The waiter arrived.

I saw the cost and paid it with the cash in my wallet. “I’ve had a call. I’ve got to go. Sorry to cut this short.”

She looked shocked, but I got to my feet, already leaving. She wasn’t used to me being the one to end our time together. Always the damn same.

“I’ll call you,” she said.

I didn’t say anything.

Sergei took the lead, heading out of the restaurant ahead of me. The car was already waiting, so I guessed he’d called ahead. He opened the backseat passenger door, and I climbed in. Sitting back, I took a breath, wiping at my cheeks to make sure the tears wouldn’t fall.

“Take me home,” I said.

I rarely thought of Slavik’s apartment as home.

He didn’t question me.

I stared out the window.

Boring. Ugly. These were words I was used to. They shouldn’t hurt me anymore, and yet, I thought Bethany had started to become a friend.

There was no friendship there. At least I heard the truth before I got too attached.

No friends.

This was how I was just going to have to live my life. People didn’t like me. Simple as that. No matter what I did.

Fine. I wouldn’t make friends.

The drive was a blur.

When he parked the car, I shot out of it, going straight to the elevator. I didn’t give Sergei a chance to catch up. The doors closed and the elevator took me up. No one stopped the elevator in its tracks, and for that, I was relieved.

I had a key to the door and I let myself in, tempted to lock the door, but I refused to cause more of a scene.

Gently, I put my bag down and went straight to the kitchen. I opened the fridge and saw the bottle of water.

I’d been starving myself these past few weeks. Working out at the gym. The gym.

I rushed to the bedroom, changed out of the skirt, sandals, and crop top into a pair of gym shorts and a shirt. When I was changed and ready, Sergei came into the apartment. He was panting.

“You didn’t wait for the elevator?”

“I’m to keep you protected at all times.”

“Yeah, well, this is not one of those times.”

I made to go around him. He stepped in my way. He was out of air, but he still thought he could take me on.

“I’m going to work out. I need to go to the gym.”

“What happened?” he asked.

“None of your business. Your job is to take care of me. Consider your job well done.” I reached out, patted him on the shoulder. “Congratulations. I’m still alive.”

“Aurora, you’re hurting.”

“I’m not. I’m completely fine. I’ve got no reason to be upset or hurt. I’m alive. I’ve told you that.”

“You’re going to cry.”

Tears had already flooded my eyes. “Get out of my way.”

“No.”

“This is not doing your job.”