Page 22 of The Mistake

Within a few bites the biscuit was gone. I complimented my wife and noticed how her cheeks turned a beautiful shade of red. It was rare to see a womanblush, or at least it was for me.

I had every intention of sending her away so Ivan and I could depart to my office. Ivan insisted on coffee, and only after we had a nice cup did Charlotte leave, and wewent to my office.

Other than our wedding, that was the longest time I’d spent with Charlotte. Stepping into my office, I went straight to the hard liquor. “Can I interest you in a drink?”

“You refuse to spend any time with your wife,” Ivan said.

“Work takes priority. You know this.”

“Ah, I know this, but I also know the value of doing what I say. You and Charlotte are not expecting,” Ivan said.

This caused me to grit my teeth. Slavik already had a child with rumor of a second on the way. I believe Andrei and Adelaide were already pregnant and she was due soon, perhaps. I wasn’t sure on the finer details.

“Charlotte is not pregnant.”

“Ah, but you haven’t consummated your marriage either.” Ivan took the glass of whiskey I offered.

“She’s eighteen years old.”

“In case you’ve forgotten, Charlotte will be nineteen in a couple of weeks. She’s also legal.”

“She is young,” I said.

Ivan chuckled. “All women start out young, Ive. They are born as babies and grow into children, eventually teenagers, and then young women.”

“My wife is still a teenager.”

“True, but she is your wife, and if you stopped being anywhere else but at home, you’d see there is more to Charlotte than her age.”

“You had business to discuss with me.” I wanted to get off the topic of my wife. Eighteen, nineteen, it made no difference to me, shewas still young.

Ivan smiled and after a second, he started to talk. “I have twocandidates with potential for taking over Oleg’s territory.”

“Who are they?” I asked.

He finished off his whiskeyand gave a yawn. “You know, after all this traveling, I suddenly feel rather tired.”

“I have business to discuss with you,” I said.

“And we’ll talk tomorrow.”

Ivan had brought our conversation to a close and I knew it was because he was pissed at me over Charlotte.

****

Lottie

It was late and I couldn’t sleep.

The meal had gone better than I imagined. I also didn’t mind sitting across from my husband. I’d been able to steal glances at him. I’d not seen him for a little over a month, and I think I’d forgotten what he looked like.

I liked his eyes. They were blue, quite a bright, beautiful, intense kind of blue. I couldn’t help but be somewhat drawn to them. Were they the color of the ocean? I’d never seen the ocean, so I didn’t quite know what it looked like. I’d seen pictures and movies, but not in real life.

He’d eaten my food and enjoyed it. I loved that. Ive wasn’t one for compliments, but he’d told me it was good, so I was taking it.

Why couldn’t I sleep? I’d done my usual exploring in the morning, and then worked up a bit of a sweat in the kitchen. Ivanhad also arrived, which in itself was stressful, even if he didn’t scare me. I knew I should be afraid. Either way, I couldn’t sleep. Maybe some warm milk, or some water, or maybe even a hot chocolate would do the trick.

Climbing out of bed, I leavethe bedroom, being careful with my steps. I don’t know how Ivan and Ive would react to someone sneaking around the house. The last thing I wanted to do was get shot at while attempting to fall asleep.

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