyone could catch them—which was precisely what happened.
Anton immediately cleared his throat before plastering an innocent smile on his face as if he didn't just catch them in a heated moment. "I came in to inform you that your car is ready when you are.”
"Thank you, um, I'll, uh, be out there in a second," she stated awkwardly.
He gave her one last smile before turning on his heel and walking out. Avelina's cheeks were heavily tinted a red color. She did not want to go out there and be in a car with Anton while he withheld information of the very awkward encounter that just occurred.
"Adrik, he caught us," she let out in a state of panic. She felt this sudden need to hyperventilate. What if Anton were to tell someone? What if people label her as an advantage-taking whore?
"Obviously.”
"'Obviously'? That's bad!" She panicked.
Adrik's brows pulled together as he watched her pace up and down the room.
"I do not understand," he told her.
She finally stopped her pacing and turned to look at Adrik.
Avelina walked up to him and plopped down on top of his piano. "I could lose my license, Adrik. My job is important to me. You're important to me, too. I just- ugh! This is all so confusing.”
Adrik only watched her as he tried to grasp an understanding of her. "You will not lose your license because Anton would never tell anyone anything unless I tell him to. He is a very trustworthy and loyal man. I know because he has been a brother-figure in my life for as long as I have known him.”
Her shoulders dropped as she registered his words. He was right. Anton didn't seem like the kind of guy to go gossiping about the latest drama. He kept to himself.
"Okay, I trust you,” she whispered before continuing, “Sadly, I have to go, but I want to hear you play Für Elise when I get back.”
He nodded his head in response and braced for the kiss she left at the corner of his lips. "Bye, Adrik."
Before he could respond, she walked out of the piano room and exited the house.
Anton was waiting for her right beside the passenger side door. She gave him an awkward smile as he opened the door for Avelina to get in.
Anton then walked around the car and got into the driver’s side before racing off down the road. Avelina was quick to notice the cars that followed behind them--probably the others hired to guard her.
"How many people are guarding me tonight?" She asked him to fill the awkward silence.
His eyes remained on the road as the sound of the engine purring vibrated from underneath them.
"You will have two men and two women in the restaurant with you posing as couples. Each of them will be seated two tables away from your own, so smile at them if you need immediate assistance. Then, you will have me and three others guarding the front and back entrances at all times. Last but not least, there will be two more who will watch Johnathan's every move. Mr. Zolotov made it noticeably clear for me to make sure that we protect you, Miss Santos."
Avelina found comfort in his words. It also made her happy to know how much Adrik would do to make sure she was okay. "Thank you, Anton, for everything. I truly appreciate all that you've done for not only me but Adrik as well.”
He glanced over at her, a bright smile on his face before turning back to the road. "It is my pleasure. Mr. Zolotov has done a lot for my family and me. I owe him my life.”
She looked down at her lap as she thought about how great of a person Adrik was. He was kinder than people made him out to be.
Avelina could remember the first day she got the job to be Adrik's caregiver. Johnathan made him out to be some sort of monster when, in reality, he was far from that. He talked about how people on the spectrum were so emotionless, but he lied. Adrik was full of emotions. He probably cared more than anyone in the world. It just goes to show how misinformation could damage an image.
Avelina was so lost in the depth of her thoughts that she didn't even notice when they pulled into the restaurant parking lot.
The moment he switched the car off, Anton smiled at her in reassurance. Avelina had to make it seem like she came to the restaurant in a taxicab.
From the moment she walked into the restaurant, she was met with classical music, which immediately reminded her of Adrik. Everyone was dressed elegantly, and the restaurant screamed out 'wealthy.’
A man who stood at the podium smiled at Avelina.
"Avelina Santos, the beautiful lady joining Mr. Miller tonight?"
Avelina didn't even get a word in before he walked around the podium and led her to the restaurant’s back area. The farther they were away from the gathering of others, the more Avelina's heart seemed to drop in a pit of nervousness.
Then, she saw the back of Johnathan's head. The second he heard them walking towards him, he stood up from his seat and pulled back Avelina's chair for her to sit. She vocalized her appreciation of his courtesy before she sat down.
