Chapter 5
Elena’s inexplicable emotional state continued the next morning, but she had projects and assignments to submit. I need to pull myself together, she thought. After making the quickest breakfast she could, she left the house. She checked the time—12 PM. The luxurious brands just below her neighborhood often attracted tourists. She was used to the crowds, but when she saw the last person she expected, she had to quicken her pace. Zemo was standing on the sidewalk with a blonde woman with blue eyes, around the same height as him, looking at something across the street. People around them might have thought they were just friends—there was that much distance between them—but Elena’s heart burned with the truth. She quickened her pace, leaving them behind and turning away from the street. The woman's tall stature, long blonde hair, and blue eyes would haunt Elena’s sleep for a long time.
* * *
Bucky whistled as he looked at the girl he’d matched with on Tinder. “Elena, huh? What’s a sweet girl like you doing in this den of wolves?”
The truth was, Elena had no business being there. Iolanda had swiped right on Bucky after a string of absurd matches on the profile she’d created. She thought if she could set Elena up with a date, it would distract her from Zemo. So she had made a Tinder profile without asking Elena. When she saw Bucky’s age, she rolled her eyes. God, Elena is such a daddy magnet. On the other hand, the guys in her own age group trying to match with her were terrible. Some had even written directly on their profile, Looking for a one-night stand.
Bucky's profile was mysterious, which made her a bit nervous. And his gaze looked like it could freeze the sun. She shrugged, “Sorry, Elena. You’ll have to make do with this for now.”
* * *
They were in the kitchen. The man poured olive oil into the pan and reached for the vegetables on the cutting board.
“How about we go to the Asian restaurant?”
Zemo gave a brief glance at Svetlana, who was asking a question that was really more of a command. “I want to eat at home, Svetlana. I’m not in the mood to socialize.”
Svetlana laughed. “When have you ever been in the mood to socialize? Should I make a reservation?”
“Make it for one because I’m staying home.”
She huffed and puffed and, seeing Countess in her path, yelled, “Get out of my way, you flea bag!” and stormed out of the house. Countess jumped not onto the counter but onto one of the barstools by the island, as Zemo had taught her, and meowed at him, as if telling him something. Zemo listened to her seriously and sighed heavily. “I think Elena would have liked you too, and she wouldn’t have minded spending the evening with us at home, but she’s a young and beautiful girl. I’m sure she’s doing something more appropriate for her age with her boyfriend right now, Countess.”
The cat meowed in discontent.
“Do you really think I’d have a chance with Elena? For God’s sake! I’m old, ugly, and weird. She... she’s all the beautiful things I know. Sweet, cheerful, cool…”
As Countess meowed as if laughing, Zemo frowned. “Hey! You’re the teenager! I don’t have a crush on my student, don’t be ridiculous.”
When Countess meowed again, Zemo scowled. “If you want to keep eating high quality cat food, we’re dropping this subject here.”
Okay, that was enough to shut Countess up, but she wasn’t going to let it go entirely.
* * *
Bucky moved inside Svetlana, who was leaning against the kitchen counter, while she looked at his Tinder on his phone.
“Elena? Did we just match with this sweet baby?”
Bucky groaned, winding her ponytail around his hand. “Not we matched, I matched. I told you, Svetlana. Unlike your boyfriend, I don’t share my women.”
It had been nearly a year since Svetlana had lied to Bucky about having an open relationship with Zemo and become his friend with benefits.
“That’s a shame,” Svetlana moaned. “I would have liked to bring this baby into our bed, Barnes.”
“I don’t do threesomes. But if your boyfriend is as weird as you say, ask him.”
Svetlana laughed and moaned with pleasure as Bucky hit a deep spot, her finger gliding over the screen. “Look at how sweet this girl is. Do you really think she’d be interested in a weirdo like Zemo? On the other hand, you and that divine body of yours could totally mess with her mind.”
As Bucky pulled out of her, Svetlana cursed. “What the hell!?”
“I’m going to finish alone, you can leave. It feels like you’re drooling more over this girl than me. I don’t like it.” He reached out and took his phone from her hand. “Thanks for coming, darling. And don’t forget to thank your boyfriend for sharing you.”
Svetlana gave him the middle finger, adjusted her skirt, and got up. “You’re disgusting.”
“Says the woman with a boyfriend who shares her.”