Page 119 of Cruel Promise

I find Edmund by the front door where he always is. “Do you have a key for every room in the house?”

“Mrs. Petrov, why are you asking for a key for any room in the house?”

“Fine. I’ll be honest with you, Edmund. Nikolai is keeping things from me. I can feel it in my gut. I need to get into his office and look around.”

His frown deepens the lines between his eyes. “That’s a violation of your husband’s trust.”

“And he bought me and forced me into a marriage I never asked for. I think we’re past violations here.”

“Why not just ask him?”

“Do you think he’ll tell me anything?” I respond, crossing my arms. “You know Nikolai. You know how high his walls are.” I sigh and give Edmund my best puppy dog eyes. “Please. Edmund. I just want to get to know my husband better. Is that so bad?”

He wavers for a long moment before sighing, his shoulders slumping in resignation. “All right. I do have a key.” He pulls it out of his pocket it and hands it to me. “But just be wise, Mrs. Petrov. You don’t want to ruin anything you’ve built with Mr. Petrov.”

“He’s doing that well enough on his own.”

I hurry to his office and unlock the door. Once inside, I’m struck by how clean everything is. That shouldn’t be surprising, given how clean the rest of the house is, but there are no pictures anywhere. No loose papers strewn about. Nothing that says anyone works in here.

I try the drawers to his desk, but there’s nothing. They’re all locked. I use the key Edmund gave me, but it doesn’t open any of the drawers. I need a different key, but I suspect Nikolai keeps it on him.

I sit down in his chair and look out at the room. He takes in this view every day. This is where he sits when he makes decisions. This is what power feels like.

It feels lonely, I realize.

I don’t feel any closer to Nikolai sitting in this room because even he hasn’t laid claim to it. It’s just a place where he works. It’s not his identity.

So, who exactly is Nikolai Petrov?

“What are you doing?” His voice cuts through my mind, making me sit up in the chair with a gasp. Nikolai is in the doorway, his eyes furrowed. The sight of him so filled with anger makes my body shiver. Is this what people see right before he kills them?

“I asked you a question, Ava,” he growls, stepping into the room and shutting the door behind him. “What are you doing in my office?”

“I have the key,” I say, holding it up.

“How did you get it?”

“Edmund gave it to me after I begged him.”

“He’s too soft on you.”

“You’re definitely not soft on me. You’re nothing but cold, hard edges.”

He’s quiet for a moment then lets out a breath. “I’m going to ask you again. What are you doing in here?”

“Sitting.”

“Ava,” he warns.

“I wanted to learn your secrets, Nik. I wanted to learnsomethingnew about you. But it turns out your office is just asblank as the rest of this house. You keep yourself so buried away; you don’t show a thing.”

“Why do you want to know?”

“Because you’re my husband!” I stand up, shoving the chair away. “I’m not just some employee you can shut out when it pleases you. I’m your wife. You chose me. You’re the reason I’m here. So, open up to me!”

He storms right over to me but doesn’t touch. I can feel the heat radiating off him, and all I want to do is to step closer and feel that warmth envelope me like it did the night I let him take my virginity.

“I don’t open up to anyone,” he growls.

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