Page 19 of Mr. and Mrs. Novak

Once the meal is served, I ask casually, "Do you often go to Stanford parties?"

Ruslan looks up from his plate, surprised by my question. "Not particularly. Why?"

"Just curious. From what I heard, that's where you met Natasha."

He tenses ever so slightly. I keep eating, taking my time to savor each bite as if this conversation is nothing out of the ordinary.

"Maybe. I don't really remember," he replies, looking away.

"Oh?"

The glass he was lifting to his lips stops mid-air. His gaze meets mine, and I catch a flicker of unease—maybe even guilt.

"Sophia..."

"No, let me finish. I need to understand. Out of all the women you could have chosen, why her? Why the wife of Stanford, the man who lent you money to start your company? That’s a huge risk… Are you in love with her?"

I pause, my voice hardening slightly. "Should I expect to run into her one night when I come home?"

"She has never set foot here and never will," he replies firmly, his fingers tightening around his glass.

I idly play with my fork, making it clink against my plate. "What intrigues me the most is why you still hang around Stanford. You hate him for the outrageous interest rates he charged you."

I lift my eyes to him. "With the company’s success, you must have paid him back a long time ago, right?"

His face shuts down. A hesitation. He’s thinking, choosing his words carefully, and I don’t miss it.

"The business world is small," he murmurs, avoiding my gaze. "No matter how much you want to avoid certain people, you always end up crossing paths again."

He picks up his glass, swirling the dark liquid without drinking, as if searching for the right words.

"Stanford is a key figure in our industry. He’s built an extensive network. Many of our clients rely on him for strategic consulting, connections, or financing. And I manage the logistics for those same clients. We operate in the same ecosystem."

He pauses, as if debating whether to say more.

"Avoiding Stanford would mean cutting ourselves off from valuable opportunities. And that’s something we can’t afford."

He finally looks at me, watching for my reaction. And I get it, what he’s not saying. This isn’t just about business or chance encounters. It’s about power. Influence.

This isn’t just an old creditor he happens to run into. This is a man he can’t walk away from.

I hold his gaze, searching his eyes for what he’s not admitting. His explanation makes sense, but something feels off. Ruslan didn’t get close to Natasha just for personal reasons. There was something else. And the only connection that stands out is Stanford.

Which means Ruslan wants something from Stanford… or Stanford wants something from him.

The thought leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. Stanford isn’t the kind of man to hand out favors for free. If he’s keeping Ruslan within reach, it’s not by accident. There’s an agenda, a hidden leverage, something he’s holding onto, waiting for the right moment to use it.

And Ruslan—he’s not the type to just take it. He knows how to play his cards, to anticipate moves, to manipulate when necessary. If he’s still dealing with Stanford despite everything, it’s for a reason. Either he’s biding his time to strike back, or he needs him for something too big to ignore.

The question is, what?

The idea that Natasha might just be a pawn in all of this crosses my mind. Ruslan didn’t go after her by accident. Not that she isn’t the kind of woman men go for, but sleeping with Stanford’s wife is suicidal. The only thing that would justify that kind of risk is a high-stakes objective.

So, is he using her to get to Stanford?

Or is Stanford using her to keep Ruslan under control?

If I want to understand what’s really at play, I’ll have to dig deeper, ask the right questions, watch every detail. Because one thing is certain—between these two, nothing is ever left to chance.