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73|The Recording
Last Updated:
2025-02-04 00:52:01
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Reckless Hearts 74|Isabella Rossouw
"Oh God! That was insensitive of us. I'm so sorry!" Naomi sprung from her seat, wrapping her arms around Holly's shoulders as she led her back to her seat and plopped down beside her.Russel looked just as remorseful, if not uncomfortable. "Is that why you resigned?" he asked."Among other things." Holly nodded, biting her lower lip as she reached for her bento box for something to distract herself with. She toyed with her food, pushing it away after a few bites, her guilt gnawing at her."I wish you'd told me this sooner," she said, hanging her head in shame, the heavy weight of her decisions stomping down on her hard. "God, I wish you'd told me about Cooper much sooner before I withdrew the protection order—""There was a protection order?" Naomi and Russel said at once, demanding all the gory details as they gave Holly their undivided attention. Their interest in her ordeal was a little more than unnerving. But she filled them in anyway, her voice quivering with anger the longer
Last Updated : 2025-02-13Reckless Hearts 75|So Damn Depraved
Weak as a newborn calf, Holly crumpled to the floor, holding her head in her hands as she pressed her clammy back on the cool, tiled wall. Angry didn't even begin to describe her feelings. She was mad as hell, not only at Russel and Naomi, but also at herself, because in her desperation to protect Andrei, she'd unknowingly allowed Cooper to get away with his crimes again. How many other women would he hurt because she was too much of a coward to stand up to him? How many more women would he break because she'd chosen love over her gut instinct? Still reeling from shock, Holly stumbled to her feet and returned to the VIP booth, her head pounding louder than the EDM music shaking the walls. She found Russel and Naomi snorting lines of coke on the coffee table, not in the least shocked or surprised. She wasn't the only cokehead in their circle; drug use was common. "Here, have some," Naomi offered, throwing a stainless steel snuff bullet at her. "It'll take the edge off." With
Last Updated : 2025-02-13Reckless Hearts 76|But The Flowers
After briefly chatting with Holly and confirming they were still on for supper at The Empress, Andrei hunkered down for another hour and worked through Aero's financial statements before calling it a day, not bothering to check up on a sulky Monique on his way out. Ever since he put her in her place, ending all her involvement in his personal life—from being his plus-one at company events to performing personal-related tasks for him—she had become a little harder to deal with. Today, she was especially combative, sniping at him for the most minor tasks he asked of her, as if he were an inconvenience and not the man who paid her salary. Monique was one slip-up away from being shipped to one of their overseas offices. "Boss!" she ran out of her office now when she saw him stroll past, her Marc Jacobs stilettos clicking furiously on the gleaming floors. "What is it, Monique?" Andrei asked, shaking off her hand. The only hands he wanted on him were Holly's. The only smile he wan
Last Updated : 2025-02-13Reckless Hearts 77|Throw In The Towel
Traffic to The Empress was a breeze, and Andrei was at the hotel before everyone. He threw his car keys at the valet and headed to the Polo Bar on the second floor. He shrugged off his coat and sat in one of the Wingback chairs facing the masonry fireplace, appreciating the tasteful decor as he thawed out in front of the fire. On a typical day, the space doubled as a conference room for corporates or a wedding reception venue for smaller crowds. Today, it was specially transformed into an intimate setting for the supper with the Petrovs. "Can I get you something to drink, Mr Ivanov?" asked one of the waitstaff assigned to their party, handing Andrei a leather-bound menu. Before he could order his usual bourbon, his father strolled in with Pavel at his side. "Where is the mystery girlfriend?" he asked after they hugged and Pavel helped him out of his coat. Good question, Andrei thought as he pulled out his phone to check if Holly had texted him. "So, where is she?" Nikolai pre
Last Updated : 2025-02-13Reckless Hearts 78|Paled In Comparison
