The Cruel Boss Won't Let Me Go

Merri stood frozen in place and stuttered, "Mr....Mr. Rushkin, hello."

 He casually looked around, "Who are you here with tonight?"

 Merri nervously blinked a few times, "I am having dinner with a friend."

 Nina glared at Merri, since when does Nikolai act so cordially... who is this girl? 

 Shocking both women he asked, "Would you and your friend like to join us?"

 Merri's eyes darted back and forth between Nikolai and Nina. Sensing the beautiful woman's displeasure, she politely refused,"No.I don't want to interrupt your dinner and I haven't seen my friend in a long time. But, thank you."

 Nikolai could tell Nina made Merri feel uncomfortable so he didn't pursue it. After Merri walked away Nina's eyebrows were twitching, "Who is she?"

 " Alexi is interested in her, he told me to keep an eye on the woman while he is in England."

 Satisfied with his answer Nina looked at the menu. "What is good?"

 When Merri returned to the table Karl nonchalantly asked, "Who was that you were speaking to?"

 "Mr. Rushkin a new student of mine. I am teaching him how to play the piano."

 "..." Private piano lessons? Is that why she was photographed going into his apartment building? Sounds like he used that as an excuse to get close to Merri. 

 "He wanted us to join him but I refused,his date didn't seem happy."

 Karl thought this would be the perfect opportunity to try and glean some information from Nikolai. "I don't think it could be a date. Nina Naralov is happily married to a Japanese tycoon, Genji Fujihara."

 Merri's expression brightened and her eyes lit up. She blurted out, "Really? She is married?"

 "Yes. To be honest I would like to meet her. Why don't we join them for dinner."

 Merri gulped down the wine, "I think it would be a little wierd,since I already declined his invitation."

 "Okay. I'm curious, how do you know him? You don't advertise for private piano lessons."

 "He saved me. I was out with Claire and Ren and drank too much. I passed out on the sidewalk. He found me and took me to the hospital. I owe him a great deal, it was snowing and freezing cold I would have died. He was also generous enough to pay for my hospital bills."

 "When was this?"

 "The night before I was supposed to meet you at the hospital and visit Grandma Wu."

 "What Club were you at?"

 "The Crescent Moon Bar."

 Deep in thought Karl taps his finger on his wine glass,Crescent Moon belongs to Sydney Long, an associate of Alexi Baranov. Is it a coincidence that Nikolai Rushkin found her lying outside the bar?"

 "Why wasn't Claire with you?"

 Merri wrinkled her forehead, "Umm...I really don't know. I can't remember much of what happened. I had a rough few days and was exhausted."

 The waiter walked over to their table and Karl asked Merri what she would like to eat. After they ordered, Karl's phone rang. He looked at the caller and frowned, "Merri, this is a work call I need to take. I will be right back."

 "Sure."

 After he left Merri was looking out the window enjoying the view when Bella Fremont approached the table.

She grabbed Merri's hair and lifted her hand to slap her face. "You bitch! How dare you..." Before she finished her sentence and the slap landed she screamed in pain, Nikolai had an iron grip on her wrist and a terrifying look in his deep black eyes.

 Merri was stunned and speechlessly watched as Bella's face contorted in pain and she whimpered. "Let go of me! Do you know who I am?"

Suddenly Bella's bodyguards approached Nikolai and he didn't release her. The two guards were intimidated by the murderous aura surrounding him and hesitated.

 Afraid Nikolai would be hurt by the two imposing men Merri quickly stood up and clutched his sleeve. Her voice was soft and full of concern,"I'm fine. Let her go."

 Nikolai could easily take care of these men but didn't want to frighten Merri. 

The manager rushed over when he saw the commotion and was sweating profusely, "What is going on here?"

 As he glared at the manager. Nikolai 's face darkened and his deep voice was low and domineering. "Throw this woman out."

 Bella rubbed her sore wrist and screeched, "Humph! I want both these two people removed from my sight now!"

 The manager's heart was pounding and he clutched his heart feeling as though he was going to collapse. Nikolai owned the building and the snarling young woman was the Mayor's daughter.

