Page 7 of Ruthless Serenade

After lying on the bed gasping for a few moments, I finally get up. Once I manage to sit, I take a minute to catch my breath and calm down. I place my hands against my temples and lean forward, balancing myself at the edge of the bed.

A visit to the gym is exactly what I need right now. A strenuous session to push my body to its limits and exhaust my mind. It's the only way to still the turmoil in my head these days.

Fifteen minutes later, I’m down at the gym, pushing myself much harder than usual. I run until my lungs burn, lift weights until my muscles scream with exertion. I tire myself to the point where I can hardly move.

Good.

Exactly the way I like to feel in the mornings.

On my way back to the house, I decide to drop by my mother’s wing of the mansion for a quick visit. As I step into her suite, I take a peek into her bedroom and see her sleeping peacefully. Not wanting to wake her up, I decide to find her night caregiver, Katia.

"How was last night?" I ask her in a hushed tone.

Katia stifles a yawn before answering, "Same as usual, Mr. Korolev. I let your mom know that Cordelia will be coming over soon. Then, she slept for about five hours, and then started wandering again. In the end, I managed to guide her back to bed."

"Sounds like a typical night."

Katia nods. "It was. She’ll probably be up soon."

"Spasibo, Katia. I’ll come visit her later today."

Making sure not to wake up my sleeping mother, I quietly sneak out and click the door shut behind me. It still breaks my fucking heart that she has to be in a state like this. Her condition has deteriorated in the last seven years, but not as quickly as her doctors thought it would. There are moments when she still recognizes me as her son. Then, a minute later, she has no clue where she is and she starts looking for Cordelia all over again.

Cordelia.

My mother’s love for her is a daily reminder of the daughter I’d lost. It’s a wound that will never heal, but I’ve made peace with that now. It’s become a part of who I am, and it makes me cherish the family I have left even more: my brother Timofey, and my mother, no matter the state she’s in.

***

I slump down on the couch in my office, enjoying the solitude and savoring a cup of coffee. It’s steaming hot and perfectly strong, just the way I like it. The rich scent of the fresh brew fills the air, and I eagerly take the first sip, feeling the bitter taste wake up my senses.

I like these late morning hours; they’re when I get the most of my shit done. It’s the most productive time of my day, the time I write my to-do list, make a bunch of calls, and go over my profitreports with my accountant. It’s also when I catch up with my closest ally and right-hand man, Pavel.

But just as I’m about to dive into some important paperwork, Eva barges in and ruins my peace with her presence.

Blyad.

I know it’s not her fault, but she’s really starting to annoy me. And it’s not just my girlfriend who bugs me after two years together. It’s also the invisible presence of her twin sister, Rachel, that really grates on my nerves.

Though I never actually met her, Rachel is almost like a third wheel in our relationship. It’s like her and Eva are joined at the hip or something. Eva won’t shut up about how close they are. They live together and do almost everything together. I don’t know shit about psychology, but I’m sure it’s not a healthy bond.

I can feel my eye twitching at the thought of Eva mentioning Rachel again. I just hope she’s not here to rant about her sister this time.

Eva saunters over to me, running her fingers through my hair. "Hey there, handsome," she coos. "How about we go back to bed and start the day right?"

Okay, at least she’s not here to talk about Rachel. Maybe it’s just my own fixation.

"Hey," I say, looking up. I make no effort to get up and show affection. The idea of romance makes me want to puke right now. All that lovey-dovey stuff is just a tool for women to control and manipulate men. Not to mention that these are my working hours. She should not be in my office.

Why did you even let her stay the night, mudak?

You could have just sent her home in a taxi, like you usually do.

Eva moves closer, her full lips curving into a seductive smirk. Her nightgown clings to her curves, leaving almost nothing to imagination. Her breasts are visible through the fabric. Normally, I would get turned on by this sight, but not today. I took care of myself a few hours ago, thinking of Mindy.

She hovers next to me, her nightgown now half-open. She puts her hand on my head, tousling my hair. As she moves, she deliberately flashes her clean-shaven pussy. I look at her, but all I feel is annoyance.

Gently but firmly, I remove her hand from my hair. "Not now, Eva."

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