INSATIABLE CRAVINGS
Insatiable Cravings – Episode 53
Subtitle; {Loving You Is A Loosing Game}
TAGS: Age-gap, Mafia, Forbidden Love, Drama, Tragedy and Betrayal.
Settings: United Kingdom, Russia and others.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
~Genevieve ~
Since I was a child, I’ve always had my way, even with parents who barely showed up. Now, the next item on my list is to get Margot to apologise to me – and publicly, at that.
It’s easier said than done. Margot Larson is an insufferable, self-important figure who saunters around as if she owns the place. That’s why I thought I’d teach her a lesson, starting with bankruptiñg dear Daddy’s business. Without her precious funds, maybe she’ll be a tad more tolerable… for a day or two.
Of course, she still has the nerve to be annoying. I can’t help but roll my eyes as she approaches me in the hallway, her eyes all red from crying. I know I ought to feel some sort of pity, but, no – not after what she did. She ruinéd my uniform, and, worse yet, caused my MacBook to crash. Important files were nowhere to be found after rebooting.
Thanks to her, I had to redo everything. Unforgivable, really. I despise schoolwork as it is, and she made me do it twice over.
“Can I talk to you?” she muttered, so quietly I nearly missed it. “In private.”
“No.”
“Genevieve…”
“I’m late for class.”
“It’s free period.”
“So? Does that mean I must spend it with you?”
She looked as though she was holding back a tantrum, which, frankly, was delightful to watch. “I just want to talk to you,” she insisted, gritting her teeth and keeping her gaze fixed on me.
I shifted slightly, tilting my head to give that classic “mean girl” air. “What’s the magic word?”
Her expression turned sour. Clearly, the idea of saying “please” was a bit much for her to handle. I moved to leave, but she stepped in front of me again.
“Honestly, don’t you have anything better to do than pester me?” I snapped, beginning to lose patience.
A strange smile crept onto her face – one that made her look even more unpleasant. And then she shocked me by actually saying, “Please.”
She’s definitely up to something. Normal, aggravating Margot wouldn’t dream of saying “please” even in her sleep. But what’s she after?
“Fine,” I sighed, feigning indifference. “Lead the way.”
She guided us to an empty classroom, away from the eyes of nosy students. The moment I stepped inside, I scanned the room for anything unusual but found nothing.
“What do you want?” I demanded, folding my arms as I leaned against the locked door.
“I know it was you,” she accused.
Margot Larson, I’ll admit, is a clever girl. I’m not entirely sure why she feels the need to compete with me over everything.
Feigning innocence, I tucked my lower lip between my teeth and shook my head in false confusion. “I don’t know what you’re on about. Care to elaborate?”
“Oh, drop the act, Geneva.”
Geneva? How original. Quite unfortunate for her, though, that it’s not nearly as horrid a nickname as ‘Maggot.’
I let out a laugh, making sure it would irritate her. “Is that meant to bother me? Honestly, you can do better. I quite like Geneva – lovely city, and all that.”
She narrowed her eyes at me. “Why are you doing this? Don’t deny it – we both know you’re responsible.”
A wicked smile played on my lips as I straightened up, ready to offer her a satisfying reason for my actions. But I caught a glint in her eyes, a spark of satisfaction, and suddenly, I understood. She had a phone tucked in her waistband. Clever.
Feigning tears, I choked out, “Margot… I didn’t do anything. Why blame me for something I didn’t do? Honestly, I know we don’t get on, but do you really think I’d go to such lengths?”
Confusion, annoyance, and anger warred on her face, and I couldn’t help but enjoy it.
“What’s the matter?” I stepped closer. “Can’t accuse me anymore?”
“You’re denying it again,” she hissed.
I leaned in, whispering close to her ear, out of her phone’s recording range. “Yes, but we’re the only ones who know that, aren’t we? What will you do – pull the words out of my mouth?”
As I pulled back, her expression was pure loathing. “You’re a vilé, lying, uséless piece of rubbísh, you bloody twít!”
