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From Russia With Love

Chapter Five

Two years later, as Gerard drove her home that night from the third annual military ball, she was fuming inside. After sparing her the past two years, her parents had pulled out the "courtship" card again and she'd endured an entire evening of congratulations and fake smiling. The road between the base and the estate was long and isolated, dotted by thick patches of dark woods on both sides. With her arms crossed, he diverted his eyes to steal a glance at her every once in a while, smirking.

“What’s up, kid?”

“I can’t believe they would embarrass me like that!”

“That’s nice to know, that being seen with me in public is embarrassing for you”

She uncrossed her arms and stared over at him for a second, deciding her words. He kept his eyes trained on the road ahead.

“I didn’t mean it like that, I’m sorry, I just can’t stand being told what to do all the time, how to behave, who to be, I might be sixteen but I still want to have some basic control over my own life”

“I understand what you’re saying kid, I think both our ‘rents are just very…happy about the idea of you and I being seen together, you know, PR and all that”

“I guess, I just wish they wouldn’t keep me out of the loop all the time, its like I never know what’s happening in my own life”

She jumped in her seat when he moved his hand from the leather steering wheel to rest on her knee gently. He patted the red chiffon of her dress twice and replaced his hand on the wheel.

“Why are you always so scared of me, Dominika?” he sighed “I’m not trying to come onto you, just show you I understand and care about your feelings”

“I’m not scared of you, Gerard”

“Good” he replied, “and you never should be, I’d never hurt you nor let any harm come to you. I’ll always have a soft spot for you, kid”

“Thank you” she whispered. She fell into silence, replaying his words over and over again in her mind. It was such a rare occasion for Gerard to say anything serious, let alone sweet that she was touched. The silly, annoying American boy
did have a soft side after all.

When Gerard pulled up the long driveway to Dominika’s house, every light in the house was on, flushing the dark driveway in soft yellow light. He opened the car door and walked her up the porch of the house.

“Was it as bad as you thought it would be?” he asked her, one corner of his mouth pulled up.

She patted herself down quickly “Still in one piece, I guess we’d call that a win”

“Thanks for coming with me, even if it was by force, I still had a good time”

“Me too, thanks for not being a jerk about it”

He laughed and ruffled her hair, waiting till someone let her in the house before he got in his car and pulled away. Dominika watched his dark car glide down the pavement and make the turn at the end into his parent’s drive. Inside the house, her father’s personal assistant ushered her into the dining room.

“Your parents wish to speak with you Miss Dominika”

“About what?” she replied “its midnight, I want to go to bed”

“They asked me to get you, they want to see you before you retire for the night”

She groaned and followed him into the dining room where her parents sat side by side at the table, looking oddly chipper for this hour of night.

“What did I do?” she asked, rolling her eyes. Her father smiled at her and gestured to the chair in front of them.

“Take a seat, Dominika, you’re not in trouble”

Dominika sat down, and he continued “firstly, how was your night?”

“Fine” she replied, suspicious now “minus the forced ‘courtship’ part, thanks for the heads up by the way”

“Dominika” her Mother warned. Her Father patted her hand.

“Domi” her Father said, using her childhood nickname, probably in an attempt to soften her up, “the country is currently in a precarious situation, we are receiving word from the south that enemy ground militants have plans to invade, we need all the help from the Americans we can get, and we need the Russian people to be able to trust and look to the Americans as brothers. The only way to keep the country in a stable position is to show kinship with our American brothers”

“Wasn’t that what tonight was all about?” she asked, confused. Her Mother had given her almost this exact spiel only a couple weeks ago.

“Yes, but there’s more to it than that”

“Oh God, you’re not going to make me pretend to be his girlfriend again are you?”

“I don’t want you to pretend anything, Dominika, I want you to consent to a courtship with Private Way, and assuming all goes well, your Mother and I want you to marry him. By the end of the year”

She was stunned into silence for a moment and then exploded across the table.
“What?! Marry Gerard?! Are you crazy? Not until hell freezes over!”

“Don’t speak to your Father that way” her mother chided “We only want what’s best for you, and the country”

“How is this what’s best for me?” she replied, outraged “This isn’t about me at all! This is some stupid political stunt you want me to be apart of!” she raked her hands through her hair, glaring at her parents. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

“Its nothing like that, we have discussed this at length with the Vice President and his wife, both of them are on board with this decision, now all you have to do is the right thing and say yes” her Father said, as if it was that simple, “imagine what the people will think, the Vice President’s son and Russia’s little princess, such a display of brotherhood for our nations”

“No one arranges marriages any more, is this even legal?”

“I make the laws, Dominika”

She had a sudden thought, white hot rage flashing in front of her eyes.

“Did Gerard know about this tonight?!” she whispered, eyes closed.

“No, this was only finalized tonight”

“Finalized?! So I don’t even get a say in the matter?” she asked incredulously. Her Father took her hands in his large, rough ones again.

“I know you will make the right choice, daughter, you’re a good, obedient girl and your Mother and I love you so”

Talk about laying on the guilt trip. She pulled her hands away and stood up, burying her face in her hands for a moment before she looked to her parents again.

“I don’t want to discuss this right now, I’m going to bed”

“Dominika, please, sit down, we want to answer any questions you may have”

She strode out of the room and up the grand staircase, two steps at a time. Her Father’s personal assistant appeared out of nowhere and called out to her.

“Your parents still wish to speak to you, Miss”

“I DON’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT NOW!”

Notes

Thanks for those that commented, rated and subscribed, so glad you like it :) This is the last reflection chapter and we are now up-to-date with current events and about to get into the main storyline. There's much, much more to come!

Comments

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Jackie Jackie
12/15/17

Thank you for the update!! It was a surprise & wonderful!

I’m so sorry to read about your husband. What a difficult & heartbreaking thing to go through. Thinking of you.

Jackie

Jackie Jackie
12/14/17

I love this story!! It’s so good!

Has it Really been two years since an update?

Jackie Jackie
11/30/17

I literally screamed when I saw this update.

AccidentalMurder AccidentalMurder
11/25/15

You've got quite a few loyal readers that will stick w this story no matter how long the break is.