Faithful

Chapter Twenty Seven

I opened my eyes to find me still naked but in mine and Viktor's room, not the room I was in before. I looked to the left at the digital clock residing on the bedside table, four O'clock in the afternoon. I slowly got up from the bed, my legs shaking but still able to walk slowly and went into the bathroom for a shower. I must have spent twenty minutes just relaxing and letting the water run down my body before finally washing my hair and body since I was a sweaty mess.

I didn't bother calling the girls since I didn't really want to talk about what happened. I surprisingly didn't feel disgusted in myself but I certainly felt drained. I found some clean and comfy underwear to put on and threw on a simple black day dress. I wasn't stable enough for heels so I found a pair of black flats that the girls and I had hid so Viktor couldn't throw them away. I dried my hair, made sure I looked presentable and opened the door. Cordelia scared the shit out of me when I saw her stood directly out of the door.

"Shit Cordie," I screamed, "you trying to give me a heart attack?" She didn't say anything, she just stood there looking like she was about to break down into tears. I gave her a hug and whispered, "I'm completely fine, what's done is done." I knew she'd started to cry when I heard her sniffling away. "I saw... when he carried you out whilst you were unconscious," she sobbed, "wearing nothing but a skimpy sheet he'd covered you in... why, why did he let them do that to you?"

"He didn't want to... I was the one who agreed to it," I sighed, "they'll leave us alone now for a couple of months... but the weddings being postponed a year, I lost the bet... but I knew I would." She finally let me go. "Go dry your tears, take a break and tell them I've permitted it but please don't tell the girls... not yet anyway," I whispered. She nodded and went off in the opposite direction to where I was heading. Within a blur I was at Viktor's office and went straight in.

He was sat with his head down on the desk refusing to look up. "I THOUGHT I SAID FOR NO ONE TO BOTHER ME!" He growled. "Sorry... I just woke up, I didn't know you didn't want to be disturbed," I whispered from the other side of the room, looking down to the floor... he must be angry, I'd be angry. "Annabelle..." he breathed, "you're... you're awake." I looked up to see his eyes piercing through me. All the emotions I'd been holding back came flooding to my eyes. I ran towards him, wrapping my arms around him when I had reached him.

"Annabelle... I am never putting you through anything like that again," he cried. A tear fell down his face. "V...Viktor... you're crying," I sobbed. He cupped his hands on my cheeks and whispered, "I let them rape you... what I let them do to you is disgusting Annabelle... I will NEVER forgive myself for this!" I snuggled my face into the palm of his hand and kissed it. "If you won't forgive yourself then let me forgive you," I whispered, "I love you." He looked at me in shock for a moment but softened and brought me towards himself. "I love you too... yes we have to wait a year to get married and yes there are two other men crazy about you but I will never let them touch you again," he vowed and placing his soft lips on my own.

I snuggled down getting myself really comfy and sighed contently in his arms. "Can I have a coffee?" I asked, "and some tea cakes would be awesome!" He chuckled and pressed the buzzer for Ivan to come. I didn't even turn around, I didn't want to look at anyone else... only him. He spent his time gently stoking my cheek with the back of his finger, whispering sweet nothings into my ear as we sat in silence. Unfortunately, our peace was short lived when we heard a commotion. Viktor rose from his seat with me in his arms and rushed towards the door.

He kicked the office door open and screamed, "what is the meaning of this!" There was were a few guards pinning down some men who were kicking and doing everything they possibly could to wriggle free. Well I say men... they were more like boys! "These kids thought it would be funny to sneak onto our territory try to steal some of our possessions!" One of the guards answered, pushing one the lads heads down onto the ground harder. He began to cry. Viktor gently put me down and I instantly knelt to the floor to take a look at the boys.