5- Idiot fucking Ivanov

The ride is silent, almost eerie. If I didn't know Elliot, I would be fearing for my life. The situation seems like a scene straight out of a movie where the damsel is being kidnapped, in the process to be in distress. The irrational part of my brain scares me by making me think that I'm the damsel and I'm gonna be in distress soon. Elliot has billions of dollars in his name. Why would he try to kidnap a nobody like me?

I tighten my hold on Milo as Elliot keeps driving. Shouldn't I panic? I'm in the car of a person who is literally a stranger to me. How did I become such a fool to hop in his car?

Worry and fear rolls off me, making my stomach knot in anxiety. Where's the damn shop? Where is he taking me? My uneasiness doesn't go past his notice and like the gentleman that he is, he clears his throat to grab my attention and points at the GPS.

"We are going to the nearest shopping mall." He informs me as I watch him navigate through the roads as instructed by the GPS.

My eyes are glued to the screen, making sure he isn't going anywhere else. A few minutes pass by and he is still on the right track. I relax, leaning on the leather seat as I exhale. My heartbeat comes back to normal after what feels like eternity. I can't help but admire Elliot for picking up the worry oozing out of me and taking action to make me feel at peace. How does he do it? Act differently so efficiently? I'm beginning to think that he has bipolar disorder or something. My internal conversion comes to an abrupt end when my ears pick up some noises. He has started the radio. The song isn't that pleasing to my ears but it's better than the silence that has started to creep me out.

The music is interrupted suddenly. His phone rings through the Bluetooth. He takes a look at the contact name before muttering, "I need to take it."

I nod my head at him, not really knowing what else to do. As soon as he picks up the call, a loud noise blares from the other side.

"Come to the office right now." A male voice yells, sounding as furious as ever. Even though it manages to make me flinch, Elliot appears totally unfazed.

"What happened?" He rather asks, sounding bored as if he is used to the outrageous tone.

I've a feeling that he is uncomfortable speaking in front of me but he isn't disconnecting the Bluetooth and taking his phone in his hand as he is driving. It comes off as a surprise to know that he goes by the rule. As far as I've heard from Amber, he rather seems like a rich asshole who is used to having his ways. Giving two shit about traffic rules shouldn't be on his to-do list.

"I swear, I will cut off your dick and parcel it to lions in Africa." The other male fumes. Despite his threat sounding childish, his voice sounds too serious. I bite my lips to hold my laughter in. What did Mr.Elliot Ivanov do to get scolded like this?

My curiosity grows by tenfold after I hear the other male cursing nonstop, teaching me a few profanities which I never heard in my life. He does have a colourful vocabulary.

"You sure you don't want my di_ " He holds himself back, I'm considering it's because he realises I'm in the car with him. Clearing his throat, he tries again," genital for yourself, Leo?"

Another set of curse comes through the phone. By now I'm not even amused. I'm desperate to know what must have happened.

"I swear to God, Elliot fucking Ivanov, I don't get paid enough to deal with your hairy ass. You may not shave the hair off your ass, shave the dirt off your mouth. Who named you Elliot? You should be named Idiot! That suits you better. Idiot fucking Ivanov." And he keeps going on and on.

I face the window, trying my best not to burst into laughter. Whoever is on the line, is an icon. He should be awarded for speaking true facts. Idiot does suit him more than Elliot. It's a plus point that it rhymes with his actual name.

"I've company with me, Leo. Behave yourself." Elliot warns, glancing at me apologetically.

"Company. Yeah, that reminds me of the reason behind everything. I'm here running your company and you are somewhere enjoying the company of some unnamed lady like always."

Leo gets my undivided attention by his last sentence. What does he mean by always? I eye Elliot, my gaze judgmental. Is he a womaniser? If my suspicions are correct, I need to break off the marriage by any means. My sister deserves better than this. She doesn't deserve to be settled down with a man who sleeps around and goes around breaking people's hearts.

"Just come to the point." Elliot hisses through gritted teeth, his voice turning stern from playful.

"What else would get me so agitated? Of course, someone showed up at the office, claiming to be carrying your baby. Once again." Leo exhales loudly before further exposing his boss's dirty laundry.

My heart sinks as my suspicion takes the form of a grim reality. I was really close to considering him as a gentleman and forgot the past encounter. So wrong I was! He is no gentleman. He is like any other man in power who thinks highly of himself. I'm pulled back from loathing Elliot in my head hearing Leo's voice bloom through the Bluetooth again.

"But she seems to be a levelled up player. She even brought the broken condom with her that you used but ditched in the middle of having sex for the sake of authentic experience, her words not mine, as proof that you took her virginity and I quote "sow your seed inside my tummy. The seed has grown up to be a baby boy whom I'm nurturing in my tummy." Fucking unbelievable!" By his tone, I can tell how disturbed and disgusted he is.

Before Elliot can come up with any nonsense in his defence, Leo starts again, " But guess what? I'm not surprised, you dirty animal. You always pick up chicks who have their screws loosened. But none can reach your level of insanity. Authentic experience? My foot! Ever heard of safe sex, you freaking bank of STDs?!"

Elliot seems to forget my presence as he engages in a heated conversation with Leo. I wonder if he is doing it deliberately or not. Is that how he picks up girls? By spreading his dirty laundry in front of others? I won't be surprised if some girls find it hot and throw themselves at him. He is gravely mistaken if he has taken me with that intention cooking up in his head.

"I'm hanging up, Leo. Will talk about it later. Just do your work and have the situation under control. I will be there soon." Elliot orders calmly, seemingly being conscious of my presence suddenly.

"Oh yeah. Enjoy your company while I handle your shit. Whom did you pick up now? Rip off another condom in the middle of sex, why don't you? Enjoy-" Elliot cuts the call finally.

I ball my fist in both anger and fear. It was a bad, a very bad idea to get in his car and take up the offer. I didn't need a new hoodie. Curiosity does kill the cat and no amount of remorse can revive it back.

"I don't know how to really apologise for that bizarre phone call." Elliot confesses but I don't believe his words.

I don't look up to face him. I know his dreamy eyes will melt my heart which will eventually force me to buy his lies even after knowing the truth. I remain silent, combing my fingers through Milo's soft fur.

I'm disturbed by the phone call. But it gave me a new reason to look through Elliott's life. I've always been a coward throughout my life, giving people easy access to my life and letting them walk all over me. I was nothing but a thing to mess with. Amber isn't the same. I won't let Elliot play games with her. I need to know more about him to come up with a plan to break off the marriage. Therefore, the phone call was a blessing in disguise. It gave me some insight that I wasn't aware of. I was under the impression that Elliot fucking Ivanov was a gentleman when in reality he is a walking red flag.

I brace myself. I need to be stronger to face him and get him off my sister's tail.

"I'm sorry. Please don't take offence. We will part our ways after buying a dress for you. I have no other motives." His assurance sounds sincere but I know better.

I nod my head despite my unwillingness. Just you wait, Mr. Elliot Ivanov. I will unmask you in front of our father and get rid of you forever. With that determination settling in my head, I get out of the car as we have reached the shopping mall already.

Elliot leads the way. I follow him with Milo in my arms. As I walk towards the huge entrance of the shopping mall, I feel someone staring at me or at us, I'm not sure of it. I look back to find the source but no one is there who seems suspicious enough. It feels strange. My intuition is rarely wrong. If my gut feeling is right, someone is definitely stalking me.

I increase my pace and walk closer to Elliot. Even though I don't trust him enough, he is the only person I know here. He is the only person who can provide me a sense of security as I feel danger lingering around.