London Has Your Eyes

Chapter 72. Anton

I look at the phone screen and smile contentedly. You bet. I had an excuse, that's for sure. I didn't even have to work too hard (I lie, I had to), I just had to wait for Pierce to screw up himself.

When Max told me they were moving in together, I was pissed. I didn't want to believe it. I knew that once she moved her stuff into his flat, getting her out would be next to impossible. I got nervous.

Then Sanya confirmed it. The question of marriage would come up sooner or later and it would be hard for her to say no to him. She didn't get it with me, so she would make up for it with him. Something had to be done. Radical measures had to be taken.

I didn't sleep for two nights. Thinking. I searched for a solution to this problem until it found me on its own. I stumbled across an old article about Pierce, and I figured out how to get him out of our lives.

My plan was crude but ambitious. I decided to go all-in, and it worked. I had to pull some strings, but it was worth it.

The news that Pierce had cheated on Sanya, and had been so stupidly caught, had untied my hands. The path to the woman I love was clear. All I had to do was put on a hero's cape and be there for her. She would remember how good she had been with me, and how I had kept her safe from such idiotic, humiliating situations.

Just to be safe, I dial Max up as soon as they return from Switzerland. When I ask about this situation, I hear a series of selected Russian mats in response. The guy is clearly not holding back his emotions and is very angry. Even when he was running away from home, his anger did not reach such proportions. Even if Sanya takes a step back towards this actor, Max will definitely not let him back into their lives. How fortunate that all works out.

- Hello, queen of my heart, - I say with an enthusiastic smile, showing up on the threshold of Sasha's flat, - you look beautiful as always.

She hugs me mechanically and quickly lets me go, staying somewhere in her thoughts. Sasha is wearing tight navy blue jeans and a mint jumper with a cheerful caption on it. Her hair is braided into a slightly disheveled braid. She looks like a university student about to have a session.

- It's good to see you, too, Anton, - she says. She shows joy with her appearance, but I can see the sadness in her eyes, and her thoughts are somewhere far away.

- Where is Max? - I ask, needing to get her to talk. Sasha is too quiet, which is not a good sign. She looks like an enchanted princess from a fairy tale. She just needs to be reminded what real life looks like, what it tastes like. She just needs to be reminded...

- I just put him on a plane to Moscow, - she says, - you should have seen how many people are at the airport. Everyone is making such a rush, trying to get away before the holidays, to catch up with their families. It was so interesting to watch them. Max went to the check-in area, and I had a coffee in the lobby, looking at people. It turns out that it is wildly relaxing when you look at strangers, how they talk to each other, argue or vice versa, in a hurry or not. You look at them and mentally make up stories for them. That the man in the grey coat could be a doctor. He may have just worked a hard shift, and he wants to rest. But he has promised his wife that this year will be different and they will have a real holiday when he is not called to work urgently. So on and so forth, - she catches herself, jumping out of her thoughts.

- Not really in a festive mood. How are you after the whole story? - I ask. It's important for me to hear her answer. A lot depends on it.

- I'm fine. I don't really want to discuss it all, honestly. I want to fast-forward to when people have new things to talk about and everyone forgets about me.

- You won't forgive him, will you? - I nudge her into the right conversation. She shrugs, looking away.

- I do not know. Life will show, - she says. I don't like it at all. I didn't put so much effort into it to get it to roll backwards.

- Are you kidding me? - I insist. - The guy embarrassed you for the whole world! If you forgive him, what will he do next time?!

Sasha's getting nervous. She clearly doesn't like the conversation, but I'm not going to give up. I have to consolidate positions.

- Sasha, stop making excuses for this weakling, he doesn't deserve you and you know it, - the phone rattles in my pocket. I pull it out mechanically and look at the screen - some kind of advertisement. There's only 5% charge left and it's been a long day ahead, - you have a charger?

- Come on, - she takes my phone and takes it to the kitchen where she plugs it in. - It will charge quickly, don't worry. You can't be out of touch on holidays, right? - She smiles. - I'm begging you, Anton, don't push me. I'll figure out my own relationship. I just need to think about everything for a while. I'm not even sure he ended up sleeping with her. I don't want to believe that.

- ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! - I'm getting up out of my seat. What else does she have to see to finally realize that Daniel Pierce is a cowardly jerk. What's that? To have sex filmed in close-up? I'm sure she'll say even then that it's a stand-in, editing and other nonsense. She'll find a way to justify him. That really pisses me off.

- Why are you yelling at me? - She resents, - Why should I even discuss my relationship with you? It's between me and Daniel.

- And a few million other people you've apparently forgotten about! - I blurt it out. I immediately regret what I said, but I can't take it back. Sanya looks at me with bulging eyes and purses her lips. - I'm sorry, I didn't mean that.

- You're not sparing me today, are you? - She replies.

- I'm sorry I took it so personally. You are not a stranger to me, I'm greatly worry about you.

Sasha comes to the back of the sofa and puts her arm around my shoulders.

- I appreciate your care, but slow down a bit, okay? - She says, innocently kissing my cheek. - I'm not a little girl, I can deal with everything on my own. Don't worry. And if anything, you'll be there, right?

She gets up and walks around the couch. I love the way those blue jeans look on her ass. I want to take her clothes off and put her on the couch again. She'd remember. She'd wriggle under me, squeeze my shoulders, dig her nails into me, moan so hard the neighbours could hear. With each thrust, I would drown out more memories of this loser in her. She must be mine again. I won't rest until she's beneath me.

- I'll be right back, - I say and leave for the bathroom. I open the cold water tap, wash my face and look at myself in the mirror. It has to happen today. I need to take matters into my own hands before Pierce gets his balls back up. Sanya will be mine again, no matter what it costs me.