Page 24 of Beautiful Deception

Her laugh makes me flinch. It’s like a slap to my face. “You can’t help that you’re pretty. But maybe we can change that.”

The kettle starts to scream and Natasha removes it from the heat. She pours the boiling water into a mug.

And before I can react, she throws the water right onto my arm. I scream and back away, clutching my skin from where it burns.

Natasha then does something shocking. She pours a little bit of the water onto her own arm and lets out a scream herself.

Viktor comes running into the room. “What’s going on?” His eyes find mine first before he turns to Natasha. “I heard screaming.”

“That little girl burned me.” She holds out her arm. Blisters are forming on her skin. When I look down at my own arm, I see the same is happening to me.

“Inessa did that to you? For what reason?”

“Because she’s jealous. Obviously, having a pretty young maid in your household is not a good idea. You need to fire her.”

I don’t say anything because if I accused Natasha of hurting me, I’m worried Viktor won’t believe me.

Viktor walks over to me and gently grabs my arm. “If she hurt you, then why does Inessa’s arm look like this?”

“Because she accidently burned herself when she threw hot boiling water at me,” Natasha says so confidently, how could anyonenotbelieve her?

I bite my lip to keep from breaking down into tears. Viktor has already seen me cry once. I can’t let it happen again.

“I just can’t believe that Inessa would throw boiling water at you, Natasha. It doesn’t make sense.”

Natasha’s mouth gapes open. “You don’t believe me?”

“I never said that. I just find this situation hard to believe. Both of you are hurt. Why don’t we call this a night?”

“You’re kicking me out?”

He cups her face and stares down at her so intimately, I have to look away. “I think it’s best you leave for now. We can meet up another day.”

“But I’m hurt.”

“A little bit of salve can help that. I have some I can give you.”

“Yes. That would be great.”

Viktor leaves the kitchen, which means leaving me and Natasha alone together.

“You think you’re so smart,” she hisses, making me flinch.

“Why did you do this?” I ask. “I don’t understand.”

She scoffs and doesn’t give me an answer. Viktor comes back a moment later with a container in his hands.

“Here.” Opening it up reveals a clear substance. “Rub this on your skin. It will help with the burn.” He holds it out for Natasha but she doesn’t take it. Instead, she bats her eyelids at him.

“Can you put it on me?”

Viktor glances in my direction and I turn my back to them to give them some privacy.

“Thank you,” I hear Natasha purr after a moment.

“You’re welcome. Now, let me walk you out.”

They leave the kitchen and finally, I can allow myself to cry. Deep, sobs wrack my body. Why did Natasha do that to me?

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