I was straightening Dimitri’s tie as he was looking down at me.“What do you think this means? This is quick right?” We stood next to his car about to go into court. His solicitor had called us that morning at 11am to say the jury had come back. Dimitri was a pack of nerves and I was trying to be the cool one for once.“Very. They had what an hour yesterday and then like two this morning.”“Is that a bad thing or a good thing?” He asked me, his face full of panic. I wanted to say good but I still had an awful feeling in my stomach. We made it into the courtroom and before he went into the glass box I pulled him close. Like reading my mind he put his ear to my mouth.“I love you. Whatever happens we’ll deal with it. You’re stuck with me now,” grabbing my face he kissed my lips.“I love you”. I walked back to the public gallery and sat down. Dimitri’s co-defendant gave him a hug and they shared a laugh before sitting down.“All rise!” Standing up again I watched the jury come into the c
6 months later.My face was hurting from smiling so much. Looking down at this beautiful human made my heart ache.“He’s beautiful Latisha. I’m so proud of you.” She sat opposite me, looking fantastic for someone who had just had a baby.“Thank you. He is a cutie isn’t he.”“Looks like me,” Graham said standing behind her.“No he doesn’t.” Dimitri came back. He was sitting on the arm of the chair I was sitting on. Latisha burst out laughing, her tea nearly spilling everywhere.“Dimitri, you want a hold?”“Yes please.” I stood up so he could sit down and passed the baby to him. I thought he might be uncomfortable but he had clearly held a baby before. Baby Mitchell looked tiny in his arms.“So guys wedding plans? I’m not pregnant anymore so you’re allowed to get married now.” I laughed as I sat where Dimitri had just left.“We don’t know. Ninety percent of Dimitri’s family is in Russia other than his sister so it would make sense to do it there but I don’t want people travelling there.
***This chapter has descriptions of sexual assault. Please skip this chapter if you need to***Dimitri dropped me off at work and I waved at a few of the girls as I got into the changing room. I undressed quickly, I had my work ‘clothes’ on underneath and as we walked out into the night club the music started. It was just another night for me, my show at ten thirty and just after midnight a customer beckoned me towards him. He was young, younger than me. Blonde messy hair and build like a house.“Can I get a dance?”“Of course come,” I purred at him walking towards the private booths. Nothing had changed for me work wise while with Dimitri if anything I found it a little boring. To mix it up I did like to close my eyes as I gave a dance and picture him. Mouth slightly open them eyes staring into my soul. The man sat down as I closed the door. His own eyes were strong and I could tell he was massively turned on. The music cut in and I did my thing. Getting lower and closer to him as I
“Harper.” Is all he said.“Yes?” I whispered.“I don’t know what to say. I don’t think anything I’m going to say is going to help.”“Try,” I whispered.“I’m proud of you. Beyond proud of you. For everything tonight. You need some rest,” he stood up and kissed my forehead. I swallowed hard, he wasn’t coming to bed with me. Walking out he smiled as he closed the door. My eyes began watering again and I needed him here. But he didn’t want to be here. I was tainted. I stared at the ceiling for which felt like hours, my head moving up as he walked back in.“I’ve spoken to Latisha,” his voice was gentle, something I’ve never heard before.“Did you wake her?”“No. I texted her and she called me, feeding the baby.” I nodded. “She’s coming first thing, I have to go into work but will be home by lunch time. I’ll make sure of it. I won’t leave until she gets here.”“Are you coming to bed?”“Do you want me to?” The question made me sob adding to my already wet face.“Of course I do!” I shouted, m
I opened my eyes, my headache had completely gone but my chest was still killing me. I sat up and realised Dimitri wasn’t there.“Dimitri!” I called out suddenly panicking he wasn’t there.“I’m downstairs milaya,” his voice was full of reassurance. “How are you feeling?” He asked as he met me at the stairs.“My headache is gone but my chest is still hurting”. Holding my hand he helped me down the rest of the stairs. I went into the living room and sighed in relief. It was spotless. I must have been out cold as he clearly had hovered as well.“Toast for you ” he sang, dropping a plate on the kitchen counter. I looked up at him, already dressed and he looked amazing. Plain t-shirt and grey tracksuit bottoms. I sat at the counter and looked down. I also had a cup of coffee.“Thank you.” He sat next to me with his own food.“The police woman is coming at two. Did you want to do anything this morning?” He took a bite and stared at me. I shrugged.“What’s the time?”“Ten,” he answered.“Wow
“Don’t forget you have a meeting tomorrow at two,” I said to Dimitri, my head in my notes. Looking up from his computer he spoke.“Thanks but did you not want to reschedule it? It clashes with the sentencing.”“No I’m not going to go.” I sat opposite Dimitri, him behind his desk. Looking up at me his eyes burned into my soul.“Are you sure?” He wrote some notes on a pad next to his computer.“Yeah I don’t care.” I crossed my legs and his eyes flicked down.“Okay. Did they say what they’re expecting?”“Four years,” I spoke softly, keeping his eyes on mine. Shutting down his computer he threw his suit jacket on. I stood up with him, notepad still in hand. My desk was stationed outside Dimitri’s office and as we walked out I threw it on my desk. The man who assaulted me pleaded guilty at the first opportunity which was a blessing for me. I didn’t have to give evidence in court which I was dreading. Dimitri grabbed my hand and our fingers entwined.“Okay, they have your victim statement t
