Talking and laughing with a drink in his hand like he didn’t try to sell his daughter off less than a week ago. He still hasn’t given Nikolai an answer to whether he’ll work with him or not. A sudden flare of anger hits me and I can’t stop myself from storming over to him.
“How dare you,” I seethe. The man my father is talking to gives me a concerned look.
“Irina,” my father responds. “Nice to see you.”
“You haven’t given my husband an answer yet but you have the audacity to come here and act like nothing happened.”
“Excuse me,” he murmurs to his friend and pulls me to the side of the room. “Control yourself. You’re making a mockery out of me.”
“You tried to sell me off.” I don’t hide my voice. Let anyone hear.
“You’re acting like an entitled brat, you know that?”
I flinch. I can’t help it. My father’s words will always sting. “How can you be so cruel to me?”
“How can you be so tiring?”
“What’s going on?” It’s Nikolai’s strong voice. In an instant, I feel comfort. I’m not sure if that’s a comforting feeling though.
He places his hand on my low back. “Irina? What did I say? Don’t worry about your father.”
“But he hasn’t agreed to work with you yet.”
“I know. But this event isn’t the place to have this conversation. You promised me. Don’t go back on your promise.”
I rip away from Nikolai. “Or what? You’ll hurt me?”
A calm, cold expression crosses my husband’s face. “Come with me. Ivan, we’ll talk later.” Nikolai takes my arm and guides me down a quiet hallway. “I am disappointed in you tonight, Irina. You promised you wouldn’t let your father bother you again.”
“I can’t help it. He comes here and acts like nothing happened. Doesn’t that bother you?”
“Of course it does. But acting immature is not the way to get there.”
“I wasn’t acting immature.”
“Causing a scene at a charity event is acting immature. Now, I need you to calm yourself down.”
I narrow my eyes. “Or what?”
In one smooth motion, he pushes my front side against the wall and brings his hand down hard onto my back side. Spanking me. He spanked me.
I gasp as my body stiffens. “What was that?” The sting is radiating up my body.
“I’ll continue to spank you like the little girl you’re acting like. Unless you want to stop.”
“You promised you wouldn’t hurt me.”
“A little spanking won’t hurt you. But it will help you control yourself. What will it be, Irina?”
I glare at my husband – the man who was supposed to protect me but he just spanked me like I’m a little girl. “I hate you.”
“Then we’re going to do this again.” He spanks me once more. This time, I can’t stop myself from crying out. The pain is too much. In quick succession, Nikolai spanks me three more times, each time hurting more than the last.
I scream until Nikolai presses his face into my neck. “If you scream, people will think I’m murdering you. Be quiet, Irina.”
“Stop hurting me. Please. You promised.” This is exactly why I didn’t want to trust Nikolai. My father betrayed me and now my own husband is doing the same thing to me.
“I am getting you in line.”