Execution (Off Balance 2)

I was trapped. We were trapped… Until my eyes fell on his desk that was enclosed all the way around.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Footfalls drew closer and I clutched my leotard in my fist. I huddled in a corner under the desk and covered my mouth just as the door flew open and banged against the wall.

"Konstantin?" Katja bawled. My breath caught in my throat. "Konstantin?" she said again. I wished I could see what was happening.

"Hmmm…" Kova sounded groggy.

"Wake up. Wake up. What are you doing?" she questioned, a shuffling noise followed.

He yawned, faking sleep. "Katja? What is going on?" I rest assured a little, not completely, that he pulled off the act. I was still naked under his desk and afraid to move my hand in fear of a sound accidently escaping me. That'd be my luck.

"What time is it?" he asked sleepily.

"I have been calling you, texting you. I did not know where you were. I worried for you."

"Where else would I be but here?"

She continued to whine and it started to grate on my nerves. "Why did you not come home? I waited hours—"

"I had work to do, Katja," he said, his voice abrasive as steel wool. "How many times have I told you that I cannot just leave when everyone else leaves. I cannot leave when you want me to. I own a company, I have an overhead. Money does not grow on trees, you know. Someone has to do the books."

"I know that but—" She paused. "What is that mark on your neck? Is that… Is that a hickey?" A stiff tone replaced her saccharine one.

My eyes widened and I cupped my mouth harder.

"I missed the high bar during my workout. I fell, just barely catching myself," Kova growled. "I had a shitty night, Kat. I decided it was best I finish early and came in here to do paperwork, but I fell asleep."

Katja transitioned to her native tongue. Words like velvet fell from her lips that I assumed were terms of endearment.

"Whose car is outside?"

Fuck! I'd completely forgotten my SUV was parked out front. I really hoped this conversation would end soon so I could get out from under here and go home. The problem was, I was afraid to leave the building knowing Katja could be nearby, but I also didn’t want to leave alone in the middle of the night either. In fact, I didn't even know what time it was.

"What?" he questioned.

"A car is outside. Is there someone else here with you?"

"At this hour? No, I did not know there was a car there. What does it look like?" he asked, playing dumb. Katja described it, and Kova said, "Ah, that is Adrianna's. She had a late practice, then went home with one of the team girls."

"You worked her too hard," Katja said sympathetically. I almost laughed. Damn right he fucking did.

"Then I did my job." Kova said each word with gratification, and I smiled.

"Have you ever considered that maybe she is not as talented as you think?" Katja hesitated. "Just because she wants to go to the Olympics does not mean she is qualified to. She seems… I do not know the right word…mediocre."

My heart ached at her question. A thousand different kinds of insecurities slammed into me at once and I questioned whether I was good enough. I wanted to leave. I felt like an intruder listening in on their conversation and I didn't want to hear any more.

"I would never put my time and effort into someone who was mediocre. I know God given talent when I see it, and Adrianna has it." Kova turned defensive. "She is brilliant, artistic, and imaginative. There is nothing even remotely mediocre about her. Mark my words, she is a rare pearl that is about to shine in the gymnastics world."

I was flabbergasted he spoke about me in such a way to his girlfriend.

"But how much more extra time is she going to steal from me with you? How much more time are you going to devote to this gym over me?" Katja whined. She'd never understand what gymnastics meant to people like me and Kova. "I should be your number one priority, but as always, I am last on the totem pole."

"A lot more actually," Kova bit back. "A bunch of the teammates have extra sessions coming up, it is competition season, as you know. I have told you this a hundred times."

"It is late. I did not mean to upset you." Katja’s voice gentled. "How about we go home now?"