A Collection of Short Stories

Mafia Leader 4

Juliette

I don't know what's wrong with me.

I want to be in a relationship with Nikolai.

It's like my psyche doesn't realize what kind of person he is when he's not with me. I would say it's maddening but I'm at the point where I don't care. I want that label, I want this life with him, whatever it'll look like.

I look at the time for the hundredth time in the last hour. It's my last class of the day and I'm finally feeling brave enough to tell Nikolai how I've been feeling. I know how he'll react, I don't know why I'm so nervous.

I check the time again.

Three more minutes.

I look up at the powerpoint slide discussing the complement cascade of the immune system and decide that I can study this on my own. I pack up my stuff and leave, calling Nikolai on my way out. He picks up on the third ring.

"Hey, baby," His smooth voice makes my toes curl.

I smile. "Hi. Can I come see you?"

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah, everything's fine."

He's silent for a moment. "Why do you want to come see me?"

So I can tell you what I want before I lose my bravery.

"Cause I want to. Do you not want me to? I guess I can wait until you get home," I tell him, beginning to feel deflated.

"I feel like there's something you're not telling me," He teases.

"Can I come to your office or not?"

He chuckles. "Yes, you can. I'll send a car over."

"You don't have to-"

"Wait for Ilya on the street closest to your building."

He ends the call and I sigh. So bossy.

I only wait for ten minutes before seeing the car. Ilya gets out and opens the door for me.

"Hello, Juliette," He says, his Russian accent thick.

I grin at him as I get in the car. "Nice to see you, Ilya."

"And you, too."

He gets in and pulls off the curb. "I've never been to his office before."

Ilya looks at me in the rearview mirror. "It is nice."

"Is he messy?"

He chuckles, looking back at the road. "Mr. Volkov likes things neat."

I smile at his use of Nikolai's last name. "You've known him a while, right?"

He nods. "Yes."

"He never tells me about Russia."

"Not much to tell."

"That's what Nikolai says."

Ilya shrugs. "It is truth."

I sigh. "I want him to tell me stories from his childhood. Do you think he ever will?"

He meets my eyes in the rearview mirror again. "Give him time."

I nod before looking out the window. It's not much longer until we're pulling up in front of a nightclub. I get out and Ilya leads me inside. I look around the empty building as we walk upstairs. All the lights are on but I can imagine it's a nice atmosphere when it's open.

We reach the top of the stairs and Ilya motions to a door at the end of the hall.

I glance from him to the door. "Should I knock?"