The Billionaire's Secret Love Child(165)

''Do you want to buy it?'' Stefan asked.

''I would be very interested in making you a reasonable offer. One to our mutual satisfaction. Perhaps I can ask my secretary so set up a meeting with you and your agent.''

''Alright. I will do so.''

Mrs. Rasmussen reappeared holding a parcel. ''Here, please take this. Fresh bread. It's much better for you than all the rubbish they sell in the stores.''

Pavel looked at her and noted how lucky Stefan was to have landed himself such a beautiful and intelligent wife.

*****

Ella stepped into the bath in Pavel's house and submerged herself in the warm water. It was a large bath, and she could almost swim in it. When she bobbed back up again, she opened her eyes and looked at her belly. In her fourth month, it was swollen, and she loved how it looked. Her breasts were also bigger and tender to the touch. She loved the changes her body were going through, if only the morning sickness would stop.

When she was finished, she got out, dried herself and put on a soft white robe. She walked into the bedroom and lay on the bed. She had never known such luxury. The bed was bigger than her bedroom at her parent's, and the bedroom was almost bigger than their whole apartment. She felt so lucky. She was pregnant by a man she loved and who loved her. Unlike most of her friends, she wouldn't have to worry about money.

She was just dozing off when the phone rang. She picked it up, hoping it would be Pavel. He should have been back half an hour ago.

''Hello,'' she said. There was a long silence. ''Hello.''

''So he does have a bitch,'' the person at the other end said. He hung up.

Ella began to shake as she realized what the man had said. She instinctively put her hands to her belly in an act of protection. Where was Pavel, she thought. Five minutes later she breathed as sigh of relief when she heard the front door.

*****

''How was your flight?'' Ella asked the father of her child.

''Long and uncomfortable,'' he replied.

''So why was it so uncomfortable?''

''Firstly, because you weren't with me and secondly, a toy elephant kept poking me in the leg. Really, I'll have to have a word with the guys that load the plane with the stuff for the orphanage. They forgot to leave room for me this time.''

''Well you usually don't fly with all the toys, I suppose they forgot. Please Pavel, be careful, I am worried sick about you. I can't sleep for worry.''

''You know what we discussed. You will be safe at your parents'' Stay there until I come for you. I'm sorry you are involved in this, but nobody threatens the woman I love. I will put an end to in once and for all.''

''Oh my God, please don't do anything stupid and get yourself killed. I couldn't bear to lose.......''

''Ella, listen to me. Nothing is going to happen. I will be back in a few days. Get some sleep and look after our child.''

Pavel put the cellphone back in his pocket and walked out of the airport.

''Hello Pavel,'' Lilia said, holding a broom in her hand.

''Lilia, come here,'' Pavel said as he held out his arms. He hugged the sixty-three-year-old woman who looked after his apartment in his home town of Sochi. ''Thank you for looking after the place. It's a long time since I have been here.''

''It's my pleasure, and it's so nice to see you. I have stocked the fridge and made the bed.''

When Lilia left, Pavel looked around. He'd kept the small apartment he'd managed to buy after he'd left the army. He took a photo from the sideboard and looked at it. It was taken in Chechnya. Abram was in the middle, in his officers uniform and Pavel, and a few comrades were huddled around him. Pavel didn't want to remember his time there. It had been the most brutal of wars, and he'd considered himself lucky to escape with his life. Unlike a lot of his comrades, he'd been able to come home. His thoughts turned to Nikolai. Now he was going to avenge his unnecessary death.

Pavel showered and drank some coffee. When the taxi arrived, he was sitting on the wall in the street outside his apartment. He'd gone out early to get a feel for the place. It hadn't changed much at all. Everyone still hung their washing from wires on their balconies and the kids still rode around on rusty old bicycles.

The taxi, a battered Lada, arrived and took him to Gagarina Street, block 18. He got out and looked up at the dilapidated balconies. Some of them had been repaired and some of them looked as thought they were ready to fall down. He went into the building and climbed to the third floor.

''Katya,'' he exclaimed when the old woman opened the door.

''Pavel, my dear boy. How long it is since I saw you, How are you?''

''I'm really well. How are you?''

''Come in and I will give you a long list of my ailments,'' she chuckled. Inside it was a typical Russian apartment. A small corridor with a kitchen to the right and a living room to the left. At the end a bathroom and a single bedroom.

''This apartment hasn't changed at all,'' he remarked.

''No. I wanted to renovate it, but I only have a small pension. Now I'm too old to bother,'' she said as she showed him into the tiny sitting room.

''Please Katya, sit down. I'm afraid my visit today is not going to be a pleasant one.''