I chuckled, though I was seething inside. “Careful, Margot.”
“Or what?” she spat. “What else can you do?”
I let a slow, venomous smile spread across my face. Leaning in, I murmured, “I’ll ensure you don’t sit those exams you’ve been waiting for. Your family will beg for help, and you’ll be left watching your friends go off to university while you… you’ll have nothing.”
Her face paled, fear clearly written in her eyes, and I basked in the satisfaction of it. “I’m innocent, Margot. Don’t you agree?”
She shook her head, then quickly nodded when I shot her a glare. “Yes,” she whispered.
“And what do you say when you wrongly accuse someone?”
“Apologise,” she said, her voice steady, though tears streaked her cheeks.
“Good. Do it properly next time, in front of everyone. You can manage that, can’t you?”
She nodded with a stiff, “Yes.”
“Perfect.” I turned to leave, but paused, leaning in to whisper, “Next time, try hiding the recorder better. I’m not as dàft as you seem to think.”
Afterwards, I walked off towards the rooftop, catching sight of Christian.
“Where are you off to?” he asked.
“Your funeral,” I shot back.
“I’m not deàd.”
“Yet.”
He rolled his eyes. “Weirdo.”
“Arsehóle,” I muttered in response.
“I don’t like you.”
“Oh no, whatever shall I do? Christian doesn’t like me. How will I survive?” I said with a melodramatic pout.
He scoffed, but moved on.
••
Funny thing, though. Margot did apologise, right there in the cafeteria – in front of everyone. I hadn’t actually expected her to go through with it. I didn’t even bother showing up in the agreed spot, just to annoy her. And yet, she went ahead with it.
It was surreal, honestly.
Afterwards, feeling a hint of pity, I texted Dominic.
Me: Hey.
It took a couple of minutes before the typing bubble appeared.
Hot Villain: Hey, Vixen.
I bit my lip, hiding a blush as Julianna glanced over, no doubt reading my reaction.
Me: How’s your day?
Hot Villain: Better now. How are you?
Me: Alright. Can I ask you a favour?
Hot Villain: Of course.
Me: Transfer the funds back to the Larsons. She apologised.
Hot Villain: And that’s what you wanted all along?
Yes, it was. Watching Margot say those words was enough.
Hot Villain: How was the apology? Satisfying enough to let her go after hurting what’s mine?
My knees nearly buckled. Just then, Jules caught me before I tripped, and Alessio gave me a concerned look. “You alright?”
“Y-yes,” I stammered, embarrassed. At least it was better than blurting out, “Dominic Morozov just called me his!”
Jules, giving me a knowing look, asked, “Him?”
Before I could respond, Alessio chimed in, “Who’s ‘him’?”
Dominic. Yes, the Dominic Morozov – older by a decade, no less.
“Mind your own business,” I retorted, walking off.
Just then, another message came in.
Hot Villain: Someone else catching your eye, Genevieve?
Me: No. So, can you do it?
Hot Villain: Sure.
Hot Villain: When are you coming over?
Me: Soon.
Hot Villain: How soon, Genevieve?
Me: Are you cross with me? Enough with the ‘Genevieve.’
The bubble appeared again as I entered class, and by the time I sat down, his reply was in.
Hot Villain: I’m not mad, Genevieve.
Me: You’re doing it again! Bye.
..
Dominic might have sent a box of my favourite chocolates later that day, with a note that read, “Forgive me?” He’d even drawn a smiley. Julianna and Sloane teased me to no end about the blush on my cheeks. I slipped away, calling him in private.
“Why should I forgive you, Dominic?” I teased. “Do you even know what you did?”
He sighed, “Sorry?”
“That’s not an answer. You kept calling me ‘Genevieve’!”
“Pretty sure it was twice.”
“Are you saying I’m lying?”
He laughed, apologising, “Never again. Now, stop sulking and reply to my texts.”
Smiling, I pretended to sigh. “Fine. What’s my name?”
“Vixen,” he replied, grinning. “Satisfied?”
