Mabel Shot Part 3

His damp hair and the scent tell me he preferred to clean himself up, as he's wearing different clothes now. The dark blue jeans look good on him, just like the black polo shirt, and I don’t know why I’ve recently developed a certain attraction to military boots, which only seem sexy on him. But it’s his brown eyes that draw me in, stealing the breath from my lungs, making me feel so lost in front of him.
“Come on!” He gestures with his head, turning around to take his coffee.
“Actually, I wanted to know where my clothes and my bag are.” I slowly tap the tip of my foot on the floor, averting my eyes toward the door. “I need to go home and still think about what I’m going to say to Rumeu about my delay,” I sigh, worried, still thinking about the drink glasses in the library.
The sound of heavy breathing above my head startles me, making me turn my head forward. The scent of his cologne invades my nostrils like embers. He’s just a few centimeters away from me, and I feel the warm touch of his hand lifting my chin, sliding his finger along my skin.
“Your coffee is ready,” Czar says, more stiffly, taking a step back, waiting for me to go first, pointing to the large open door.
“Damn it!” I mutter under my breath, walking in the direction he points. “I can’t stay, sir, I need to work.”
“And you will, after breakfast,” he replies, walking behind me.
I feel his gaze burning into me as I walk with my head down, thinking about what I can come up with for Rumeu to explain my delay.
“I can very well have breakfast at the gallery.” I scratch my neck and take a deep breath. “What time is it? I think I should already be late to clock in.”
“You’re two hours late, and Rumeu already knows you’re with me!”
“Oh my God!” I turn around immediately. “Two hours?” My eyes widen as I look at his face. “What do you mean he already knows I’m with you?”
“I called him and informed him that I took the liberty of inviting you to have breakfast with me while we discuss the new canvases I want to acquire.” His hand flattens on my shoulder, turning me around again.
“You shouldn’t have done that.” I shake my head. Rumeu isn’t stupid; he’ll notice that there’s something wrong with Mr. Gregovivk’s sudden desires to buy canvases. “You shouldn’t have done this; it’s my job. Our agreement doesn’t extend to him…”
“I didn’t interfere; I just informed him of your delay.”
“Good morning, princess!” Before I can say anything to Czar, I’m surprised by Sieta, who smiles at me from her seat at the table.
“Hi!” I give her a weak smile and see her take a bite of bread. “Good morning, Sieta.”
“So, are you excited about the ride?” she mumbles, speaking with her mouth full and grinning at me.
“What?” I blink, confused, not quite sure if I heard her correctly.
“Sit down; I’ll get your coffee.” Czar pulls out the chair on the other side of the table and points to me.
“Are you feeling okay after the hangover? Yelena was worried, thinking she overdid the vodka with you.”
“No, I’m fine.” I smile shyly at her and lower my hands to my lap as Sieta’s eyes land on my wrists.
“I can see that!” She winks at me, leaning back in her chair, relaxing her shoulders.
Czar approaches silently and places the coffee cup on the table in front of me, giving a glare at his cousin before stepping away from the table again.
“Oh, I was starving!” she chats with me, hiding a laugh. “Eat this donut, Mabel; you’re going to love it. I bought it on Augsta Street.”
“I think I’ve already tried it.” I smile at her and pick up a donut. “You went all the way to Augsta Street to buy donuts? That street is just a few blocks from where I live.”
I take a bite of the donut and follow Mr. Gregovivk with my eyes as he walks through the kitchen, going near the sink counter to serve himself some coffee. I grab the cup that’s full in front of me and bring it to my lips, returning to Sieta and seeing her nod positively, chewing her bread.
“I know; I stopped by your apartment when I went to get your things to bring them here.”
The coffee spitting from my mouth is inevitable when I hear her response, making me look lost at her. I grab a paper towel and wipe my lips, breathing hurriedly.
“Sorry, but what did you just say?” I glance from her to Czar, seeing him still with his back to me.
He stands with his shoulders erect, the loud sound of his breathing coming out angrily, like an irritable bear.
“Your things?” Sieta raises the napkin and wipes her mouth, glancing between me and Mr. Gregovivk. “I thought you already knew…”
I breathe hastily and lower the cup, releasing it on the table, turning my face toward him.
“Why were my things taken without my consent?”
“I think this is my cue to go smoke a cigarette outside!” Sieta quickly says and lets out a long whistle, getting up and leaving the kitchen.
I remain silent, looking at him, feeling my heart race with every passing second, not believing he did this.
“Mr. Gregovivk!” I call him with more urgency, wanting him to give me an explanation.
“Finish your coffee, Mabel!” he replies seriously, turning to look at me. “Then you can go upstairs and change; your things are already in your room.”
“Oh my God, you really did that?!” I rise in a fit, looking at him incredulously. “And you didn’t think to ask me if I wanted this?”
“I did what I thought was right. You gave me the power to decide when you accepted to play.” His voice is low and dangerous as he speaks in a falsely calm tone, placing the cup down on the table.
“No!” I shake my head and press my lips together. “Our agreement was only to play Sodom. I gestured with my arm, closing my fingers, clenching my mouth. “I gave you control over me inside the room, not to decide my life whenever you feel like it, as if I’m nothing more than your whim.”
“Whim?” he snarls through his teeth, becoming more threatening as he steps toward me, puffing out his chest with each strong breath. “Do you think my dick fucks you out of whim? That the need I have to have total control over what surrounds me is just whimsy, little bird?”
“First, you called Rumeu, interfering with my job; now I find out that my things are inside your house…” I raise my fingers and rub my face with anger. “In a matter of days, you’re changing and dominating my life without even pretending to hide it…”
“From the moment you accepted my terms, you gave me that power. I don’t have to hide; I do what needs to be done. And I’m not changing your life; I’m taking care of it…”
“I didn’t ask you to take care of me!” I yell angrily, feeling cornered and scared.