VOLKO

Chapter Fourteen

Sitting in a rather uncomfortable armchair, I scanned the pile of books I'd just found, looking for something of interest to speak to me. Unlike the rest of the house, this room actually looked completed. The books were all tidily packed away, I hated to admit it, but the place looked amazing. Having loved reading from a small child, owning my own library had only been a dream.

You could smell the books in the air, it made me feel homey. Perhaps because whenever I'd read it had been an escape. In a book you could be anyone, a friend along for the ride, a detective trying to solve the case before they did. Escaping, could that be the rest I'd sneaked off to a place I knew Jake wouldn't think to look? Reading for enjoyment was a foreign concept to him.

The list of people I wanted to break away from seemed to grow each day. I needed space, coming here all in one go had been a mistake, I was realising this now.

Placing another train book to the side, I thought about actually leaving. I'd agreed to stay until the trip however since this morning no more had been mentioned. A small voice at the back of my mind yelled he'd said it only to keep me here, then logic interfered, squashing it.

Just as I went to lift another book, Victoria's heels snapped on the wooden flooring. Those heels were a lifesaver, many times they'd let me know Victoria was on route so I could easily dogde her.

Praying she would walk on by, I remained deadly still, as those the slightest movement would alert her to my presents.

When the oak double doors slowly pushed open I knew my bet hadn't paid off. She strode into the room wearing her usual business getup. As normal she was the last person I wanted to see, even more after last night.

Cursing myself mentally for not hiding whilst I had the chance, I waited until Victoria's eye's found mine. I held my breath. She looked shocked to see me here, I hoped that would go in my favour.

"We don't have a kids section, sorry." Her sharp words cut at me.

"So what are you doing in here then?" I hit back, causally putting up the next book as those my hands didn't shaky the whole time.

How did this woman have such a power over me? Like she could suck all the air out of the room. And this was before I'd seen her makeout session with Dean.

Even though she was a bitch, her incredible beauty was undeniable. If Dean and her got together officially, their children would be models, no, not models, Gods and Goddesses. Despite her shit personality, I could see what Dean saw in her which he didn't in me.

"Making sure you don't steal anything, can never trust a roughie like you."

"Nothing has gone missing since I got here, so I haven't stolen anything yet." I pointed out.

"Hasn't it?" Victoria raised a questioning eyebrow at me.

This was getting us nowhere, of course I could sit here all day playing these games, the notion just didn't seem very appealing.

"Right okay, well you can watch me look if you like." Bringing the book I was holding backup, I pretended to read the words.

"I will." Victoria took the equally uncomfortable looking armchair opposite. Our sitting styles couldn't be more different, I sat with one leg draped over the side, whilst Victoria's position resembled someone who had a stick up their ass.

Scanning the pages, I pretended to be interested. After trying to read the same line four times I snapped the book shut to look directly at Victoria. Her eyes were narrowed, openly judging me.

"So, done anything nice lately?" I questioned, hoping to find common ground. Any ground really where we could be civil.

"What is it to you?" Victoria snapped back, still perched awkwardly on the edge of the chair.