“A little.”
✧✧✧✧
I was at the base. Specifically, I was in the shóoting centre with Echo, Sal, and Blade. Of the lot, I could only truly tolerate two of them, who were on either side of me, while the other—whom I won’t even bother naming—stood next to Blade.
This place was starting to feel more like home than my actual house. I’m surrounded by dangeroús people, arméd with every weapon under the sun, all capable of inflictiñg serious hàrm, yet I don’t feel even a hint of dañger. In fact, I feel safer here than anywhere else… well, except perhaps in Dominic’s arms or his home.
With my hand wrapped around the gun Dominic had gifted me, I took aim at a bottle and fired. A satisfied grin settled on my face as I turned to Echo and winked, prompting her to chuckle.
“Well done, Gen,” she said.
“Yes, quite a decent shot,” added Sal, with that irritating glint in his eye—a sure sign he was about to say something exasperating. “Did they teach you that in princess school, then, Princess?”
There it was: the annoying comment, from the most annoying person here.
I flashed him a dazzlingly sweet smile. “No, but they did teach us how to slay.”
“Oh, really?” I nodded. “Think you can slay me, then?”
“Fancy a try?”
I absolutely couldn’t, but he didn’t need to know that.
Sal only smirked, raising his hands in mock surrender before turning back to his target. But not before I sent him a glare fit to kíll.
Honestly, he’s such a paín in the àrse. One of these days, I’ll find a way to slap a permanent moustache on his smug face.
A few minutes later, we were all focused on shóoting down every last bottle set up for us. I’m no professional, but I’m no novice either.
Blade was leading, with the most bottles down, followed by Echo, then Sal, with me bringing up the rear. I detést being last at anything, so I put in extra effort to bump Sal down to fourth.
The look of surprise on his face was rather gratifying, though he covered it up with a nonchalant, “Just luck,” to needle me.
It worked, unfortunately. That’s why I started shóoting even faster, trying to pull off the nearly impossible—ousting Echo from second. Though she’s the brains behind the best hackiñg in Bràtva, she’s also a top-notch shóoter.
Honestly, I admire her.
The range was silent, save for the sound of bottles shattering into shards. My tally was climbing, but so was Echo’s. She knew exactly what I was trying to do and wasn’t about to make it easy.
A shiver crept down my spine when a strong arm wrapped around my waist. I knew instantly it was Dominic. First, his unmistakable scent always lingers, and second, no one else here would dare hold me like this.
He leaned his head down to rest on my shoulder, burying his nose in the crook of my neck. Dominic let out a sigh of relief, sending another shiver coursing through me.
“Missed me that much?” I teased.
He nodded like a child. “You’ve no idea.”
“We only saw each other yesterday.”
“Yeah, and?” Dominic turned me to face him, took the gun from my hand, and gently held my face in his hands. “Am I not allowed to miss my Vixen?”
“Not when you annoy her.”
“I thought I apologised?”
“Did you?” I teased. “When?”
The pout on his lips was so endearing I couldn’t resist giving him a quick kiss. He grinned. “Let’s go somewhere.”
Normally, I’d leap at the chance to head out with him, but today was different. Today, I needed to beat Echo, and even Sal, who’d reclaimed third place thanks to Dominic’s little interruption.
I glanced back at the group, all of them focused on their targets and paying us no mind, then looked back at the man in front of me. “Can we go later?”
“Why?”
I gestured over my shoulder. “I’ve got to beat Sal and Echo.”
Dominic glanced over as if only now noticing them, then turned back to me. “Can’t you do that later?”
“But—”
“Genevieve, I need you right now.”
All the resistance I’d been gathering seemed to evaporate in an instant, leaving me helpless to refuse. That’s just the effect he has on me.
A smile broke through as I looked up at the man I love. “What for?”
“You’ll see.”
“You’re about to—” His overly dramatic groan interrupted, very much as intended. I gave him a wary look, but then nodded. “Alright. Let’s go, then.”
TBC