When they were both seated, the waiter sent a kind smi
le their way. "I will be back to take your orders."
"Okay, so tell me," Avelina said the second that the waiter was gone. Johnathan smiled at her gracefully. She watched him as he picked up the wine glass perched in the middle of the table. He went on to pour her a full glass of wine, but not after doing the same for himself.
"You are so quick to just dive right into it. Let's enjoy our time together for a moment," Johnathan chuckled.
Anger overwhelmed Avelina's soul.
"No. The deal was that if I decided to show up to this restaurant, you would tell me everything I needed to know.”
He opened his mouth to speak, but the waiter returned. The waiter had a second bottle of wine that he placed on the table beside the other.
"Here is the second bottle you requested, Mr. Miller," he said, "now, what can I get you both to eat?"
"We will have the Roasted Lobster meal. Thank you," Johnathan spoke.
The waiter smiled at both of them before picking up the previously located menus in front of them. Avelina returned the kind smile to the waiter just before he walked off with their order.
"I am not hungry, and I didn't bring any money," she told him honestly.
"That's fine. It's my treat.”
Her heart was missing Adrik, and it wished that he was the one sharing this moment with her. However, he probably wouldn't eat anything because he only ate the same three meals almost every day. He also probably wouldn't enjoy the loud chatter. She didn't mind, though. She enjoyed whatever Adrik enjoyed.
"We made a deal, Johnathan," she stated.
"What do you want to know exactly, Avelina? Do you think that once I tell you the truth that it'll make you happier? No. It won't.”
Frustration was evident on his features as he began rubbing his forehead with his hand.
"The truth will make me see what I need to see before I make a decision that'll alter my entire life. So, yeah, I need the truth," she commanded.
His eyes narrowed at her for a second.
"The decision of being with Adrik? I'm not stupid. I've always seen the way he looks at you and the way you look at him. You think you could continue with this whole 'I'm just his caregiver' act?"
"What are you talking about?" She asked, acting clueless.
The one thing that struck fear in her heart was how much she didn't want the situation between her and Adrik to get out into the public.
"You're fucking your patient who has autism! Do you really think someone would hire you after that? Do you think someone would trust you with their family members?" he laughed.
"Don't twist this on me. We had a deal. You either tell me what I need to know, or I'll walk out of this place and make sure that HomeCare rots in a grave when everyone finds out that the 'founder,’ Johnathan Miller, works for the mafia. Then, we would really see who would trust their family members around you.”
He glared at her for a long while before a smile full of mischief took over his features. "This will bring me nothing but pleasure to tell you all about the truth behind your little boyfriend.”
"Adrik has nothing to do with this. I told you over the phone that I wanted to know how Natasha died and why I was hired. That's all," she let out.
"You are so stupid. Natasha is not dead. She's still alive, and she still works for Adrik. She’s the one that found you,” He seethed out. “Now, don't think that I haven't noticed thing one, thing two, thing three, and thing four staring at us. You tell every guard in this place to stand down, and then I will tell you everything. Starting with Adrik."
Avelina had to think about his words. Johnathan couldn't have possibly known the exact number of guards surrounding her. It was possible that he only learned of the four that were seated two tables away from them.
"Fine," she said.
Getting up, she walked over to the table where the guards were. They gleamed at her questionably, almost as if she were stupid, but she knew exactly what she was doing. Johnathan thought he was smart, but Avelina made sure she would act smarter.
"Please, can you four leave us alone? I won't be needing you for the rest of the night. Thank you, and tell Mr. Zolotov that I greatly appreciated his services," she told them loud enough for Johnathan to hear.
They didn't say anything after that; they just stood up from the table and walked away. When Avelina returned to her seat, Johnathan held a smirk on his face. He was an egotistical bastard. Avelina bet that Johnathan got off on the override of power. She couldn't believe that he thought he had the upper hand when, in reality, she did. He wasn't aware of the significant number of guards that were still tracking his every move.
"You got what you wanted. Give me what I want—information.”
He leaned back in his seat just as the waiter came back with the lobster. The waiter for a bit before walking away.
"I'm trying to figure out where to begin," Johnathan chuckled.
His finger rested on his chin in contemplation. "I think I may eat first.”