Clutching several gift bags in one hand, and holding a Kelly bag and a walking cane in the other, Holly was the epitome of beauty and grace in a classic black dress, matching satin pumps and a burgundy coat draped around her shoulders. Her long hair, pulled away from her face in a French twist, and the minimal jewellery she'd chosen, tied her look together beautifully, giving her an air of timelessness.She nervously glanced around the room, scanning the sea of unfamiliar faces. Relief and something Andrei wanted to believe was joy flashed in her eyes when her gaze finally settled on him, her big, unrestrained smile warming up the room. As he sat there, unable to believe she was truly there, and not a figment of his imagination, Andrei couldn't help but think how all the peonies he'd sent her over the years—and he reckoned he'd sent her over a thousand since he saw her first show two years ago—paled in comparison with her. Hard as Andrei tried to resist the pull, he couldn't. So, he
Last Updated : 2025-02-13Reckless Hearts 79|Reign Supreme
For several seconds following his bombshell announcement, Andrei could swear he could hear a pin drop as a wave of stunned, heavy silence rolled through the room, sweeping them all up in its tense embrace. Then, as if a sorcerer had waved his magic wand and awakened them all from a deep slumber, it was pandemonium. Roman led the charge, bellowing his outrage at Andrei's blatant disrespect. All the English he knew flew out of the window, along with his composure, as he switched to Russian, promising swift retaliation if Nikolai dared to go back on his word. Not one to be outshone, Elena joined the fray and took a page from her husband's book, screaming at Andrei to get his shit together. "Your marriage with Veronika is going ahead as planned, with or without your say-so!" she fumed in her native tongue, pointing her blood-red talon-like fingers at Andrei. Firmly on their parents' side, Vladimir and Zhakariy threatened the Ivanovs with unprecedented violence if they didn't
Last Updated : 2025-02-21Reckless Hearts 80|All The Broken, Messed-Up Pieces
"You've truly lost your mind," Holly whispered as she spun away from him. "How the hell would that even work? I can't be anything to anyone, and you, more than anyone else in my life, know exactly how fucked up I am in the head, Drei. I cut myself when I can't cope. The only constant in my life is the intrusive thoughts living rent-free in my head. What good would I be to anyone when I'm so damn broken?" "Oh, Baby," Andrei said, reaching for her and kissing her forehead. "Don't you see? None of that matters to me. I want all the broken, messed up pieces of you. I want them all, even the ugly, scary ones—" "No, you have to find someone else," Holly said as she pulled away and began pacing again. "I am not marriage material. I don't want a husband and kids and the mansion!" Baffled by her response, Andrei asked, "Why not?" "Because it's all so mundane, boring, and ordinary. I'm not meant for any of that." "Is that what you think?" he asked, slowly approaching her. "That marriage—n
Last Updated : 2025-02-21Reckless Hearts 81|Ramp It Up
When Andrei and Holly stepped back into the Polo Bar, Nikolai and the Petrovs were about to dig into their entrées. Unbothered by Roman and Elena's enraged glances following them to their seats, Andrei played the part of a man in love to a tee as he helped Holly settle in. Whispering sweet nothings to her, he removed her coat and held out the chair for her, making sure she was comfortable beside him, before calling a waitress to bring them menus. "Maybe you should tone it down a little," Holly suggested for his ears only as she browsed the selection of entrées. "Everyone looks uncomfortable." "I think we should ramp it up," Andrei disagreed. And ramp it up, he did, as he leaned into her and they browsed the menu together, his arm hanging loosely over her backrest. Hard as he tried to keep his hands to himself, he couldn't resist the urge to run his fingers on her sheer sleeves. The hint of her skin was doing all kinds of things to him— "What are you in the mood for?" Holly aske
Last Updated : 2025-02-21
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Reckless Hearts 115|Shone as brightly
