For fuck’s sake. I wanted a divorce, not the third degree.
“Yes.” A simple word but the right one.
“Divorce and amicable,” I reminded her. “We can sort out the assets and forward the documents.”
“That would satisfy the courts. You’re petitioning unreasonable behaviour, correct?”
“Yes,” we both echoed.
“You’re in agreement to dissolve the partnership, the unreasonable behaviour citation should make it so you don’t have to wait the twenty-four-month period to apply. As soon as I submit the petition, you will be legally recognised as separated. You are the petitioner, Mr Ischmov?”
“Yes.”
“How long?” Irina asked, shifting in her seat, looking uncomfortable as hell.
“Six months would be the quickest, I expect. As I mentioned, it all looks relatively straightforward. I see no problems which would cause any delays, the petition should be granted so long as the paperwork is correct and the assets and such are agreed upon already.”
“Consider it done,” I smiled but fuck, six months, really?
“Is there anything else?” Smarmy cocksucker.
“Nope.”
Stepping out of the room with Irina in front of me, I offered lunch, feeling it was the least I could do. There was no reason we couldn’t be civil to one another. She agreed, and we walked to a quiet café a couple of streets away that smelled delicious from the outside, and even better inside. I guided her to a table to the side of the large room, the booth against a wall, facing out into the rest of the area.
“You happy with what the lawyer said?” I asked once seated and our orders were taken.
“Sure. There’s nothing complicated to it, is there?”
“You’re going to see him, aren’t you?”
“Yes, I am. I don’t really have a choice now, do I?”
“When?”
“Not sure. Next couple of days, I guess. Need to phone the old git first, make sure he’s still breathing.” She was lying and there was no reason for it unless she knew I’d beaten her to the punch, she hated being on the back foot. Whether she’d called Lev or texted him, she’d been in touch already. There was no reason for her to wait around.
“Listen. I know this isn’t what you want but surely you understood it was always going to be this way. Nothing was ever conventional for us no matter how many years passed. They forced my hand from the beginning. I had another life, Irina, and they took it from me. Nothing will be the same, but I want it back and that means having no involvement with you, or Lev or any of this godforsaken organisation. Try to understand, it’s all I ask.”
“Of course.” She swiped her hair from her forehead, a dramatic gesture more than one of need. “I get it.”
“You don’t love me, Irina.”
“You’re right, maybe I don’t,” she sneered. “But it doesn’t mean this is easy.” The coffee and sandwiches arrived, both of us concentrating on doctoring the black liquid in the cups. I leaned over the table and spoke in a low voice. “If you put a hit on any of them, I will come for you personally. Do you hear me?”
“Give over yourself, Yannick. If I wanted you dead all I’d needed to do was plunge my dagger in your chest any night you climbed into our bed. I had fifteen years to do it. If I didn’t then, I’m not going to now. I can’t speak for Lev, he’s out of my control. What he says is law, so maybe quit with the threats and direct them where they’re meaningful. I have no reason to put a bullseye on any of you, it serves me no purpose.” Finally, a brief glimpse into what was going through her head.
“You don’t need to speak for Lev, I’ve been up to the house already.”
“Is he of sound mind?” She wasn’t surprised at my confession, doing little to hide her reaction.
“He sounded solid, yes. It’s just his body that’s giving up the ghost. Sergey was doing more running around than usual.”
Sergey kept regular updates with Irina even though she never saw her grandfather more than once a year, if he was lucky, and if she could help it. Sergey was also the one who relayed Lev’s will and instructions, understandably, the relationship between grandfather and granddaughter was bare bones at best. Yet Lev had spoken fondly of Irina for a change, in such a way I’d never heard before.
For a moment, sitting in that café with Irina, it felt like trying to escape this life was simply too much hassle. But then a woman with hair in ridiculously cute buns and a kiss that shattered my brittle heart, popped into my head, and walking away was absolutely worth any amount of grief that came with it.
I wanted simple and honest, and I wanted Jolie.
“What has you smiling?” Irina pointed her spoon in my direction, coffee dripping from the end. “Or who?”
“Nothing and nobody.” I shrugged.
“You forget I know you well, Yan. Spill.”
“Cut it out, there’s nothing to spill. Whatever is going on in my personal life is none of your business. We’re not bosom buddies.”
“So, there is someone?”
“There’s no one.” The lie tasted bitter rolling off my tongue, yet I didn’t regret it. Jolie was definitely someone, and I desperately wanted her to be someone to me.
“Tayte’s been hanging around the house, he’s pissing me off.” Irina rolled her eyes, then took a bite of her chicken wrap.
“I asked him to.”
“I can take care of myself. I don’t need your guard dog spying on me or interrupting me when I’m mid fuck on my own kitchen table. Half an orgasm, Yannick. It’s Tayte’s fault I’m grumpy today.”
I barked out a laugh, she’d long ago been unable to shock me with her sexual escapades.
