Secrets of the Solomons

16. Fiona:

*9th August, 2023*

I was told someone had come to visit me again. I checked the flip phone from Andros to see if any messages had come from him saying he was coming. But there were none. That was odd. Who came to see me then?

I go to the visiting room and sit down. My eyes meet up to see Vladimir. I hadn't seen him since the trial. He looked nervous and fidgety, which was unusual for him. As he approached me, I couldn't help but wonder what he wanted to talk about after all this time. There was only a glass wall separating us. I spoke first.

"Hey." Vladimir's eyes darted around before finally meeting mine. "Hey," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper. I could tell there was something important on his mind, and I braced myself for whatever news he had to share.

"Are these your work?" He said he seemed mad. "These? Can you not elaborate?" I asked, confused by his vague question. Vladimir scoffed and spoke again. "Do not play dumb with me, Fiona. Are the arrests of your relatives related to your work?"

I felt a knot form in my stomach as I realized what he was referring to. I may be doing this for selfish reasons. To keep myself safe. But they are my kin, and they are also my enemies. I am not proud of it. But I do what I have to. "And if they are, what of it?" I say stoically.

"I will not stand by and watch as you betray your blood," Vladimir declared, his voice filled with anger. I could see the disappointment in his eyes, and it made me question my motives. But all the emotions flowed in. I knew deep down that I had to make a choice, even if it meant betraying my own family. The weight of my decision settled heavily on my shoulders as I prepared to face the consequences of my actions.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I replied, trying to maintain a facade of innocence. The tension in the room was palpable, and I knew that my next words would determine the course of my future. My eyes turned cold. "But you're not thinking of betraying me, are you?"

The silence that followed was deafening, as I struggled to keep my composure under the intense scrutiny. Isn't he openly declaring his betrayal by saying he won't stand still? Who is he to stand by my way? Out of all the people, he's the one who's supposed to trust me and be by my side.

He looked at me with pure disappointment. As if he were repulsed by me. Just with his look, it was enough to make my stomach drop and leave me breathless. I felt a sinking feeling in my chest, and everything seemed like a blur. His eyes said it all. I could feel the weight of his judgement crushing me, and I knew that things would never be the same between us. The silence between us was suffocating, filled with unspoken words that hung heavily in the air. It was a betrayal that cut deeper than any verbal confession could have.

My eyes swell with tears, but I hold them back and look at him with pure disappointment and

malice. I could see the hurt reflected in his eyes, but I refused to let it soften my resolve. The tension between us was palpable, a stark reminder of the irreparable damage that had been done. "You disappoint me. Greatly." I get up to leave.

But he spoke before I could turn my back on him, his voice filled with malice as well. " You're no better than me. We both know that."

I snap. "I never betrayed you. I simply refused to condone your actions. You made your choice; now live with the consequences. But do not try blaming me."

His eyes narrowed in anger, a fire burning within them as he clenched his fists. The silence that followed was heavy with unspoken words, leaving a bitter taste in the air between us. "You say you didn't betray me. But we both know you did. I was the one who you were supposed to ask for."

"What in the world are you rambling about? Stop being so damn cryptic!" I demand frustration evident in my voice as I try to make sense of his accusations. "Just tell me straight up what you're trying to say." His lips pressed into a thin line, a storm brewing in his gaze as he finally spoke the words that had been festering inside him.

"Andros. The heir of the damn Greek Mafia. Why has he been visiting you, Fiona?" I freeze, my mind racing as I try to come up with a plausible explanation for Andros's visits. The truth was too dangerous to reveal, even to him.

I clear my throat and speak, "He was my tutor back when I was at school. He's been checking in on me to see how I'm doing. I didn't realize it would cause such concern."

He scoffed before speaking, "Oh, I'm sure he is visiting you to just check on you. Don't play dumb, Fiona. Andros doesn't do anything without a reason. You better start talking before I find out the truth myself."

"And why should I answer to you? A damn traitor?" If my words hurt him, he did a damn good job hiding it.

His eyes narrowed as he leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "You don't want to make an enemy out of me, Fiona. Trust me on that."

His words make me cackle out loud, and I look at him with a mocking smirk. "You think you scare me, Vlady? I want you to get on point. Why are you so mad and being nosy in my business?"

Vladimir's jaw clenched, his nostrils flaring as he struggled to maintain his composure. "You're playing with fire, Fiona. Don't push me too far," he warned through gritted teeth. "That man is smitten with you. He is merely infatuated. Once he finds you no longer interesting, He will abandon you."

I raised an eyebrow, unimpressed by his threats. "You clearly don't know anything about me or him. I can handle myself just fine, Vlady. And I highly doubt you're the one I should be worried about," I retorted, crossing my arms defiantly.

Vladimir's eyes darkened with a dangerous glint as he leaned closer to the glass from his seat, his voice dropping to a low growl. "You have no idea what you're getting yourself into. Do you really think you can outsmart me? Do you want to know why he's infatuated? Because his mommy didn't care for him. Now he yearns for love from every woman he's been obsessed with. And guess who happens to look just like his cold dead mommy? You."

His words make me repulsed by Andros and his mere existence. But I don't show it. "Careful, Vlady. It's not right to speak of someone's mother like that. She may not be here to defend herself, but that doesn't give you the right to disrespect her memory." I keep my voice steady, masking the revulsion bubbling inside me. "Let's focus on the task at hand and leave personal attacks out of it. Why are you mad?"

"I am mad you are betraying your kin! I am mad you're becoming a kin-slayer! It doesn't take a genius to find out who put those ideas in your head! If you follow Andros, you automatically betray me, moya dragotsennost." (My jewel)

'No one put any idea in my damn head!" I spat.

"I have my own beliefs and reasons for my decisions. And if you can't respect that, then maybe we don't have as strong of a bond as you think." The tension in the room was palpable, our relationship hanging by a thread as we stood at odds with each other.

He clicks his tongue and laughs. "You have your priorities straight, it seems. Mark my words. By the time you are done with your mastermind of a plan, you will be all alone, moya dragotsennost. And then, by no choice, you'll have to run to me. And I won't even have to tell you I told you so." The smug look on his face made my blood boil, but I refused to engage further. I knew my decisions were for the best, and I would stand by them no matter what.

I got up and left. But before I left, I said two last words to him without even looking him in the eye. "Fucking izmennik." (Traitor)

I could see the disappointment in his eyes as I walked away, knowing that my words had hit their mark. Betrayal stung, and so did words. I knew what I was doing. And I am in the right mind. Right?