Page 63 of Beautiful Deception

“You think I made her cut me? What do you think I did, Viktor? Threatened the girl? What excuse does she have for cutting me?”

Viktor sighs. “Inessa, I need you to speak. I need you to tell me what happened. Because whatever is happening between you two is getting old. Whenever you’re together, something happens. And I’m not sure what to believe.”

“Believe me,” Natasha snaps. “Not her.”

“If you have to fire me,” I finally say, “then fire me.”

Viktor’s eyes tighten. “Why would I fire you? Did you cut her?”

I still can’t get myself to say I did when it’s a complete and utter lie. But if I rat Natasha out, who knows what she’ll do?

Viktor did say he’d keep me safe though. Maybe this is a test if he really means it.

“Inessa. Tell me what happened.”

“I told you what happened,” Natasha cuts in. “She cut me. Unprovoked. She just attacked me. Your maid is crazy, Viktor. You have to believe me.”

“If you don’t say anything, Inessa, then…”

“Then what?” I ask.

“Then I’ll have no choice but to fire you. You can’t hurt people. I won’t allow it.”

That’s rich considering he’s a Bratva man who’s hurt countless people. He tried to kill my dad. Yes, my dad asked for it when he tried to kill Viktor but that still doesn’t make Viktor blameless. I’m sure he’s actually committed murder. Bratva men usually have.

“Then fire me,” I whisper. If this is the only way to keep myself safe then I have to take it. Natasha will not stop coming after me. I have over seven grand saved. I can use it to rent an apartment and get a new job somewhere else. There’s still the problem of my dad I have to consider. Without a steady income, I’m not sure how I’ll be able to support him too but I can figure that out later.

“She’s telling you to fire her, Viktor. So do it.”

“Natasha,” he says tightly. “Are you ok? Your arm, I mean.”

She clutches her arm to her chest. “I mean, it stings. That bitch cut me. I’m not ok.”

“But you’re not dying, yes?”

“No, I’m not dying.”

“Ok then. Go home. Leave my house. I have things to deal with.”

Her mouth gapes open. “You can’t ask me to go.”

“I can. This is my house. Do you want to get on my bad side?” He towers over her, making his point.

Natasha steps back. “All right. I’ll go. But you better fire her or you can think again about marrying me.”

Viktor’s face is a stern, cold mask as Natasha leaves.

Mrs. Green rushes into the bathroom. “What happened? I heard screaming and Miss Morozov just stormed out of the house.” Her eyes land on the bloody scissors on the counter and she blanches. “What happened?”

“Apparently, Inessa cut Natasha. Unprovoked.”

“What? Child, what were you thinking?”

“But,” Viktor continues, “I’m not sure how much of that I believe. Inessa, why would you risk your job here to cut Natasha? It doesn’t make sense to me.”

“But why would Miss Morozov lie?”

“Inessa.”

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