Chapter Fifteen

Three days. Three long, uncomfortable, annoying, terrible days since Yassen had insisted on watching Kalina's every move. She felt like she was in a goldfish bowl; she could barely even sneeze without Gregorovich wanting to know about it in advance. Any resolution she'd had to take this new situation gracefully disappeared the first night, when Yassen had accompanied her to her bedroom, checked all the nooks and crannies, and decided it wouldn't do. She would have to move.

The rooms he chose for them had a connecting door, which he left unlocked. Closed, but unlocked. Kalina spent half the night staring at that door, practically able to sense the man on the other side. It was such a little thing – she still had some privacy after all, but that single door, with Gregorovich just the other side, drove her crazy.

Now, in the three days that followed, she had snapped, grouched and sunk into grim silences one after the other in a kind of emotional loop. Gregorovich, of course, remained calm all through her moods, the look in his eyes saying that he didn't really care; he was just doing his job. And that infuriated her even more.

Charles offered some respite, since the Russian didn't seem to mind her talking to him. She could almost, almost ignore Gregorovich when Charles was around. He sensed her discomfort and annoyance and always tried to cheer her up. Gregorovich would even go away for an hour or two if they were firmly ensconced in a living room and didn't look like they were going anywhere. Kalina felt more and more warmth towards the American, especially in contrast to her feelings for the assassin. Charles was a respite, and an incredibly welcome one at that.

On the third morning, Charles found them finishing breakfast at opposite sides of the morning room. Kalina sulked openly, and Yassen looked like he hadn't a care in the world. Charles wondered at the man's emotional strength – in the face of a woman's moods he wasn't sure he could bear up so well. Gregorovich almost seemed to be relishing it. He nodded to Charles, who smiled back.

"Morning, all" he said. Kalina looked up and her face transformed into a bright smile. Charles walked over to her and sat in the next chair, stretching his legs out in front of him. "I have a day off, want to do something?"

Kalina practically glared over at Gregorovich, who innocently began to read a newspaper. "That would be nice" she said. "If I can…what did you have in mind?"

Charles smiled easily. "Oh, I don't know. There are no restaurants, bars, theatres, nothing I can impress you with. How about a trip on the lake?"

Kalina smiled at him. Charles had been so sweet over the past few days, she wished he was the one following her every move. "That would be lovely" she said. "Gregorovich?"

"Hmm?" The Russian looked up, as if he hadn't heard their conversation.

"May I go with Charles on the lake?"

Kalina's voice had an edge to it. She knew she had to ask him before doing anything, but he knew she hated it. It was almost like a pantomime between them; both behaving civilly but with their own thoughts simmering beneath the surface. Infuriatingly, Yassen's always seemed to be calm and happy. He affected to think about the proposition, whilst Kalina drummed her fingers on her knee.

"Yes" he said at length. "When are you going?"

"Now?" Charles asked. Yassen nodded.

"Be back by lunchtime. 1 o'clock sharp"

"Four whole hours!" Kalina exclaimed, standing up and grabbing a jacket from the back of her chair. "You're getting lax, Gregorovich"

Charles stood too and followed the woman across the room. Yassen was gazing at her levelly.

"If you would prefer, return by 12" he said flatly. Kalina scowled and increased her pace.

"One is fine!"

Yassen looked at Charles and smiled conspiratorially. The man was genuinely amused, as much as it was possible for the cold assassin to be amused by anything. Charles shook his head and left the room, putting a hand on Kalina's shoulder in a comforting gesture. She leant into him as they walked across the hall and out of the mansion.

"Are you ok?" Charles asked, concern lacing his voice. They were almost halfway to the lake and Kalina hadn't said a word, just walked along with his arm round her shoulder. She reached up and pulled it tighter now, slipping an arm up his back to squeeze him before letting go of both. She sighed heavily.

"Yeah, it's just getting to me. I thought I could handle Gregorovich bugging me 24 hours a day… but I really can't"

Charles looked down at her. "You two really don't get on do you?"

"I thought we did" Kalina replied. "He's just so… infuriating. He never lets you in, if you know what I mean…"

"He's an assassin, he's not meant to"

Kalina laughed slightly. "Yes, I suppose you're right. I shouldn't even expect anything from him. He saved my life but I'd rather be anywhere else but with him right now."

"You are" Charles assured her. "You're with me"

Kalina looked up and smiled, the first genuine smile of the day. Charles always made her feel better. This was their first real physical contact; that first picnic up on the mountain they hadn't shied away from each other but there was no real touching either. Now his arm felt comfortable, and the hug she'd given him wasn't awkward or too forward; it just felt right. "Now why couldn't Scorpia have put you in charge of me?" she wondered aloud. Charles grinned.

"They don't know the situation on the ground. Anyway, I think I might be called away soon. Scorpia will know when"

Kalina's face fell and she looked down. "Oh…"

Now why did she feel so sad all of a sudden? Kalina had been on an emotional rollercoaster since stealing that disc; she knew it and she knew that any reactions she had now were the product of what had gone before. The danger, almost being killed and then saved by Gregorovich, what had conspired between them and then the hostility which remained, and now meeting Charles who was perfectly handsome and charming and wanting so much to get away from the Russian…

I have a crush! she thought, half in exasperation and half in defiance. I'm a bloody adult and I have a bloody crush! But you know what? I don't care!

Kalina felt like having some fun and feeling good about herself and sticking two fingers up at Gregorovich. Charles was perfect for all of those things.

"We've still got today though, right?" she said, smiling again. Charles dropped his arm to her waist and smiled back.

"We certainly do"

A/N: Thank you all my reviewers! I've been in my flat a week now and uni's just getting started. So far so good. I made the mistake of going to Camden at the weekend...it was HEAVING. I knew there was a reason i only go in the week! If you're ever in London and doing the tourist thing, avoid the Camden on a weekend...seriously...