sex-me boss.

After parking his Porsche in front of the studio he’d mistaken for Betty’s, he hurried out and went to the door, which was even ajar. This was only to be expected, since Vladimir would have to go to school. He entered and saw his beautiful little girl lying on the sofa.

-Hello beautiful, how are you?

-I imagine that when you see me, you know right away that things aren’t going well, Paolo. This place isn’t what I dreamed of for my life, do you understand that? I wanted a rich man who could offer me the good life. It was still a bit comfortable at your place until that girl you say is your cousin came along. I can’t stand her at all and I think it’s time you told her the truth.

-Not just yet Betty, Elena’s from New Orleans and I’d like to make sure she doesn’t know anything about you. Besides, you’re not here alone, you’re with our son. How’s Vlad?

-He’s fine, except that the kid can’t stand me like his mother, all he does is ask about you and I think it would have been better if it was you in that rat hole with him. I’m sick of hearing his complaints, you understand?

Paolo looked at her and didn’t know what to do or say. He’d done everything for Betty, yet this woman still didn’t want to love him. If he hadn’t seen her give birth to their son, he would have thought she was right not to love the child, and yet it was his. It had been seven years since Vlad had been born and Betty had decided to abandon him to continue her life in New Orleans, but she had come back, letting him know she wanted to renew her relationship with him, without telling him she was in trouble.

Flashback.

Seven years earlier, when Betty had just had a small quarrel with her family, she felt that her friends Olivia and Maggie had done enough for her, and she didn’t want to bother them anymore. She was on the street at a late hour, and this street in New Orleans was reserved for drug dealers. She didn’t know if it was death she wanted or survival, but it was the only way she could save herself. Hearing a loud bang, gunshots followed. She could have taken to her heels and run, but maybe she was hoping that a stray bullet would put an end to her life. As some people ran in her direction, someone grabbed her arm and pulled her back behind a garbage bin and put his hand over her mouth, preventing her from uttering any sound. She didn’t feel fear or reassurance, she just stood there.

After their collaborator’s opposing camp had left, Paolo emerged from his hiding place with the young woman in his arms, she had already fallen asleep. He took her back to the motel where he was staying while he worked, waiting for her to wake up. He needed answers, as he had no idea what she was doing there at that hour.

Waking up at last, Betty heard water running in the next room. She didn’t recognize where she was, and her only memory was that the man had taken her with him to his hiding place. She got up from the bed in an attempt to save herself, but it was complicated by the fact that the door was closed. She heard the door open and saw a tall man looking at her as if she were in trouble. He ignored her completely and began to put his things away as if nothing had happened.

-What am I doing here?

-Why don’t you tell me what you were doing in that alley yesterday at such a late hour? You could have died young lady, are you that unconscious or what?

-My personal problems are none of your business. I want to go, but I can come with you. Where do you live? I don’t have a place to stay any more because I’ve had a row with my family and I don’t want to bother my friends.

-Aren’t you afraid of death?” asked Paolo, a little shocked given that the girl didn’t even know him.

-I don’t care if I live or die, so can I come with you?

He understood that her problem was certainly a serious one, as a normal person wouldn’t be able to talk like this. He nodded, and as he carried his bag, they left the motel. He hailed a cab to drop them off at the airport.Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

Comfortably seated on the plane, Betty didn’t even know where she was going, but she had taken the trouble to leave messages for Olivia and Maggie to let them know she was going to see her cousin. It was strange for the girls, given that she’d never told them about any of her cousins living in another country, but hey, they couldn’t know any better.

-Welcome to Russia, darling,” Paolo had told her when the plane landed.

She couldn’t believe it. She was happy to be in Russia, even if she didn’t know what to expect. This man had offered her hospitality and, as the days went by, she was learning that he was involved in some shady business, but at least he was taking care of her. Betty had at least expected him to be a man who would shower her with money, but he too lived hand-to-mouth and that wasn’t what she wanted for her life. She’d even started a relationship with him, but she couldn’t stay there while she could still be seducing rich men in New Orleans, so she decided to leave him for no good reason.

A month later in New Orleans, while trying to find a modeling school to enroll in, she wasn’t feeling well but didn’t want to know what was wrong with her. When she did manage to find a school, which was very strict, by the way, she was asked to add her medical book to the list of information, and she lost her zest for life when she realized she was pregnant. She couldn’t bear it at all and was afraid of losing her life if she decided to get rid of it, so the only way was to go back to Russia.

-Are you really sure you want to go there, Betty? Your cousin could come here to see you, couldn’t he?

-Yes, but he’s a very busy man and his parents and mine didn’t get on very well, so I’d rather not have my family on my back again. I’m going to go now, I promise I’ll be back very soon.

They hugged and she left. She just hoped Paolo wouldn’t deny it, because if he did, she’d be all alone, but fortunately he’d taken the fact that she was expecting well.

Eight months later, when her son gave his first cry, Betty left the hospital, leaving him in Paolo’s care, and even though he wanted to forget, Paolo’s words still echoed in his head.

-This life is not for me. I could have stayed if you’d had something to offer me, but love alone isn’t enough. I want a man who can cover me in diamonds. I’ll leave him to you, he’s your son and I’m going back to New Orleans.

As she made her way to Olivia’s apartment, where Maggie had told her she was staying, Betty was so happy to see her friends again. Eight months apart because she’d also rejected all their video calls for fear they’d notice something. She didn’t want this to end up in the archives of her life.

-Oh my God, Betty, you’re so beautiful and I can’t believe you’ve gained weight!

She knew she couldn’t hide it, since she had indeed put on a few pounds, but she knew that a few days in the gym would help her shed those pounds before she resumed the pursuit of her dream.

-I didn’t have anything important to do, so it was only natural that I put on a few kilos.

Seven years later, although she had never returned to Russia, she had run into trouble with Damon Dixon, CEO of Dixon. Aviation, her best friend Olivia’s husband, but he’d tolerated it. She was forced to flee when she provoked James, her former boss who’d come to love her best friend Maggie. The only place she could go was Russia, to the man who had saved her one night.

End of flashback.

-I want you to talk to your cousin Paolo, I want to go back to your place because I can’t stand it here anymore, and what about Kira?

-I’d like to remind you that this mafioso kidnapped my sister because of you, it was you who asked me to play poker with him in that casino for money and now I’ve even put my sister up as collateral and to this day, this man does what he wants with her. I have to find a way to get her back and the only way would be to pay the debt I owe him, all because of you Betty. I can’t lose my sister, you understand.

Betty didn’t give a damn about his feelings, all she needed was money and power, and nothing else.