Burn

Chapter Four

Brianna:

"Blake?" He was sitting there with a glass in his hand, reclined casually into the sofa, his shirt unbuttoned with his tie resting next to him.

"What are you doing here? I thought you had to work late." He didn't answer for me for a while, just taking a sip from his drink and regarding me in a cool manner.

"Where were you? You haven't been answering your phone." 

"Why do you care? I thought you had to work late." I muttered.

"Brianna, answer my f*****g question. Where were you?" He growled, standing up from the couch.

"I don't have to answer to you, Blake. You're not my damn father." I hissed back.

"You're right. I'm not your father. He's f*****g dead."

I flinched slightly, looking at him in shock.

Even he looked a bit shock at what he said.

"Wait, f**k Bri. I didn't m-" 

"No, don't you dare say you didn't mean it. You said it, you meant it. Get the f**k out of my face."

I turned my back on him and walked away.

"Brianna." He grabbed my arm, and spun me around.

"What? Let go of me." I yanked my arm out of his grip, backing away from him.

"I'm sorry, baby. I didn't mean to say that."

"Whatever, Blake. Just go back to your 'job'." I used air quotes around job and his lips pressed into a thin line.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means just what I said." I muttered.

"No. Tell me what it means. Are you trying to accuse me of something, Brianna?"

"Nope. Listen, I really want to be alone right now. Can you leave me alone please?" I walked away from him, heading towards my bedroom and I could hear him following behind me.

"You still haven't answered my question. Where the f**k were you?" He growled and I rolled my eyes in annoyance.

"At work."

"That's a lie because I called your office and the secretary said you stepped out. So where did you go?"

"Why the hell did you call the office Blake? I thought we agreed that those would be for emergency purposes?" I glared at him, but he looked unrepentant.

"I called because you were not answering my call. That was the emergency."

Seriously?

"I wasn't answering your calls because I was pissed at you. You always chose to put your job in front of our relationship, so why the hell do you care now?" I pulled my shirt out of my skirt, beginning to unbutton it.

"I've always cared. I'm just working on this really important project right now, which I already told you."

"Mhm." 

Who's lying now?

I turned my back to him, shrugging out of my shirt and I felt him press his body against mine, placing a soft kiss at the base of my neck.

"I'm really not in the mood right now, Blake." I moved away from him, and I heard him sigh.

"You're never in the mood anymore." He mumbled.

"Maybe because you're never around anymore." I snapped, pulling down my tight skirt.

"f**k this. I don't need this s**t right now. I'm leaving." I heard him storm out of the room, slamming the door as he left.

I heaved out a long sigh, carrying my clothes into the bathroom and throwing it into the hamper. I took a long shower to wash the day off of me and to help clear my mind, before wrapping myself in my robe and going into the kitchen to pour myself a glass of wine. I got my phone out of my bag and sat on my favorite lounge chair, turning my phone back on. I saw at least twenty missed calls from Blake and 10 text messages, and a text message from an unknown number.

Unknown - This is Viktor. Save my number. I'll be picking you up at 8:30 in the morning.

Me - I'm fine with taking an Uber.

Unknown - You're not taking an Uber. I said that I'm picking you up, so be ready.

Me - You're not the boss of me.

Unknown - Technically I am, sweetheart. You are under my guidance.

Me - *inserts middle finger emoji*

Unknown - That's not very nice, love.

Me - Who said I was nice?

I couldn't help the little grin that spread across my face from our exchange. He was really infuriating, yet I couldn't help but be intrigued by him.

I spent the rest of the evening watching a series on Netflix, before I decided that it was time to go to bed.

Another night sleeping alone in this big bed.

Blake and I don't live together, however he's over here most of the time.

Or at least he used to be.

I felt like we've been drifting further apart lately, and I had my suspicions as to why. Sometimes I question why I stay, but then I'd remember the way he helped me pick up the pieces after my dad died and put them back together again.

He made me feel whole again. Like I wasn't alone in the world anymore, and I find that hard to let go of.

I heard someone stumbling through the hallways, before my bedroom door opened, and I looked up to see Blake there.

"Blake, are you okay." I asked, sitting up.

I watched him flop onto the bed, reeking of alcohol.

"Yeah, I'm good. Just need sleep." He mumbled, closing his eyes.

It wasn't long before I heard his breathing even out, and I sighed, getting up to remove his shoes and the jacket he had on.

He grumbled quietly as I struggled, but slept through most of it. I managed to get his clothes off, placing them in the hamper. I got a bottle of water and aspirin, leaving it on the nightstand for him and placed the bin at the side of the bed in case he needed to throw up.

I left the room because frankly the smell of him just disgusted me and made me feel like I wanted to throw up.

I headed to the guest room with my phone and my charger, plugging it in, before laying down.

Just as I closed my eyes, I heard my phone buzz and I checked it to see a message from Viktor.

Viktor Markov - Are you still up?

Me - Yes. How can I help you?

Viktor Markov - I can't stop thinking of you.

My eyes widened and I stared at the text dumbfounded for a moment.

Me - That's highly inappropriate, considering that we are going to be work colleagues as of tomorrow, don't you think?

Viktor Markov - I don't care. That's temporary.

Me - Viktor.... As much as I appreciate your interest and I'm flattered that you find me attractive, I think that you should know that I am in a relationship with someone.

Viktor Markov- How would you feel if I told you that I don't give a f**k?

Me - You don't care that I'm in a relationship?

Viktor Markov- No, it has never stopped me before, and it won't stop me now.

My jaw dropped at this.

What the hell....

Me - Viktor, I love my boyfriend and we're in a committed relationship.

Viktor Markov- Give me a chance to show you why I'm the better choice.

Me - I'm sorry Viktor, but that won't be happening. I'm in a relationship, not to mention this is highly inappropriate.

Viktor Markov - I'm going to change your mind. You'll see.

Me - Goodnight, Mr. Markov. I'll see you in the morning.

Viktor Markov - Goodnight beautiful. Sweet dreams.

I turned my phone off, placing it on the nightstand next to me.

I'm not going to lie and say that I'm not attracted to Viktor. How can I not be? He's tall, muscular with a smile that can melt any girl into a puddle at his feet. And don't get me started on the tattoos that I could've seen peeking out of the collar of his shirt and on his hands.

I don't doubt that we'd be great together. The chemistry is there, but I can't do it. I'm still in love with Blake. He's been my rock for a long time, and I know that things haven't been great between us lately but I can't hurt him like that.

I stared up at the ceiling, lost in my thoughts for a while.

I have to find some way to fix things between Blake and I. I'm not ready to give up on us yet. 

Maybe I can plan a date for both of us tomorrow.... 

I fell asleep with some hope in my heart that there is some hope in salvaging this relationship.