Amanda timidly opened the door, still not entirely sure she should. The woman looked her up and down with not-so-subtle disdain.
“Where is Viktor?” she asked flatly, with a distinct Russian accent.
“Umm. He’s not here right now, he’s at work,” Amanda answered somewhat sheepishly, wondering who this woman was to Viktor and if maybe she was a distant relative of some sort.
“Hmm.” The woman seemed irritated by the answer. “I’ll wait.” She pushed past Amanda and simply walked inside. Amanda followed her into the living room, not knowing what she should do.
“Bring me a tea,” the woman demanded as she sat on the sofa and pulled out her phone.
Amanda stood, stunned for a few seconds. The woman looked up at her with utter disgust. “What are you waiting for?”
Amanda put the hot water on and then went to her room to get her phone so she could text Viktor. When she picked up her phone she saw she had a text. Viktor was on his way home. Amanda decided to just let Viktor handle it when he got there and went back to the kitchen to prepare the rude woman’s tea.
She brought the tea out to the living room on a platter with milk and sugar and set it on the coffee table in front of her. She then trepidatiously took a seat in the matching white leather armchair, feeling like perhaps she should try to break the ice.
“So … how do you know Viktor?” she asked.
The woman shot daggers at Amanda. “How is that your business? Don’t you have something to do? Run along.” She waved her hand, gesturing for Amanda to leave.
Amanda was in shock at being so insolently treated. Without knowing who this woman was, though, she didn’t dare give a response. She simply left the woman alone and waited for Viktor to arrive.
10 minutes later, Amanda heard Viktor enter through the garage. She met him in the hallway to tell him about the woman but it appeared he already knew.
“Where is she?” he asked, not seeming pleased.
“In the living room,” Amanda answered.
“Are you okay?” he then asked.
“Yeah. I’m fine,” she answered, not wanting to go into the horrible treatment she received just then.
“All right. Come on.” He held her hand and walked to the living room. When he got there he told her to wait on the edge of the room as he walked over to confront the woman on his couch.
As soon as the woman saw Viktor she became a completely different person. The arrogant and rude woman disappeared, replaced by a warm, sweet and gentle woman. She began speaking to him in Russian as she walked up to him, appearing as though she were trying to entreat him.
“Why are you here?” he asked her in English.
She seemed only slightly affected by his curt rebuff. She continued speaking to him Russian. Amanda had no idea what the woman was saying but by her body language she wanted something from Viktor that he didn’t want to give.
“Speak English,” he then demanded.
That seemed to set her back on her heels and she took a minute to respond. She continued in Russian and he repeated his demand. “Why do I have to speak English?” she finally asked, looking perturbed.
“Because it’s rude,” he replied.
“Rude? Rude to who?” she asked, losing patience.
“To her,” he gestured to Amanda.
“Why are we talking in front of your maid?” she angrily asked.
“She is not my maid. She is my girlfriend.”
She laughed. “This is a joke?”
“Why are you here?” he asked again.
Her smile faded. “You’re not joking.” Her eyes glared at Amanda. “You’re dating her?” she said as though he had lost his mind.
“If that’s all, you can leave now,” he declared.
“Is this why you broke up with me?” she asked.
“No.”
“How long have you been dating?” she then asked, not believing him. When he didn’t answer she turned to Amanda. “Let me guess. About 4 months?”
Amanda was surprised and a little concerned that she knew that and the expression on her face revealed the answer even if she didn’t say it.
“Scotland, right?” she then asked.
Amanda glanced at Viktor, feeling uneasy about what she was inferring.
“It’s over, Tatiana. Just go,” Viktor said.
Releasing a wry laugh, Tatiana glanced between the two. She then turned her gaze to Amanda. “If he dumped me. Do you really think he won’t leave you?”
“Get out,” Viktor said forcefully.
“No,” Tatiana objected. “She deserves to know.” Tatiana walked right up to Amanda. “We dated for three years. He told me he loved me. He broke up with me after he met you in Scotland. Do you really think you’ll last three years?” She asked as she gestured up and down at Amanda, clearly referencing her appearance.
Finally losing patience, Viktor took Tatiana by the arm and practically dragged her to the front door. He forced her out and shut the door.
“You’ll regret this, Viktor!” she shouted. “You know you won’t be happy with her!” She began cursing in Russian as she walked back to her car in the driveway.
Viktor stood for a minute to compose himself while Amanda watched on, looking dazed.
“That’s my ex-girlfriend,” Viktor stated.
“I gathered,” Amanda replied and then waited for him to say something.
He still looked agitated and she wondered if he was angry with her for letting Tatiana