I looked at myself in the full length mirror and took a deep breath.“You look beautiful Harper.” Latisha was behind me in a stunning burgundy full length dress. I smiled, tears in my eyes. I looked straight ahead again at my fishtail wedding dress, full length lace sleeves because we decided to get married in autumn in Russia and two foot veil. That was my favourite. The door knocked and Maxim came in eyes closed.“We are ready ladies.” He nearly knocked himself out as he exited the room. We both cracked up laughing. I turned to Latisha who handed me my bouquet. Red and white lilies. My mum’s favourite flower.“You got this,” she kissed my cheek and put a stray hair behind my ear. My hair was down slightly curly but nothing major.“Lets go.” We left the room and walked down the stairs and to the left. Latisha opened the door and we were greeted by my wedding planner Anna.“Harper, you look amazing. Dimitri is here ready to go. Are you ready?” My heart quickened at his name.“Yes.” We
Dimitri POVMy eyes opened to silence. Looking around to the other side of the bed I saw it was empty. I peeked up and saw the cot which was attached to our bed was also empty. Puzzled, I got up and walked downstairs.“You’re a pretty girl hey?” I heard Harper say as I entered the living room. My heart felt like it was going to burst with happiness as I saw her, sitting on the couch.“Morning,” I said and realised how rough my voice was. Looking up she grinned at me.“Look baby daddy’s up!”“Why did you let me sleep in? it should be you sleeping in.” She shrugged.“You have had no sleep as well, you don’t have to wake up with me every time I feed her you know,” she chuckled, a beautiful sound. I smiled at her and lent around.“Dobroye utro printsessa,” I picked her up to say good morning to my princess. I stared into my baby’s face. She was a perfect mix of me and Harper. Harper’s soft face and beautiful lips but she had my dark eyes and much to my mum’s delight she definitely looked
Dimitri POVMy eyes opened to silence. Looking around to the other side of the bed I saw it was empty. I peeked up and saw the cot which was attached to our bed was also empty. Puzzled, I got up and walked downstairs.“You’re a pretty girl hey?” I heard Harper say as I entered the living room. My heart felt like it was going to burst with happiness as I saw her, sitting on the couch.“Morning,” I said and realised how rough my voice was. Looking up she grinned at me.“Look baby daddy’s up!”“Why did you let me sleep in? it should be you sleeping in.” She shrugged.“You have had no sleep as well, you don’t have to wake up with me every time I feed her you know,” she chuckled, a beautiful sound. I smiled at her and lent around.“Dobroye utro printsessa,” I picked her up to say good morning to my princess. I stared into my baby’s face. She was a perfect mix of me and Harper. Harper’s soft face and beautiful lips but she had my dark eyes and much to my mum’s delight she definitely looked
I looked at myself in the full length mirror and took a deep breath.“You look beautiful Harper.” Latisha was behind me in a stunning burgundy full length dress. I smiled, tears in my eyes. I looked straight ahead again at my fishtail wedding dress, full length lace sleeves because we decided to get married in autumn in Russia and two foot veil. That was my favourite. The door knocked and Maxim came in eyes closed.“We are ready ladies.” He nearly knocked himself out as he exited the room. We both cracked up laughing. I turned to Latisha who handed me my bouquet. Red and white lilies. My mum’s favourite flower.“You got this,” she kissed my cheek and put a stray hair behind my ear. My hair was down slightly curly but nothing major.“Lets go.” We left the room and walked down the stairs and to the left. Latisha opened the door and we were greeted by my wedding planner Anna.“Harper, you look amazing. Dimitri is here ready to go. Are you ready?” My heart quickened at his name.“Yes.” We
“Don’t forget you have a meeting tomorrow at two,” I said to Dimitri, my head in my notes. Looking up from his computer he spoke.“Thanks but did you not want to reschedule it? It clashes with the sentencing.”“No I’m not going to go.” I sat opposite Dimitri, him behind his desk. Looking up at me his eyes burned into my soul.“Are you sure?” He wrote some notes on a pad next to his computer.“Yeah I don’t care.” I crossed my legs and his eyes flicked down.“Okay. Did they say what they’re expecting?”“Four years,” I spoke softly, keeping his eyes on mine. Shutting down his computer he threw his suit jacket on. I stood up with him, notepad still in hand. My desk was stationed outside Dimitri’s office and as we walked out I threw it on my desk. The man who assaulted me pleaded guilty at the first opportunity which was a blessing for me. I didn’t have to give evidence in court which I was dreading. Dimitri grabbed my hand and our fingers entwined.“Okay, they have your victim statement t
