Chapter One Hundred and Seventy-Four
Kelley walked out of the bedroom and left Milana standing in front of the sofa. He’d gone overboard, he knew that, but he was pissed off. He’d lost five weeks because of her. She’d overreacted when she saw that photo. He did acknowledge her fury at finding that photo on his phone but Kelley expected more from her. He'd expected her to talk to him like a human being and to listen to his side of the story but her actions showed how immature she still was but for him that was unacceptable as well.
Things weren’t always black and white, but they should be. She’d wanted to hurt him and she had. He’d died on his marble floor in the foyer, again in the ambulance and again on the operating table. Ulrich had spared him no detail because he’d wanted to know everything. The least she could do was own up to her actions like he had.
The doctors hadn’t thought he’d survive, but he had, he always survived. It was the story of his life and one he was very grateful for now. He did love her but he was still very angry with her. She’d learn her place even if it was the last thing he did.
Sylvie had been the one secret he'd kept from the rest of his family but he gritted his teeth and told himself that it didn't matter. He had a right to live his life the way he saw fit. He’d raise his son, the right way, not the way he was raised. Kelley settled in behind his desk once more and started on his emails. He didn’t bother looking up when Milana walked past his study half an hour later.
The day flew by. His family surrounded him and they ate lunch together. Milana had excused herself when Kyzer cried and she never returned. Kelley had worked through two hundred emails by the time another headache formed and he knew he had to take it easy and ease back into things.
Kelley turned towards the dressing room after he closed his bedroom door and found Milana folding her clothes. She didn’t look at him and Kelley sighed internally. It would take time for her to get over herself and he needed time to get over his anger.
“Mila.”
She stopped folding but didn’t look at him. “What?”
“I need time, you do too, but we’ll get there. We’ll love each other again.”
Milana scoffed and resumed her folding. Kelley grabbed pajama bottoms and headed to the bathroom. He left the door open out of habit and undressed after turning the water on. The shower was magnificent although his headache was still there when he got out.
His colour seemed better and he dried off quickly and pulled his pants on. The lamp on his nightstand was on and Milana lay on her side of the bed, right on the edge. Kelley smiled then as he turned the bathroom light off and sat down with his back to her.
He swallowed two of the painkillers Ulrich had left him and lay down on his back. He contemplated pulling her to his side but he wasn’t sure that he wanted her there. Kyzer wouldn’t have the life he had, he’d have better.
He turned on his side and turned the lamp off and lay with his back to her. His eyes closed as the pills started doing their job and he could feel sleep pulling him deeper. Milana turned around and he opened his eyes again just as she started to speak.
“I sat by your bedside every single day with Kyzer, praying that you wouldn’t die.” Her voice was soft, almost as if she was talking to herself but Kelley heard her clearly.
“I did die, Mila.”
“It was an accident and I’m still angry about your girlfriend,” she retorted.
“You’d better get over that one fast because Sylvie will be family soon.”
Her lamp turned on and Kelley hid the smile on his face. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me, Mila. Go to sleep now, I’m tired.”
“Not a chance! You’re moving her in here! You want to punish me for something I had no control over and keep your girlfriend on the side? You’re fucking insane if you think that’s going to happen!”
Kelley started to chuckle and turned on his back so he could look at her. Her anger rose at his laughter and he couldn’t stop. “There’s nothing funny about the situation. I refuse to be treated this way.”
“Goodnight, Mila.”
Kelley turned back on his side and closed his eyes. She could deny it as much as she wanted to, her feelings for him were still there. There was a very fine line between love and hate but he’d never hated her and she didn’t really hate him either.
Kelley slept fitfully and woke up with the sun. Mila lay on her stomach, her head on his chest with his arm around her and resting firmly on her backside. Her other hand rested on his hip, dangerously close to the morning wood he sported.
Kelley grinned and nudged her hand lower until it circled around his erection. He closed his eyes again as her hand tightened around him and he groaned at the sensation running through him. Milana gasped loudly and pushed herself away from him. She had a look of horror on her face that made him smile.
“Do you want to take care of that for me?”
Her eyes burned with anger as she scrambled further away from him. “Call your girlfriend.”
Kelley lifted himself on his elbows as she bent to pick up her robe. “Is this you giving me permission to have a girlfriend?”
Her gaze snapped to his and his lips curled upward. “I’m not in the mood for your games, Kelley.”
“You will be.”
Milana muttered something under her breath that sounded suspiciously like ‘over my dead body’ and Kelley lay back on the bed with his smile still firmly in place. “Are you going to join me in the shower?”
“No!” She was in the dressing room now and the monitor sparked to life as Kyzer woke up.
“Your loss!” Kelley yelled and headed to the bathroom to take matters into his own hands.
