The Shadows of Diplomacy

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Alexei had been going in circles in his mind regarding Arya. A dichotomy of emotions waged a silent battle within him, a relentless conflict almost mirroring the chaos unfolding in his world. Arya had betrayed him, that fact weighed heavily upon him, but the thought of that fact juxtaposed to the tender moments they had shared, left him confused about what to do. Though she had deceived him, shattering his trust in her, Alexei's affection for Arya did not waver. The connection they had forged, the shared intimacy, and the vulnerabilities they had exposed to each other lingered as poignant memories of what once was.

Arya's pregnancy added another layer of complexity to Alexei's internal struggle. The impending fatherhood stirred conflicting emotions within him, a mixture of joy and apprehension entwined with the tumultuous circumstances surrounding their lives. He was sure he wanted to become a father, but now seemed to be a bad time. Alexei acknowledged that his current choices would alter the trajectory of the child's life, and to some degree, he was worried he was making bad choices.

The encroaching danger amplified the stakes. The looming threats, the scrutiny on his covert operations, and the shadows of espionage and crime closing in on him demanded a pragmatic detachment. The rising tide of peril threatened to engulf everything he held dear, forcing Alexei to confront the agonising truth that love could be a liability, just like he had been told countless times in the SVR.

With a heavy heart, Alexei acknowledged that the complexities of their lives had reached a breaking point. The safety of Arya and her unborn child became paramount, and the realisation that their relationship was a vulnerability in the face of his impending dangers crashed down on him. He threw his head back on his couch, clutching the stem of his wine glass as he paced through the corridors of his mind.

Finally, Alexei sat up, summoning the courage to act, he texted Arya: "Let's meet for dinner."

***

For the first time in weeks Arya found the time to straighten her hair. She did light makeup, wearing a short, flowy, black dress with puffy sleeves and a deep v-neck cut as one side of the top lapped over the other. A small part of her wanted to impress him, another part was a puddle of anxiety, because Alexei asking to meet up at the restaurant instead of picking her up gave her a sneaky feeling that he was going to give her bad news.

The first half of their dinner was quiet save for the cacophony of light chatter and utensils clinking that filled the elegant surroundings of the restaurant.

Alexei cleared his throat. "Arya, we need to talk."

Arya looked at him expectantly, chewing her pasta.

Alexei hesitated. "I hate to do this, especially right now," His eyes momentarily dropped to her torso. "But, Arya... I am really struggling to come to terms with what has happened, and, even if I could, I still have so much to deal with right now, and ... Honestly, I've known for a while now that this is what is best, but it seems the more I put it off, the harder, but more necessary, it becomes to do."

Arya remained quiet. She was frozen in place with pasta on her fork waiting to be eaten.

"I just - I really did not want to have to do this... especially not now that you're pregnant, but it's really what's best for everyone involved... and I mean, everyone. I don't love you any less, but..." Alexei added, looking at Arya's abdomen once more.

A single tear fell from Arya's left eye as she waited to hear him say the words she was dreading.

"Arya, I think we should break up."

And there they were. She slowly placed the fork down on her plate. "What about the baby?" She asked in a humble voice, nursing her tears with the napkin.