I opened my eyes, my headache had completely gone but my chest was still killing me. I sat up and realised Dimitri wasn’t there.“Dimitri!” I called out suddenly panicking he wasn’t there.“I’m downstairs milaya,” his voice was full of reassurance. “How are you feeling?” He asked as he met me at the stairs.“My headache is gone but my chest is still hurting”. Holding my hand he helped me down the rest of the stairs. I went into the living room and sighed in relief. It was spotless. I must have been out cold as he clearly had hovered as well.“Toast for you ” he sang, dropping a plate on the kitchen counter. I looked up at him, already dressed and he looked amazing. Plain t-shirt and grey tracksuit bottoms. I sat at the counter and looked down. I also had a cup of coffee.“Thank you.” He sat next to me with his own food.“The police woman is coming at two. Did you want to do anything this morning?” He took a bite and stared at me. I shrugged.“What’s the time?”“Ten,” he answered.“Wow
“Harper.” Is all he said.“Yes?” I whispered.“I don’t know what to say. I don’t think anything I’m going to say is going to help.”“Try,” I whispered.“I’m proud of you. Beyond proud of you. For everything tonight. You need some rest,” he stood up and kissed my forehead. I swallowed hard, he wasn’t coming to bed with me. Walking out he smiled as he closed the door. My eyes began watering again and I needed him here. But he didn’t want to be here. I was tainted. I stared at the ceiling for which felt like hours, my head moving up as he walked back in.“I’ve spoken to Latisha,” his voice was gentle, something I’ve never heard before.“Did you wake her?”“No. I texted her and she called me, feeding the baby.” I nodded. “She’s coming first thing, I have to go into work but will be home by lunch time. I’ll make sure of it. I won’t leave until she gets here.”“Are you coming to bed?”“Do you want me to?” The question made me sob adding to my already wet face.“Of course I do!” I shouted, m
***This chapter has descriptions of sexual assault. Please skip this chapter if you need to***Dimitri dropped me off at work and I waved at a few of the girls as I got into the changing room. I undressed quickly, I had my work ‘clothes’ on underneath and as we walked out into the night club the music started. It was just another night for me, my show at ten thirty and just after midnight a customer beckoned me towards him. He was young, younger than me. Blonde messy hair and build like a house.“Can I get a dance?”“Of course come,” I purred at him walking towards the private booths. Nothing had changed for me work wise while with Dimitri if anything I found it a little boring. To mix it up I did like to close my eyes as I gave a dance and picture him. Mouth slightly open them eyes staring into my soul. The man sat down as I closed the door. His own eyes were strong and I could tell he was massively turned on. The music cut in and I did my thing. Getting lower and closer to him as I
6 months later.My face was hurting from smiling so much. Looking down at this beautiful human made my heart ache.“He’s beautiful Latisha. I’m so proud of you.” She sat opposite me, looking fantastic for someone who had just had a baby.“Thank you. He is a cutie isn’t he.”“Looks like me,” Graham said standing behind her.“No he doesn’t.” Dimitri came back. He was sitting on the arm of the chair I was sitting on. Latisha burst out laughing, her tea nearly spilling everywhere.“Dimitri, you want a hold?”“Yes please.” I stood up so he could sit down and passed the baby to him. I thought he might be uncomfortable but he had clearly held a baby before. Baby Mitchell looked tiny in his arms.“So guys wedding plans? I’m not pregnant anymore so you’re allowed to get married now.” I laughed as I sat where Dimitri had just left.“We don’t know. Ninety percent of Dimitri’s family is in Russia other than his sister so it would make sense to do it there but I don’t want people travelling there.
I was straightening Dimitri’s tie as he was looking down at me.“What do you think this means? This is quick right?” We stood next to his car about to go into court. His solicitor had called us that morning at 11am to say the jury had come back. Dimitri was a pack of nerves and I was trying to be the cool one for once.“Very. They had what an hour yesterday and then like two this morning.”“Is that a bad thing or a good thing?” He asked me, his face full of panic. I wanted to say good but I still had an awful feeling in my stomach. We made it into the courtroom and before he went into the glass box I pulled him close. Like reading my mind he put his ear to my mouth.“I love you. Whatever happens we’ll deal with it. You’re stuck with me now,” grabbing my face he kissed my lips.“I love you”. I walked back to the public gallery and sat down. Dimitri’s co-defendant gave him a hug and they shared a laugh before sitting down.“All rise!” Standing up again I watched the jury come into the c
I sat at the kitchen counter flicking through some magazine when my phone rang. I picked it up. Latisha.“You okay?” I answered.“I’m good you?”“Yeah not bad. Look,” she paused. “I’ve been reading some bits on Dimitri’s trial and I really think his innocent Harp.” I rolled my eyes. It has been over a month since he came to my work and I hadn’t spoken to him at all. Loads of my stuff were still at his house but I knew I could buy more stuff. I don’t know if he tried to call me as I blocked his number. He didn’t attempt to come to my house or my work. My heart was broken and I missed him terribly but I didn’t feel like I had any other choice. August the 18th came and went but I refused to watch the news and had no idea how his trial was doing.“What do you mean?”“Well for starters the guy who nearly died? He testified to say that Dimitri and the other guy were good friends, that they wouldn’t do that to him. Apparently he was in the embassy that day and is adamant it was someone else.