"Give me five minutes," Andrei said when they pulled into the horseshoe driveway and parked close to the front door a little while later. "You'd better hurry up. I have a flight to catch," Ivan retorted, reminding him about his trip to Botswana. The team of four guys he'd assembled to bring Sienna in were already on their way to the airport. "Yes, sir!" Andrei called over his shoulder, giving his lieutenant a mock salute as he ran up the front steps. The housekeeping staff were taken aback when he stepped into the lavish foyer and found them polishing the bannisters of the grand double staircase. "Mr Ivanov, we weren't expecting you." "I know!" Andrei replied. He never made unplanned stops. And if it weren't for his father's insistence to have a home-cooked meal with him at least once a week, he wouldn't even bother coming by. The place had stopped feeling like a home long before his mom died. "What can we do for you, sir?" The two ladies asked, ready to be of service, as they
Reckless Hearts 114|Like A Pendulum
"First time?" asked Thabo, Lev's mortuary technician friend. His brilliantly white teeth, as he smiled at Andrei, were a stark contrast to his smooth mahogany skin. "Hardly," Andrei replied and quickly shut his mouth, afraid if he didn't, the unbearably warm stench would creep into him and taint every inch of his soul. They passed several closed doors as Thabo led them down an endless corridor. He candidly explained that the air-conditioning system was out of order, hence the humidity and smell. "We logged it two days ago, but they have yet to send the technicians to fix it. I guess no one cares about the material comforts of the dead," he said, taking them deeper into the bowels of the morgue. Just when Andrei began to think the man had no idea where they were going, Thabo abruptly stopped in front of a cavernous room whose metal doors were wide open, like a gaping mouth. "There they are," he said, pointing at several bodies lying on cadaver carriers. "Why are they out in the o
Reckless Hearts 113|Seen And Smelled Death
"I was surprised you went with orchids," said Diane, the beaded strands tinkling softly as she pushed the curtain back in place and returned to her workstation."Aesthetically wise, I would have gone with roses," she added, setting the potted plant on the table. "Anything but roses!" Andrei murmured, running his fingers on the tips of pink tulips peeking out from an elaborate arrangement on the counter beside the cash register."But I like the symbolism behind orchids," she continued, as if Andrei hadn't spoken. Her hands moved deftly as she got down to work and performed magic with the Spanish moss, curly willow vines and some clippers. "Did you know that orchids were associated with virility in ancient Greece? In fact, Greek women believed that if the father of their unborn child consumed large, new orchid tubers, the baby would be a boy. If the mother ate small orchid tubers, she would give birth to a girl."Andrei didn't know this, of course. He'd chosen orchids for their enduran
Reckless Hearts 112|Vaguely of Sympathy, Jaded Dreams and Romance
A fleshy bud of dark, wilting petals peeked at Andrei amidst the jagged pieces of broken glass. He picked it up, twirling the thin, broken stem between his thumb and forefinger as he scanned the street for a nearby florist shop. When he found none, the coldness in his veins steadily turned to ice. Troubled, he carefully wrapped the withered bulb with his silk handkerchief and stuffed it in the inner breast pocket of his tailored cashmere coat before returning to the car, unable to shake off the unsettling feeling of dread in the pit of his stomach. "Lev called," Ivan announced as he watched Andrei buckle up. "He wants us to meet him at the morgue." Andrei glanced at his Cartier and nodded. The next slot for visiting hours at Glen Eagles Mediclinic, where Holly was being kept overnight for observation, was at 7:00 PM. There was still plenty of time before then. "Let's do it," he said, texting Austin, urging him to meet him at Crush around 10:00 PM. After a flurry of back-a
Reckless Hearts 111|Sliver Of Light
Long after the police vans and emergency services vehicles were gone and the news cameras had stopped rolling, Church Street was back to normal. Well, as normal as it would ever be after all the horror it had seen. Of course, some shops were closed, including the luxury car dealership Holly's Porsche had crashed into. There was no way they would have stayed open after all the mayhem. But for other establishments, it was business as usual. People went about their day. Life carried on uninterrupted, like it was any other regular Tuesday, and a bloody cartel war was an everyday occurrence. "You wanted to see the place. You've seen it. I think it's time to go," said Ivan, the walls of the car trembling when he turned the key in the ignition, and the engine roared to life. "Not yet," Andrei stopped him, touching his arm briefly before exiting the car. "For fuck's sake, Boss, you can't do that!" Ivan yelled as he ran after Andrei when he lifted the police tape and approached the cri
