Indulgent (EN)

Chapter 4

Leo

2021

I was following Amelia's taxi, noticing that it wasn't heading toward her home. Clenching my jaw in anger, I drove after it without even trying to stay inconspicuous. This girl was clearly asking for trouble today.

For the past few weeks, I hadn't taken my eyes off her. At the same time, I was handling my own business, crafting a plan to win her heart, and actively creating problems for her father. The challenge was that many high-ranking officials in law enforcement were long since bought by Alexander Markevich. I had to seek support from their deputies, make personnel changes, and only then did his actual persecution begin.

I had connections too, but this operation required time, persistence, and cunning. To remove the police chief of the Kyiv district, I had to dig up compromising material. After that, I targeted the sanitation control, labor inspection, and fire safety departments. It was exhausting and expensive, but for the sake of revenge, I was willing to do anything.

That rat didn't even realize who he was dealing with. His restaurants were just a small part of the game I had started.

Amelia, on the other hand, was the picture of innocence. She attended lectures, read books in the evenings, cleaned her home, met with her friend Danya, and worked at the hospital. She gave me no reason to worry, and I had begun to relax.

I never would have guessed that she'd get involved with that idiot Nick and head to a gay club. The thought of her choosing such a place for their "date" amused me—especially since she brought her friend along. She'd never dare try something like that with me. Instead, she had Nick wrapped around her finger.

I'd stationed a constant watch near her apartment, installed an extra camera in her building's entryway and by the hospital entrance, and hacked her phone to monitor all her messages. I was one step away from breaking into her apartment to install a camera there, but I hadn't gotten around to it.

I didn't plan to be a stalker or scare her. She'd be frightened enough when she got to know me better, without these "toys." I was just worried about her and wanted to know what she was up to when I wasn't around. Watching her charming smile, unruly curls, and quirky fashion choices brought me solace.

A few days ago, I couldn't resist sending her a bouquet of flowers. I didn't want her to know they were from me; that might seem strange without a close connection. I just wanted to make her happy, to see her pale cheeks flush and her eyes light up with delight.

From across the street, I watched as the flowers were delivered to her window. Unfortunately, she immediately started texting Nick, and that pompous idiot claimed the flowers were from him. At that moment, I wanted to smash his head in, but I restrained myself. I decided I wouldn't make the same mistake again—Amelia would always know who her flowers were from.

When she and Nick arranged to meet, I had no choice but to tail them. I followed their pathetic car, and Nick didn't notice a thing. The guy had no eye for detail—he was superficial, inattentive, and overconfident, making him an easy target.

From my car, I watched the girls get tipsy while Nick, like a complete fool, sipped coffee with a dessert. He didn't even bother to cover Amelia and Danya's bill, leaving them to scramble for cash.

If Nick had dared to lay a hand on Amelia, I'd have broken his fingers. But as they headed to the club, he did take her hand—and worse, she didn't object. Could she really be into this guy?

I was so focused on their interaction that Amelia seemed to sense it and glanced around. Thankfully, she didn't spot me. Soon after, she pulled her hand away, and I breathed a sigh of relief.