Chapter 27
Tengiz, who had been dozing off, perked up as Daniel appeared. He stood up, stretching his legs which had grown stiff from sitting too long.
"Where to next?" Daniel asked, lacking enthusiasm.
"Back to the apartment," Tengiz replied calmly, devoid of the underlying irritation that Daniel had noticed in Maxim's attitude. Tengiz was certainly a more pleasant companion compared to the previous bodyguard. Daniel couldn't pinpoint what had triggered Maxim's reaction, whether it was his past prison time or his relationship with Alexander. However, that was irrelevant now as he never crossed paths with Maxim again.
Upon entering the living room, Daniel was taken aback and nearly stumbled, only to be caught just in time by Tengiz. The reason for his surprise was evident: seated at the table were two people - the cold and aloof Georgy, and a short-haired woman he didn't recognize.
"Hello," Daniel greeted them cautiously.
"Hello, Daniel. I'm Nastya," she said, rising gracefully from her chair. She approached him with an assertive handshake, a gesture that caught him off guard. In Russia, it was uncommon for women to shake hands.
"Pleasure to meet you, Nastya," Daniel replied, shaking her slender hand with uncertainty. He glanced briefly at the still cold Georgy, who managed a subdued "hello," before moving to the table.
"Likewise. I bet my name sounds a bit unusual to American ears," Nastya remarked with a wide smile, her less conventionally attractive face suddenly glowing with a hidden allure.
"I'm half Russian, so it fits just fine," Daniel responded, taking his seat. He felt increasingly uncomfortable due to the stark difference in their behaviors.
"So, that's what you look like," Nastya quipped cryptically as she settled down, fixing her gaze unashamedly on him. "You're quite fortunate with your natural coloring, Daniel. The combination of blue eyes and black hair is rare, and your fair skin only accentuates the contrast."
"Nastya," Georgy chided, his tone tinged with disapproval. "Why?"
"Thank you," Daniel responded, his cheeks coloring with embarrassment as he averted his gaze from her intense eyes. They held a depth of emotion that was hard to read, something intimate and on the verge of revelation. Nastya brushed off Georgy's concern and continued in a composed manner.
"I'm Georgy's younger sister and a close friend of Sasha's. We've been friends since childhood, which is why I wanted to meet you. But I won't put you on the spot any longer."
Daniel was surprised, only just realizing their familial connection. While Georgy had clearly inherited the favorable genetic lottery with his handsome, masculine features, Nastya seemed to have drawn the short straw with her prominent chin, sizable nose, petite brown eyes, and broad cheekbones. Her short haircut, rather than complementing her, seemed to accentuate her lack of traditional femininity - in a business suit, Nastya could easily pass as a man.
"Done?" Georgy inquired, a hint of annoyance evident in his voice. Upon receiving a nod from Nastya, he cut to the chase. "Daniel, Sasha mentioned today that you're demanding to start working. What the fuck, huh?"
"I'm not demanding, just asking," Daniel corrected with caution. "There's a significant difference."
"Why do you want a job?" Georgy asked, narrowing his eyes in scrutiny.
"To avoid going stir-crazy doing nothing," Daniel responded curtly, sensing the need to stand firm at this pivotal moment. "If you believe a man can find fulfillment bouncing between a beautician and a therapist, you're mistaken."
"I had a feeling you'd be trouble," Georgy remarked, his jowls tensing as he spoke. "They won't assign you any important tasks, mark my words. I won't let you jeopardize another critical project."
"Gosha," Nastya interjected, shaking her head. "Why are you being so confrontational? His request is entirely reasonable; I'd go mad with such a lifestyle too."
"Nastya, stay out of this!" Georgy snapped, leaning forward. Daniel felt the urge to retreat but held his ground. "Your role, Daniel, is to wear a smile and keep Sasha happy, understand? Push your boundaries, and you'll find trouble, I assure you," he warned, brandishing his hefty fist.
"My life's a curious mix," Daniel smirked, masking any hint of fear. "One moment I'm seeing a therapist, and the next, I'm being strong-armed. It's a strange juxtaposition, but I won't argue. If that's your only input, Georgy, I'd like to wrap up this conversation."
"Let's go, Gosha," Nastya rose promptly, not waiting for her brother. "There's no need to be aggressive; he's still healing. Daniel, don't take offense at Gosha. He's just concerned about Sasha, that's all."
"Nastya, why are you meddling? I shouldn't have brought you," Georgy abruptly stood up, the chair behind him clattering to the floor.
Startled, Daniel instinctively backed away, fists raised and breathing heavily. The sudden noise and the swift movement from Georgy had triggered his fight-or-flight response instantly. Even Georgy seemed shocked by Daniel's reaction, and Nastya appeared equally stunned. Both were left speechless. Sensing the need to distance himself from Georgy, Daniel turned towards his bedroom, driven by his instinct to seek safety. Georgy, regaining his composure, spoke in a measured tone.
"Listen, Daniel. Maybe it's best you hold off on working, at least for now. You seem on edge, reacting strongly to minor disturbances. Consider therapy to get yourself back on track before diving back into work."