Reckless Hearts 110|Biggest Mistake
Without waiting for an invitation, Cooper shut the door with his foot and crossed the room. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in Clifton Bay?" Holly croaked, hating how thin and terrified her voice sounded as she watched him place the roses on the nightstand."With this?" Cooper waved his bandaged hand, pulling out his victim card. "I would be if your Russian sociopath lover hadn't maimed me. But that's neither here nor there. How are you holding up?"Without waiting for her to respond, he continued, nonchalant as ever, like they were still on good terms, "I saw the news, and I had to come and see you." When he leaned over and tried to kiss Holly on her forehead, she shrunk away from him and fumbled for the emergency button.Cooper swiftly ripped it from her hands, wagging his finger at her. "Really, Holly, you disappoint me. I thought we were good. I mean, you dropped the protection order—""Because you forced me to!" Holly snapped."No, you wanted to protect your Russian
Reckless Hearts 109|Delayed Dreams
"Please don't be mad at him," Holly said, trying to salvage Liam's friendship with Levi. "I asked him not to tell you anything because I didn't want to worry you.""Bullshit!" Liam snarled, pointing accusingly at Holly. "You asked him to keep his mouth shut to protect Andrei!"Holly had no defence and no comeback because Liam was spot on."How did you get the video?" she asked, her brain struggling to process the dumpster fire she was in. "Colleen sent it to me," Willow replied, her voice barely a whisper. "She thought it would help crack the case. You know, uncover the identities of the masked men who took you guys hostage—""We weren't taken hostage," Holly clarified, but Liam hushed her up, growling at her to stop focusing on the small details."Do you have any idea the world of trouble you're in?" He thundered at her as he approached the bed, ready to throttle her. But Willow held him back just when Holly thought he'd take her in his arms and shake her like a rag doll. "I told yo
Reckless Hearts 108|The Whole Truth
Holly was taken into the emergency room as soon as they arrived at the Mediclinic in Glen Eagles, and after an hour or so of checkups and tests, she was given a clean bill of health. But the attending doctor—a young woman fresh out of medical school, with a sincere smile and all her textbook knowledge still crammed in her brain—insisted on keeping her overnight at the hospital just to make sure she didn't have a concussion. "All your tests are looking good. But I must warn you, whiplash, especially after a car crash like the one you were involved in, is normal. We'll give you something for the pain–" Holly zoned out after the part about the whiplash, the white-hot pain searing her knee spreading throughout her entire body like wildfire. "An absolute miracle, I tell you," said the doctor, squeezing Holly's hand before exiting the room with Liam. Two nurses strolled in then and wheeled Holly to a private room on the second floor. When she complained about her knee, even after they g
Reckless Hearts 107|Brush With Death
"Miss Anderson," said the head of security, hugging Holly briefly. "We were so worried about you. I'm sorry it took us so long to get to you. Traffic is backed up to the bridge, and some roads have been closed off." "James, it's okay," Holly said with a smile. "I'm fine." "No, you're not," said Liam, calling her out on her lie as he drew her away from James, only to wrap his arms around her tightly. "Goodness, Holly! Do you know how terrified I was when I got the emergency alert?" "What emergency alert?" Holly asked, a slight frown creasing her forehead as she stared at Liam. "The one you sent." "I didn't send you anything." "Well, I got a text telling me you were involved in a car crash." That explains it, Holly thought, as she squeezed him back, vaguely remembering her Apple watch vibrating like crazy earlier. It wasn't Eric's fault, but her own, for adding Liam as one of her emergency contacts. He wouldn't be here if she hadn't, and she wouldn't have to face a Spanish Inqui
