Page 70 of Beautiful Deception

“Then be mad at him. I’m innocent.”

She scoffs. “You’re not innocent. You’re a seductress. Women like you only pretend to be innocent while you steal another woman’s man.”

“I never stole Viktor. He doesn’t want to be with you.”

“Shut up,” she hisses, slapping me across the face. “You can try to play innocent all you like but I know the real you. I know the secrets you’re hiding.”

I go still. Secrets? She can’t mean…

“I know that you pretend to be innocent. I know that you only took that job to get close to Viktor so you could seduce him.”

So, she doesn’t know who I really am. That’s one thing at least. Even though it’s not going to help me in this situation.

“I took the job because I needed the money.” My voice sounds so pathetic in the echo-y room.

“A pretty girl like you could have gotten a job anywhere. It never had to be as Viktor’s maid.”

“Natasha, please. You have to believe me. I never took that job to seduce him. I took the job because I needed the money. That was the only reason.”

“Doesn’t change the fact that you made him break up with me. And I don’t like that. I’m going to have Viktor for myself.”

“What happens when he finds out what you did to me?” It’s taking all of my energy to speak but I have to say this. I can’t go down without a fight.

She scoffs. “He’ll never find out.”

“He’ll wonder where I went. He’ll look into it. Somehow, he will find out you’re connected. You think he’ll be with you then? Because he won’t be. You know that, Natasha.”

Her face contorts into pure fury. “You don’t know anything.” Her fist connects with my nose and it cracks. Pain explodes behind my eyes.

I cry and moan and clutch at my face.

“You hurt my knuckles,” she hisses. “How dare you do that. One more thing I can blame you for.”

“Please,” I say, even though my voice sounds muffled. I’m fairly positive my nose is broken and already swollen.

“You’re begging will do nothing for me. I’m going to kill you and throw you away like the trash you are.”

She nods at the two men. “You can have your way with her. I’m going to watch.”

They descend on me.

Natasha’s phone rings. “Stop,” she orders, answering it. “Viktor!” Her tone is instantly warm and welcoming. So different from the cold hearted bitch she just was.

The men remove their hands from my body. I still have my dress and underwear on. But I know once those are gone, there will be nothing in the way to stop these men from raping me.

“You want to meet?” she asks sweetly. “We can meet. Of course.” She’s silent for a moment. “Uh-huh. I’ll be there.” She hangs up. “Don’t touch her until I’m back. Put her in the cage. I don’t want to see her suffer unless I’m here to see it myself.”

The men do as they’re told and toss me back into the cage. Once again, my head bangs against the bars, causing me to see stars. I think I have a concussion. It might even be worse than that.

Natasha leaves with one last wicked smile in my direction.

Viktor

I have Natasha come to my house.

It’s early morning and Inessa still hasn’t returned. Either she decided to leave, which if that was the case, she would have taken her money with her. I checked her room. Her stash of money is still there, hidden under her bed.

Or, someone kidnaped her.

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