Nastya, her face pale, remained silent, her brown eyes filled with pity as she stared at Daniel. Without uttering a word, Daniel retreated into his bedroom, slamming the door shut in his embarrassment. He felt humiliated by his intense reaction, revealing his vulnerabilities to someone as domineering as Georgy. He blamed his recent therapy sessions for making him more susceptible. As the front door softly clicked shut, signaling the departure of the guests, Daniel sank to his knees, huddled in a ball, and let out a soft whimper. Overwhelming despair engulfed him; he felt he'd flunked a crucial test and worsened the situation. In this setting, vulnerability was magnified, making it impossible to detach or function mechanically. Anyone could strike, whether physically or verbally, adding to his distress.
Tengiz, entering the bedroom unannounced due to the alarming noise, looked visibly unsure how to comfort him. Yet, Daniel felt no shame in Tengiz's presence. Perhaps it was akin to the indifference he felt towards prison guards - observing without intervening or passing judgment, merely executing their duties coldly.
Daniel remained on the floor for a long time, until the discomfort forced him to shift. Slowly rising with the support of the bed, he clumsily climbed onto it, taking a moment to regain his composure.
"I've informed Alexander," Tengiz mentioned hesitantly, though Daniel was well aware that his actions were constantly being monitored. "He mentioned he'd arrive shortly. They've also brought lunch. Please consider eating."
"I'm not hungry, thanks," Daniel responded, pulling the blanket around himself, allowing sleep to wash over him. The tension in his muscles began to dissipate as he drifted into slumber. Following the intense emotional outburst, a familiar void settled in. His thoughts meandered aimlessly, failing to form coherent narratives. Various images flashed through his mind: Georgy's prominent jawline, the flickering screen of the office laptop, the deteriorating gray wall, disjointed memories of Sennoy's contorted face in a scream, the sparkle of a diamond on Ksenia's pink earring amidst her blonde hair, and the haunting, lifeless visage of his late grandmother.
In panic, Daniel sought refuge in his mind's protective recesses, a sanctuary always available to shield him from life's challenges. There, he took a deep breath, finding a momentary reprieve and relaxation.
"Danny, Danny," a familiar voice pierced through the haze, pulling Daniel from his detached reverie. He found himself staring into Alexander's concerned eyes. The unusual earnestness in Alexander's typically reserved expression demanded his attention. There was a noticeable shift in how Alexander felt towards him, leaving Daniel curious about the implications.
"Danny, are you all right? Should I get you a sedative? Speak up. I've been trying to get through to you for several minutes, you seemed completely unresponsive. Don't worry about Gosha anymore; I've spoken to him; he will not scare you again. Despite his stern appearance, he's genuinely kind."
"Please, I'd like to be alone tonight," Daniel mumbled, pulling a pillow over his head.
"No, you shouldn't be alone. You need to eat and lift your spirits," Alexander replied, feigning cheerfulness while appearing genuinely lost. It was evident he hadn't quite mastered the art of comforting someone, still unaccustomed to it. Daniel could see through the act despite his emotional turmoil. "Afterwards, have a glass of wine, indulge in a hot bath, and perhaps watch a good movie."
"And you've got work to attend to," Daniel remarked dryly, reluctantly finding comfort in Alexander's warm embrace. "I'm okay."
"You're not okay, so stop insisting that you are. They can manage without me for today," Alexander slipped his arms beneath Daniel and hoisted him up, swaying slightly on his feet. "Lunch's ready; let's eat, all right?"
Daniel regarded him with weariness, finding it hard to understand this enigmatic man. Just yesterday, Alexander had been terse, but now he was speaking to him with tenderness, seemingly trying to connect for some reason. Everything felt absurdly distorted, nonlinear, like a dream. Perhaps Daniel should treat it all as a dream, not taking things to heart, adopting a passive observer stance, and only waking up when truly free, this time from real, not imagined, confines. As Daniel lifted his hand to brush away the blond locks falling over his forehead, Alexander froze, pulling him closer with a nearly breathless look of joyous surprise.
"I don't want to wake up," Daniel whispered softly, letting his hand fall limp.
"You can rest later," Alexander said, letting out a sigh of relief, having obviously misunderstood him. "First, let's have lunch."
Later, as they lay in bed post-lunch, following their wine-bath-movie routine, Alexander nestled his strong, energetic body against Daniel's relaxed form. He gently stroked Daniel's back and whispered reassuringly, "Things will improve. You're doing well with the therapy, Danny. Initial setbacks are common; don't let them scare you. I'll make sure no one intimidates you. You're safe here with me."
Daniel listened, taking in the fresh scent of Alexander's clean body mixed with the faint aroma of lemon from the shower gel. He remained silent, allowing himself to be comforted. There was no need for words. In the dreamlike state he found himself in, active participation wasn't required. He'd simply go along with the current, trusting it to eventually lead him to safety. Resisting the inevitable was futile. The key was to stay on track and subtly influence Alexander both directly and indirectly. Alexander was already starting to see him not just as a beautiful thief who can be toyed with and broken.
A minor breakthrough in Project Liberty.
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