ADAM
I heard the voice even before Amanda pulled away and told me who was calling.
- What did he want? - I see the girl's eyes widen, and she suddenly pulls away from me.
- I don’t know, he didn’t say anything. - the woman stands up and walks toward the sea. I follow her. This is the last thing we needed. I thought he had been behind bars for a long time.
- Amanda, don’t be afraid, he won’t do anything to you. I won’t allow it. I give you my word. - she turns back to me, and I hug her, and we stand silently for a few minutes just looking at the sea.
- I didn’t expect this return. I didn’t think Nazar would be added to all our problems. - I don’t know how he got out of prison, and whether he actually got out at all, or if it was just a phone call from the past, and he decided to play with our nerves, but it doesn’t make it any easier.
With that, all the romance is over. We grab our things and head to the car. It’s time to go home. There's still so much to do today. I need to sort out some business issues and prepare everything for the partners' ball, where Kirk will finally get what he deserves. We arrive home and drink coffee. I look at Amanda and see emptiness in her eyes.
- Amy, is everything okay? Do you need my help? - she smiles, takes a sip of her coffee, and remains silent for a while.
- No, Adam, everything is fine. I'm just thinking about the upcoming meeting. - this is something new; she hasn’t mentioned a meeting to me.
- What meeting? You didn’t tell me anything. - she stands up from the table and walks to the kitchen.
- I didn’t have time. You took me right away, and then it was a wonderful night. I just didn’t want to think about work. - I realize she doesn’t really want to talk about it now either, but I won’t wait.
- So, can you tell me now? - Amanda turns back to me and looks me straight in the eyes.
- I need to settle some issues with my partner Korniyev, so he stays that way. A lot depends on this contract. - I see her deep in thought again.
- Who is he? Do you know? - Amanda shakes her head. And I understand that it’s not all that simple. If the girl is so worried about a regular contract signing, it means something isn't ordinary.
- Ami, what do you even know about him? - she sits down next to me.
- Victoria said he’s not a very nice person, and if you translate that from her language, he is extremely unpleasant. He’s a rare scumbag that I need to meet one-on-one. - although the whole phrase sounds strange coming from her, as if it’s not my Amanda speaking. I hear something familiar in her. I hear Korniyev in her. And it sends a jolt through my body.
- Amanda, maybe you shouldn’t? Is there someone else who could do it? - I’m worried about her. I know what kind of people Korniyev was involved with. I don’t want Ami having anything to do with them.
- No, Adam, she can’t. I’m in charge of this business now, and I will conduct such meetings. - her tone becomes completely cold and utterly alien. I look at her and notice the first changes. She’s no longer the girl I loved.
This, of course, doesn't change my feelings, and it’s unlikely that anything will change them at all, but I’m concerned for her. I’m worried that she will keep the light inside that I saw during our first meeting. But she goes upstairs, changes clothes, paints her lips red, and I notice all the changes that I didn’t want to see.
- Kitten, do you want a ride? - I know she’ll refuse, but I’ll try anyway. Although I’m not ready to talk to her right now, I want to fully immerse myself in my own affairs.
- No, I don’t need it. I’ll go with my driver, don’t worry. - she kisses me, then leaves the house. And I remain alone with my coffee. I never thought I’d feel lonely again next to Amanda. I understand this is just a phase, and we need to get through it, but who knew it would be so hard. I thought the worst was behind us, but it turns out it’s still ahead.
So, I call some partners, arrange meetings, completely filling my day. Then I call Viktor. I could use a friend right now, and he’s one of the few I can genuinely trust.
- Hey, buddy, how are you? Are you in town? - Viktor answers me almost immediately.
- Yeah, what’s up? Missed me, or did you decide to invite me to a wedding? - if only he knew that no one is even talking about a wedding. Though that would make sense.
- I want to meet. I need to drink and talk to someone. - my voice probably sounds tired because Viktor doesn’t even ask what happened; he just suggests meeting at the gym where I used to train. I have two hours to stop by the office, meet with one of the partners, and then finally go to Viktor to relieve my stress.
- Adam, you look like crap. - Viktor approaches and pats me on the shoulder in a fatherly manner.
I pull away from him:
- Yeah, buddy, you sure know how to give compliments. - We both laugh and sit down at the table.
We used to meet often in this gym, as this was where my childhood and teenage years took place. This is where I first emerged as a champion.
- So, what happened? I can hear something serious in your voice. - The coach pulls out a bottle of rum, as he always does, pours it for me. I take a sip.
- You know, lately, life has been a complete mess. - Viktor smiles and shrugs, as if to say, what did you expect?
- Well, that’s not news. You chose not sports, but business. It’s a lot more complicated there. Or are there problems with Amanda? - I lower my gaze. How do I explain everything to him? Viktor knows a lot about me. I’ve never kept secrets from him. But what happened seven years ago and why I left Amanda remains a mystery to him. So, I don’t know where to start my story. Or if I even need to share all this and burden him.
- You know, it’s all problems. I’m not sure I even understand anything in this life. In sports, though, everything is much simpler. There’s the ring, there’s an opponent, and there’s victory. - I smile, remembering how I was terrified to step into the ring for the first time. How I was an insecure boy who never believed he could earn a title. And how that title was later taken from me. The person who ruined my life, as I thought. The person who dared to touch Amanda without her consent. And the person who has reappeared in our lives. Or at least might appear. I still don’t know about Nazar. I’ve asked my people to check whether he’s still in prison or if, for some strange reason, he has gotten out. Because if the latter is true, we’ll need to strengthen Amanda’s security and figure out what to do about this problem.
- Adam, you’re zoning out; I’m still here. - Viktor nudges me in the shoulder with his fist, and I return my focus to him.
- Yeah, just my thoughts. - I don’t know what I can share. So, I decide to ask how he’s doing. How things are at the sports club. And whether he has trained many new champions yet.