"You know what? I'm done," she let out before angrily standing up. Johnathan only watched her as she began to walk away.
"You were three when you saw a masked man who put in a car and drove you off to your grandmother's house where you never seen or heard of him ever again," Johnathan said, which managed to leave Avelina to stop right in the middle of her tracks. Her heartbeat exhilarated before she turned around to look at Johnathan.
"How do you know that?"
"After that day, your grandmother spent every waking moment with you. She was helping someone protect you until she passed away. Police say the cause of her death was by suicide, but the question is—Is that true?"
She walked back over to the table where she eyed Johnathan curiously. She needed him to continue. She needed to know more.
"What do you mean?"
"Sit down," he smiled.
She wanted to slap him. More importantly, she wanted to slap herself. Her eyes were on the chair before flashing back to him. As much as she wanted to walk out of there, she knew her heart would always regret missing the chance to know everything.
"How do I know you're not lying to me? I don't trust you, Johnathan.”
"When I'm done telling you everything, go ahead and ask your boyfriend. I'm not stopping you.”
She swallowed hard. Then, she sat back down in the chair before awaiting his next words.
"You said my grandma was helping someone protect me. Who was she helping protect me, and why was she protecting me to begin with?" She asked, her brows pulling together.
"Avelina, be patient," he chuckled.
She watched as he used some tool to cut open the lobster. Her foot was tapping impatiently at the ground as she watched him. Suddenly, she got an alert on her phone. It was a text from Adrik. Her eyes gleamed down at the word.
[Adrik: I know you lied. What are you doing with Johnathan, Avelina?]
She bit down on the bottom of her lip while her fingers hovered over the letters of her keyboard. She tried to figure out what to say. Every time she began to type something, she'd just delete it and start over. There was nothing she could say.
Turning her phone off, she slid it back underneath her thigh before looking over at Johnathan.
"You aren't eating?"
"I told you that I wasn't hungry,” Avelina seethed out.
He shrugged his shoulders and just continued to eat his food. Avelina’s eyes moved away from him to look around the restaurant where she noticed someone. It was a man. The man had glanced over at her before slowly turning back to look out in front of him. Something was chilling about him—something strange.
When Johnathan finished, he wiped his hands on a napkin. "Let's get back to the story. What did we leave off?"
She turned back over to look at him. Any emotion shed away from her features.
"I asked why she was protecting me, and who was helping her?
"Oh right, the protection of the dead grandma," he chuckled out, which only managed to piss her off.
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"After she received you, Vincent told her that she couldn’t take you out of her sight. He had done something terrible, and ever since that moment, the Russians were after him and everything that he ever loved. Vincent already lost so much because of what he did. The last thing he wanted was to lose you too. Your grandma understood her duties to protect you, which is why she cared for you for so many years.”
Avelina had so many questions, but before she successfully asked them, he brought his finger up to his lips in a 'shush' motion.
"Let me finish telling you what happened, and then you can ask questions," Johnathan chuckled. "While you were in your grandmother's care, the Russians couldn't find you for years. When they did, they hired someone—a girl—to get your grandmother to tell them where you were, but your grandmother wouldn't budge. Next thing you know, your grandmother pops up dead. When Vincent found out, he ordered his men to take you far away, where you ended up in a group home with many other teenage girls. Then, when you turned eighteen, and you were let out into the world. Vincent lost you, and he didn't know where you had gone. It wasn't until he saw you helping an elderly man at the grocery store when he found you again," Johnathan explained.
Avelina remembered that. She remembered helping a man at the grocery store. He was old and could barely walk, but he loved grocery shopping.
"He made sure never to lose sight of you again because he had to protect you. So, he found out where you worked and what college you attended. He bought HomeCare, where he upgraded it and made it better just before making me the owner of it to keep his identity hidden. At the time, I didn’t know of Vincent. I was handed this job, and I never understood why until now.”
Suddenly, he gripped her hand hard just before she attempted to pull away from his grasp.
"I need to make this right with him by telling you everything, or he'll kill me.”
Her eyes widened in shock.
"I-I don't know what's happening right now," she spoke while snatching her arm away from his hold.