Chapter 7

• Elisa closed her eyes, sighing with relief at the relaxation that voice brought her.
• Andrei set his glass on the table beside him and stood up, walking briskly toward the pole. He was angry at the lack of character and dignity in her display. Plus, he was bothered by seeing her dirty.
• She could hear his footsteps being muffled by the music, not wanting anyone else to humiliate her or force her onto that pole again. Perhaps they had come to kill her for giving such a depressing performance, and that thought filled her with strange anxiety.
• But instead of harming her, the brunette took her in his arms to lift her up.
• He wasn't going to give anyone explanations for his action; let them think what they wanted. The situation had gone too far, and there had been too much show for the night.
• Elisa looked at the face that didn't look at her. She felt small and vulnerable in those arms. Anyway, she thanked him for getting her out of there because she wouldn't know how to do it herself.
• When her eyes began to fill with tears, she remembered the time he had silenced her.
• She didn't want to anger him, not after he had protected her... Maybe he didn't want to protect her, but she wanted to believe that was the case because it was the only thing that made her feel a little warmth in her body.
• Igor watched amusedly as his superior intervened, fascinated by the heroic touch Andrei had given to that pathetic situation.
• "Let the party continue!" he shouted enthusiastically. It was his party, and he wouldn't allow that dying girl to ruin his ascent.
• He looked back at the brunette, leading the girl elsewhere. He was intrigued by what he would do. Would he scold her for being stupid? Maybe finally kill her after remembering what she had done? Or would he offer her help?
• He hoped the latter was the correct option because he really wanted to see her dance on that pole.
• ...
• They arrived at a new room. He closed the door with his back and led her into another room, which was the bathroom.
• Neither of them spoke. She glanced at him occasionally, biting her lips on the edge of the bathtub, trying not to cry. He simply watched his hands fill the tub.
• "You smell bad. Did you wet yourself?" he asked.
• She quickly raised her eyes to his, struggling to see him through the tears that fought to escape.
• "Yes," she said in a whisper.
• "Undress," he straightened up, turning slightly toward her.
• Elisa shifted, feeling pain not only in her shoulder wound but also in her back and both legs after falling twice from the pole.
• Then Andrei took her again to stand her up, skillfully removing her clothes. He then put her in the bathtub and sat on the edge, watching her gasp from the heat soothing her wounds.
• The brunette ran her fingers over her lips to feel the water and smiled at that, although inside she felt shame invading her, since that man had already seen her naked twice and had never looked at her the way Kirill did, as if he didn't desire her.
• Andrei lost himself in the submerged body of the girl and felt ashamed of himself, because his mother would be disappointed in him for allowing the humiliation of that girl.
• He had always felt respect for women, mainly because his mother deserved it, and with Elisa he had been a damn fool. But he was too proud to apologize, and she was no innocent, even though she seemed like it.
• "How are your wounds?" he asked from his place.
• "I hadn't felt them until I walked..." she replied, looking at him shyly, still with a hoarse voice because her throat wouldn't allow more.
• "Are you thirsty?" Her lips were dry and cracked, it was evident.
• She nodded. He smiled.
• "Enjoy the bath, I'll be back in a moment." Going for food and water for her would be his way of apologizing.
• Elisa watched him leave with wide eyes, confused and deeply grateful at the same time. She smiled, looking at her hands under the water, feeling butterflies in her stomach.
• Unconsciously, she began to wash her face better to look prettier, because she knew she looked awful and suddenly wanted to look better, because she was being given the opportunity for that.
• "Take food and drinks to the guest room near mine," Andrei explained to one of his maids. The servants, who were few, lived in a house next to his and only appeared in his lair when he requested it. "Take some first aid supplies for deep wounds as well. I don't think I have those things in my bathroom.”
• She was trying to remember what else she might need.
• "Do you need anything else?"
• The taller man looked at the only person allowed into his room and shook his head.
• The woman bowed and went to get what had been requested. She re-entered her home and headed to the party; everyone seemed to have forgotten the pole incident.
• "What happened to the girl?" Igor appeared, drinking from his glass.
• Andrei glanced at him before speaking.
• "You're taking too many liberties too quickly, Igor," he said sharply. "I don't recall telling you to bring that woman in that condition. Was that the show you were referring to? Because if so, I don't like that kind of spectacle."
• "Sorry," Igor said cautiously, "but you didn't tell me to clean her up and feed her. I didn't want to do anything without you saying so, since she's Kirill's killer..." He hated having to lower himself when talking to Andrei, enough of that he had to deal with the late dark-haired man. He had rushed and forgotten that he was not Andrei's friend like Kirill.
• "Alright, next time be more careful," Andrei said, pouring himself a glass of whiskey. "Keep enjoying the party."
• Igor looked at his glass, at least he could watch the dancer dance.
• ...
• She had her eyes closed, opting to fully feel the warmth of the water embracing her, comforting her a little. Her muscles had relaxed, and with them, the pain from her wounds and bruises as well.
• Andrei had already entered the bathroom, observing her as relaxed as he had only seen her when he first met her, sleeping like a baby safe from the world, calm and at peace.
• He left a loose sports shorts and a t-shirt on a table, which he was sure would fit her, along with some slippers on the floor. Then, he placed two towels near the bathtub before leaving.
• He didn't plan to interrupt her tranquility after having distressed her for forty-eight hours.
• Elisa opened her eyes when she felt the water cooling down, and when she did, she noticed the things he had left for her. She smiled when she saw the clothes and towels, standing up with pain but not enough to fall into the bathtub.
• She dressed and stepped out of the bathroom, finding herself in another room that seemed cozy, unlike the previous one. There was a table with fruit juice and food.
• "You took your time."
• She turned towards the voice speaking to her, finding Andrei leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, and she couldn't feel more nervous.
• "I think I fell asleep," she said, clutching the towels to her lap. "Thank you for all this..."
• "There's nothing to thank me for. Your wounds need attention," he said, taking her shoulder to inspect the wound, pushing aside the bandage that bothered her. "Both of them, and you need to eat," he added, glancing a little further down.
• She nodded, trying to avoid his gaze and gradually returning to him. His voice evoked a delicious sensation of respect and fear.
• Andrei also nodded and turned to leave, heading back to the party.
• "Wait," she called out after hesitating for just a second. He stopped in his tracks, raising an eyebrow to turn slightly.
• "What's your name?" she asked.
• The brunette let out a laugh, turning a little further with that raised, inquisitive eyebrow.
• "Andrei."
• Elisa licked her lips, trying to gather the courage to ask him something else.
• "Were you a friend of...?"
• "Yes, I was a friend of the guy you killed," he guessed what she was referring to.