 Nikolai narrowed his eyes and raised an eyebrow, "Now."

 The manager stuttered, "Miss...Miss Fremont, you need to leave."

 She flipped her hair and laughed, "You must be joking. My father is the Mayor, what right does he have to tell me to leave? Do you want this restaurant closed down? All I need to do is make a call. Drag that bitch out and this annoying man who interfered."

 Suddenly several men in black suits quickly overpowered Bella's bodyguards and dragged them to the door. One of the men roughly picked up Bella like a sack of potatoes and carried her out of the restaurant.

She was pounding on his back and yelling, "Let me go you Neanderthal! You will pay for this!"

 Karl saw them as he returned and hurried over to Merri and Nikolai. He saw Merri's hair was messy and his voice was full of concern, "What happened."

 Nina didn't want to get involved, she saw people taking pictures with their phones. She waited until Bella was dragged out then walked over. Nina possessively hugged Nikolai's arm and gave Merri a look full of pity then turned to Karl, "Your girlfriend was being bullied.""

 Merri was extremely embarrassed and she could feel her cheeks burning, "Thank you Mr. Rushkin." 

 She anxiously pulled Karl over to their table, "I will explain when we sit down." 

 After she was seated, she covered her face with her hands to regain her composure. It took a few moments to reconcile herself to the humiliating experience. She gazed at Karl, her face was pale and there was a layer of mist covering her eyes, "Can we leave?"

 "First, tell me what happened."

 "I don't know why Bella Fremont has a grudge with me but she rushed over and was about to slap me when Mr. Rushkin stopped her. She continued to make a scene and the manager had security take her and her bodyguards out of the restaurant."

Merri had a knot in her stomach, it could only be because of that horrible man Alexi Baranov! Although she and I never got along there was no real enmity between us.

 Karl poured her another glass of wine."Since the crazy woman is gone now, why should we let her ruin our evening. She was thrown out of the restaurant, everyone can see it was her causing the disturbance."

 Merri glanced around and no one seemed to be paying attention to them. "I guess you are right." She avoided looking towards Nikolai and Nina, it was obvious Nina didn't like Nikolai coming to her defense. 

 Nikolai noticed Merri avoiding looking in his direction and was afraid he scared her. 

 Nina had her hands balled into fists on her lap irritated by Nikolai protecting Merri, she wanted to see a good show. From her personal experience she knows having to deal with a mistress is humiliating. She was happy to see Bella grab Merri's hair and insult her because she was sleeping with Alexi. She sweetly smiled, "That was unlike you to get involved."

 "I told you Miss Winslow is Alexi's person."

 "But, isn't the woman who confronted her, Alexi's fiancee?" She sipped her wine and quipped, "Awkward."

 Nikolai cut a piece of steak and had no intention of continuing the conversation. His turbulent emotions almost surfaced when he saw the helplessness in Merri's eyes and her fragile appearance.

He wanted to throw the ugly woman through the glass to her death. But, he had no choice, he swallowed his anger to hide his violent nature. As the blood from the barely cooked steak pooled on the plate his eyes were full of flames. Dare to touch the little angel ? Bella Fremont you will pay! 

The next day Merri felt awkward when Nikolai picked her up for school. When she got into the car she buckled the seat belt then wanted to clear up the situation from last night. "Thank you again for stopping Bella from slapping me. She was angry at me because of an incident that happened at the Black Swan Club. I...I offended her."

 He knew what happened between Alexi and the two young women. He tightened his hand on the steering wheel, thinking about what a heartless pervert Alexi can be. 

The sunglasses he was wearing hid the cold and murderous darkness in his eyes, "I'm sure it wasn't your fault. She is a very arrogant woman."

 Merri had a worried expression, "Well...she is the daughter of the Mayor. I'm just afraid that you helping me will affect your business. The Mayor dotes on Bella and she can be...well... vindictive."

 Viktor's heart skipped a beat and his eyes were full of warmth. The little angel is worried about me? Glancing at the delicate girl nervously twisting the coat with her slender fingers, he suppressed the urge to hold her hand and tell her not to worry.