Chapter 74
Katerina:
“The two of us agreed that you are not going to argue with him, Katerina.” Viktor said, shaking his head at me.
“He annoyed me, dared to threaten me with my children, and refused to compromise, I doubt that you expected me to stay quiet.” I said, and he shook his head as a small smile played on across his face.
“I shouldn’t have expected that much. But yes, I did expect you to stay quiet, at least, to get to see how far he was willing to go.” He said, and I scoffed. “Anyhow, I am not going to ask too many questions nor am I going to press on you about the topic. Now the two of us are going to have to deal with what we have in hand. The man is mad, and he is going to do what he can to try and take the kids. What you are going to do, Katerina, is that you are going to stay quiet.”
“You can’t be serious?” I asked, and he nodded.
“You are going to pretend that you forgot about this divorce all together. At least, until I managed to file the divorce for you and prepared everything to ensure that you are not damaged in this. The man is going to use what he can against you and he seems to forget that you are not depending on
my head. him. Show him that you aren’t.” He said, and I shook
“He froze all my cards. I have my own, others that he doesn’t control. But those that have the common account and those that are the ‘family’s account, have been frozen. My accountant was the one who informed me. Thankfully, I chose to be smart as not to try using the cards anywhere that I went.” I said, and he nodded.
“You didn’t give him the satisfaction of believing that you need him. That is a good thing on your side. But what you are doing now is that you are giving him the ultimate freedom with the money to give to her. Do you think that it is a good idea to do so?” He asked, and I sighed.
“I have no other option. If I argue with him about it, he is going to cross his limits. He is going to believe that I need him, and his money. Something that he’s often believed with those who have surrounded him, and one of the reasons why he has resented me.” I said, and Viktor shook his head.
“The man was lucky to have the one person who never bothered about his money and rather than be thankful, he is choosing to be this way.” He said, making me smile. Viktor shook his head and picked up his phone. “Do you want to drink some coffee? It seems that we have a lot to do, and I am going to need caffeine if I am going to digest what your husband is doing.”
“You are acting as if this is the first case that you are getting?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. He put the phone down, hanging the line before smirking, shaking his head at me.
“You of all people wouldn’t be here if it was my first case, Katerina.” He said, looking me dead in the
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eye. “But in most cases, the women are after their husband’s money, either because of a scandal or because of hate and anger, the need of revenge even. The one common issue, that you do not have but most of them do, is the fact that neither one of them is financially independent. Whether she came from an initial rich family or whether she was first an employee; they had the same issue.”
“What I find interesting about you is the fact that despite what he is doing, you didn’t come here seeking for his money. You are not panicked about him blocking your accounts, and you have everything set for you. You know your part and responsibilities, whether it is toward him or even yourself, despite being on a verge of divorce, and you are taking care of them.” He said, looking down at the file in front of him. “That is why I need to deal with this carefully. You are a meticulous woman, and you are going to be harmed if things fire back at you, not because you are failing or because you aren’t good; but because you are TOO good for your own good.”
“I- I don’t know what to say.” I said, looking away from him. He chuckled and shook his head before picking up his phone again.
“You can start by choosing which coffee you want to drink.” He said, repeating his initial offer. I like mine to be black, but I can imagine that you might have other preferences. You can choose the one you prefer, my secretary will bring it over.”
“You have a secretary?” I asked, and he raised an eyebrow. “I entered the office on different timings and not once did I see a lady standing in front of the reception.”
“HE has his own office. I don’t prefer having girls as secretaries considering the fact that I deal with a number of issues…” he stopped himself midsentence and I smiled, nodding in understanding.
“I would like a latte, please.” I said, and he nodded. “Your wife must be lucky to have a man who understands what she might feel when it comes to…”
“I am neither married nor am I in a relationship, Katerina.” He said, calling his secretary. “One latte and one black coffee, Marcus.”
He hung up before looking at me, and though I was surprised that the man wasn’t in a relationship, I chose not to ask questions nor to press on the topic. It wasn’t one that concerned and I wasn’t a friend of his to be asking anyway.
“Now you are going to have to do what I am going to tell you, Katerina. And this time, do try calm yourself down.” He said, making me raise an amused eyebrow.
“I already said that I make no promises, especially if the man is going to try and press on the topic that concerns my children.” I said, and he nodded.
“Well, this time we are going to have to act to protect your children.” He said, making me frown. My calm demeanor seeming to leave me almost instantly as I processed his words, allowing them to sink in. “You don’t want to end up on a side where he would take the children away from you. And if does it once, even if it is as a warning, then he will catch you on a verge that you don’t want to be in. That is why I need you to trust and listen to me.”
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I looked down at my feet as I took a deep breath, digesting everything that he said as I tried to stay calm, knowing that he was talking sense to me. One that I wanted to hear, despite not wanting to admit it.
“What do you need me to do…?”
