He arrived outside Amanda’s apartment Saturday morning just as the sun was beginning to rise. His plans were to take her out for breakfast and then bring her to Charles River Esplanade where he would formally propose. He parked his Jeep on the street and sat for a minute feeling nervous and excited at the same time. He slipped the ring in his pocket and was about to get out when he saw Derek leaving Amanda’s apartment building. He almost thought he was seeing things.
Viktor stared as Derek walked down the sidewalk, right past him and got into a vehicle parked a few cars behind and left. There was no doubt who it was. The only question Viktor had was, what was he doing here? Viktor sat for about 5 minutes feeling stunned and confused.
He slowly got out and went to Amanda’s apartment, feeling like something just wasn’t right. He knocked on her door and waited. A minute later the door opened and there stood Amanda in her pajamas looking totally surprised.
“You didn’t tell me you were back!” she exclaimed as she opened her arms to hug him.
He stepped inside and hugged her despite how suspicious and jealous he felt in that moment. She pulled away and her smile slowly faded as she looked at him.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
He took a few seconds to respond, “What was Derek doing here?”
“Derek?”
“Yeah.”
She took a step back. “Derek wasn’t here.”
“I just saw him.”
“Well, you’re mistaken.”
“I’m not.”
“Viktor, you met the man once for 10 seconds.”
“That was long enough,” Viktor angrily replied. “I know what I saw, Amanda. Tell me what he was doing here!”
“Okay, whoa.” She put her hands up. “Are you accusing me of something?”
“Are you guilty of something?”
She looked at him like he had 10 heads. “Have you lost your mind?”
“Is that why you want to keep working? So you can keep seeing him?”
“Viktor, I filed a complaint against him! Why would he be at my house?” she yelled.
“Well maybe you changed your mind about him. Maybe you realized you like him … Good looking man, showing you attention. It’s not unheard of.”
She turned and stepped away. “I can’t believe I’m hearing this. You’re out of your mind.”
“Do you expect me to believe that he just happened to be here visiting some other random person who lives here?”
With a look of dismay she replied, “I expect you to believe me.”
“Well why don’t we call and ask him what he was doing here?”
“No! We’re not going to call him!” she replied, appearing disgusted by the suggestion. “Why won’t you believe me?”
After a minute of silent, angry staring, Viktor calmly suggested, “Amanda, if you made a mistake …”
“Get out,” she spat in her anger but then immediately regretted it when he turned and opened the door. “Viktor, wait!”
He walked out without looking back and she ran after him.
“Viktor, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that.” He kept walking without acknowledging her. “Viktor, stop!” She ran to him and tried to grab his arm but he pushed her off and kept going. “I’m sorry. Don’t go like this,” she pleaded.
He stood at the elevator and refused to look at her as she continued to plead with him to stay and talk it out. The doors opened and she tried to follow him in but he pushed her out. She was crying and begging now at this point but it had no effect. He didn’t even look at her as the doors closed.
Amanda went quickly to the stairwell and ran down to the first floor, hoping to catch up to him. He was on the sidewalk, almost at his car, when she caught up to him. She grabbed his arm, imploring him not to leave. He pushed her off again and got in his Jeep and drove off, leaving her standing on the sidewalk, sobbing.
She went back to her apartment and tried calling him. She texted him that she was sorry and begged him to call her. She then called her mother in tears and told her what had happened.
“Mom, he was so angry,” she cried. “I’ve never seen him that way.”
“I’m so sorry, honey. That doesn’t even sound like him.”
“Why won’t he believe me?”
“We all have insecurities. Maybe one of his has gotten the better of him,” Brenda reasoned.
“What can I do? He won’t even talk to me.”
“Give him a few hours to cool down before you try again.”
Amanda dried her eyes. “Okay.”
Viktor returned to his apartment and immediately started drinking. He didn’t even bother getting a glass, he just took out a bottle of vodka and drank until he passed out. When he woke up he saw he had 25 text messages from Amanda, 12 missed calls and 4 voicemails. He put his phone back down without reading them.
He stumbled to the kitchen and opened his fridge. He glanced around, looking for something to eat and then decided he wasn’t hungry after all and grabbed a beer instead. He popped the cap and chugged half the bottle. He was about to finish it when the intercom rang from the front door. He walked to a screen built into the wall and saw Amanda on camera waiting at the door. He walked away and finished the beer.
Amanda tried the intercom again but Viktor wouldn’t answer. She saw his Jeep in the garage and knew he was there. She banged on the door until one of the security guards came.
“I need to speak with Viktor Dostoyinsky,” she told the guard, her eyes and face red and puffy. “He’s not answering. Can you please call him? It’s really important.”
Seeing the state of Amanda, the guard figured she was telling the truth and escorted her to a desk where he looked up Viktor’s number and then dialed it.
“Yes, Mr. Dostoyinsky. This is Adam at the
