Looking For The Light Chapter 13 - Viktoriya

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            Viktoriya had never been the type to indulge in retail therapy, but as she walked out of her fourth Parisian boutique, she was starting to see the appeal.  There were several bags on her arm, some from vintage clothing store, others from the bakery – the place that did the most help so far, a shoe store, and most recently, a lingerie boutique that Vikenti was surprisingly comfortable in.  Viktoriya didn’t even know why he dragged her in there.

            “What’s the point, Vikenti?  We’re probably breaking up.  I bet he’s packing right now.” She sighed.  Viktoriya didn’t believe her own words, but she wanted to hear her friend argue.

“You aren’t breaking up, Viktoriya. Stop being ridiculous.  Besides, you wore things like this long before you started seeing Eli.” Vikenti shook his head.  He had bought some things of his own, but she hadn’t seen what.  Vikenti had been up to something recently, but she didn’t know what.  He was amazing at keeping secrets when he wanted.

“Do you think I was wrong?” She sighed. “Should I apologize?”

“Do you think you were wrong?” Vikenti countered.

“Well… No.  I just… It’s been so hard getting time alone with him, without everything else going on interrupting us.  But, with what he said… Do you really think he believes I just want him as some sexual conquest?”  Viktoriya tried to stay mad as Vikenti laughed, but his smile drove the anger away.

“Sexual conquests are a night in a club.  You are in a relationship.  A good one.  But even good ones have fights.  You both want the same thing.  It’s obvious.  You always look like you want to rip his clothes off, and he’s always trying to touch you as much as possible.  It’s not easy living in a hotel like we are.  Especially with the ‘we’ that we are.”  Vikenti put his arm around her, giving Viktoriya half of a hug.

“So you are saying that neither of us is wrong?” She looked up at him skeptically.

“Or both.  You are both frustrated, and this was just the thing that sparked the fight.  You and Eli just need to talk about it calmly.  And I’ll talk to Gregori about leaving you and Eli alone.” Vikenti told her after planting a kiss on her temple.

“Why did you tell me to lie to Eli?  I don’t feel right about that.”  Viktoriya pulled them into another store, this one selling imported books.  It reminded her of Eli.  Maybe she’d find him something, as an apology.

“It’s not a lie.  Gregori did say some hate filled things about me.  But Eli doesn’t need to know that Gregori doesn’t trust him.  He probably would pack his things.  He’s got enough to worry about, he doesn’t need to feel unsafe in his own home.  Not again.”  Vikenti browsed the shelves, picking up a few books.

“Is it really better that he thinks Gregori is his friend?” She looked up from paging through a book.

“He does not think Gregori is his friend.  There is no question about that.” Vikenti offered a book from another shelf.  “I think he would like this one.  And I also think you have a serious decision to make about Gregori’s conduct.”

Viktoriya hesitated to take the book from Vikenti.  They hadn’t talked about operations in a long time, not since they first arrived in Paris, and they rarely discussed matters of conduct.  He had a few years of service on her, so she usually took his advice, but it came so rarely that she was always surprised.  “Do you think I should issue a formal reprimand?”

“A formal reprimand should have happened four years ago.  He should have been written out during training, but he is your responsibility now, Viktoriya.”  Vikenti tried not to be harsh with her, but his look was firm.  She could only nod.

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