5 Chapter. Yulia

I couldn't disconnect from the outside world; usually music helped me, but not this time. I climbed out of the tub, pulling the headphones out of my ears, tossed them on the marble table, and strode barefoot to the large mirror, leaving wet footprints on the warm tiles. I looked at my reflection in the mirror. The water dripped in rivulets down my skin, which was reddened after the hot bath.

I was alone... well, that's not uncommon for me. If I had a father before, he wouldn't be there at all. My brain has accepted this information, but it hasn't digested it yet. I would cry on his chest, but he never allowed such a thing, he was always strict. How to live with the feeling that he would be gone? Running my palm over the fogged mirror, wiping it clean of the evaporation at eye level. I have his eyes, only mine are brighter....

After wiping myself and drying my hair, I went to get dressed; I put on a T-shirt and a loose denim sundress just above my knees, braided my braid with an elastic band, and put white stylish sneakers on my feet. Taking a deep breath, she walked to the door, opened it, and called out to Tonya. She walked back into the room, knowing that she would come in immediately. She did, and Tonya came in and turned to me:

- You called, Yulia Vadimovna?

- Yes... gather my things, please. Only the essentials," I said, watching from the window as strangers, apparently Arsoev's guards, walked through our courtyard. Father was right. He had his men watching me after all. Hmm... thinks I'm stupid enough to run away. Actually, I could, but it wouldn't take long, I'd get caught. And my father never lies, so I believe him... and... I choose life.

Sitting in the tinted SUV, I placed my two palms childishly on the windshield, and rested my forehead between my palms when I saw movement in the window of my father's office. He's seeing me off, and he said he didn't like good-byes. The traitorous tears flowed again, blurring my vision....

It was a long drive, the escort was royal, two executive cars with a lot of guards. My father used to assign me one guard and a driver, but here... why all this pathos? After a long time, we arrived at Arsoyev's mansion, which could be seen three kilometers away. It was surrounded only by a forest... I wonder if he likes privacy? Because all around, there is not a single house... it's frightening and intriguing. Is there internet here? I wouldn't be surprised if there's a helipad behind the house. The mansion is twice the size of ours and what do people need a house like this for...to assert themselves? To show how rich they are? I don't understand... I think our house is huge, and this one even more so....

We drove into a huge courtyard. I was too absorbed in myself to appreciate the beauty of its design, and the house looked even more beautiful up close than it did from afar. The door was opened for me, but no one gave me a hand, as my guard had done. It's no big deal, I can get out on my own. I walked out with my head held high. "After all, I am Borisov's daughter," I said to myself and headed for the entrance, where a medium-sized woman in a shawl, dressed in dark clothes, was waiting for me. She didn't have a gram of makeup on, she looked about forty to forty-five years old, pleasant looking, slender. As I approached her, she bowed her head and body slightly in greeting. This surprised me a little, strange for me - no one had ever greeted me like that before.

- Good evening, my name is Aza, I'm Mr. Arsoyev's housekeeper. Please come into the house.

We went inside, if you can call it that... it's a work of art. You can see the hand of the master. As much as I don't want to, it's impossible not to appreciate and recognize that the house is gorgeous. A lot has been put into it, no matter which way you look at it. I am standing in a spacious hall. Here is a mixed style: national and European. Moreover, the national style is expressed unobtrusively, it can be seen in the columns, which fit very nicely into the hall. There is no pretentiousness in the carved staircase that leads to the second floor, in a small hand-carved table. No carpets or the like, all natural material. I would like to say disgusting, but my tongue does not turn... it is beautiful.....

- Follow me upstairs," Aza said to me, pointing with her palm.

I just nodded and followed her, leading her index finger up the carved staircase, focusing my attention on it. We went up, and the housekeeper stopped at the door that apparently led to the room where I would be staying. I almost felt a twitch at the fact that I had sort of resigned myself to my fate already...no...I don't...I don't want to...I don't want to. Will I really live with a man I don't know, and two minutes of communication with him made the only impression of him - a dictator! I covered my eyes for a couple of seconds to control my emotions, I didn't need to show them to people who weren't guilty of anything. Aza opened the door for me and invited me in, but she stayed at the threshold. I stepped inside, took a few tentative steps, and turned to face the woman.

- My name is Julia, - I don't want her to think I'm rude, I don't know why, but she seemed very good-natured to me.

Asa smiled slightly, and expression lines ran around her beautiful, gray eyes:

- Rest, Mrs. Julia. If you need anything, there is a button on the right of the door for your personal assistant, and there is also an internal telephone that will direct you to me, just dial the number "one".

- Thank you. Please don't call me mistress, it's not necessary.

- I'm sorry, but that's the etiquette of this house. You are Mr. Arsoev's future wife, and everyone here respects and appreciates him very much.

- I see," I replied, sighing doomfully.

- I'll call you for dinner," she said, and went away, leaving me alone in this huge room.....