Kova was a heartless, cunning man. Hate swelled through me at an alarming rate. Rage unlike I’d ever felt before slithered through my veins, consuming me. I detested the ground he walked on, the air he breathed. I loathed every fiber of his being. After everything we shared, after all we knew about each other—our goals and desires in life, our dreams and aspirations—this was the dirtiest move of all, and I wasn't sure how we would come back from it.

There was no one else other than Kova who knew how important each gymnastics meet was on my journey to the Olympics, yet he had the audacity to rip it from me for his own selfish reasons.

His job was to catch me if I fell. Not sweep the rug out from under my feet and watch me hit the ground.

I had played him dirty too, though. I'd threatened rape. A low blow, and I felt terrible for playing that card, but he deserved it. I wanted to ruin him, but ruining him meant ruining myself, and that was something I couldn't chance.

Overcome with exhaustion, I stood at Hayden's car and released an anguish-filled breath. I'd run out to the parking lot to stop him after he caught Kova and me having sex.

The image of Hayden's expression when he barged into Kova's office played like a broken record in my head and slowly seared my brain. Stunned, mortified, shocked, and the absolute worst of all, disappointment had flitted across his face. He'd been rendered speechless and left Kova's office. I had to beg him not to open his mouth and report us to the authorities. And by doing so, I promised to come clean with him. Not something I wanted to do, but I would in return for his word.

I cried into his shoulder, not caring I got my tears and snot all over him. He only hugged me harder to him. My heart ached. My head hurt. I was drowning inside, sinking. The more I thought about the whole thing, the more my heart shattered into a million little pieces. Tears continued to trickle down my cheeks as I cried harder.

I let out a desperate sob, and he kissed the top of my head.

"I can't believe he did this." My voice was muffled in his shirt. "He's heartless, Hayden. He knew how much testing elite meant to me. He knew the Olympics was my endgame since I'd come to World Cup."

"Shhh..." He held me tighter. "Let me take you home."

I swallowed a sigh and stepped out of his embrace. "Okay, but I have to take care of something first. Meet me at my place in twenty?"

Hayden grabbed my forearm, confusion written all over his face. "Where are you going?"

I eyed the ground, reluctant to answer. "I need to tell Kova something."

"No!"

I looked up. "Hayden, I'll explain when I see you later, but you have to let me go talk to him."

Hayden's nostrils flared, not pleased with my response but he agreed anyway. The very last thing on earth I wanted right now was to look at Kova after we were caught, but the truth of the matter was I needed something from him. I needed that stupid little white pill he loved to feed me like candy.

With my shoulders back and chin up, I marched back toward the entrance of World Cup. Each step filled with a little more determination. By the time I reached the front door my emotions had cooled and my tears had dried up. I pulled the door open and stepped inside. The smell of powdery chalk permeated the air and the sound of parallel bars ricocheted in the background. Making my way to Kova's office, I turned left and walked down the narrow hallway. Once I reached his door, I grasped the handle and flung the door open, then slammed it shut behind me.

Kova sat motionless, his eyes unmoving. His eerie silence and calculating stare riled up my nerves. I sucked in a small gasp, my heart pounded as his eyes lowered to thin slits, and an unspoken warning filled the air.

Barely concealing his feelings, I could feel his anger simmering below the surface. My skin prickled with awareness. He quietly laid his pen down and leaned back in his leather chair.

"Did you fix things with Hayden? He is going to keep his mouth shut, yes?" he stated more than asked.

"Yes…for the most part."

He growled, his top lip curling under. "For the most part is not enough for me. Fix it, Adrianna. Now."

I lowered my eyes. "I trust him not to say anything."

"And I do not."

"Seems like a personal problem." Deep creases formed between his brows and I let out an aggravated sigh. I shook my head. "I made an agreement with him to cover your indiscretions."

One brow lifted to a high peak. His eyes hadn't moved from mine. "Surely you must mean to cover our indiscretions. You are as much to blame as I am, and very willing if I remember correctly." He smirked. "The way you tightened around me as you came… How you breathed hard in my ear and locked your legs around my back. Do not pretend that you did not enjoy what you got or that this is somehow all my fault." He paused, and his eyes darkened. "You loved every second of it. Admit it."

I looked away, my cheeks blushing. I was embarrassed. "Listen, you need to get me the pill again."

"What makes you think I will get it for you this time?" he asked, his voice low and controlled.

My lips parted, astonished by his indifferent attitude and lack of caring if I got pregnant.

"Why wouldn't you? You've gotten it every other time."

He gave me a blasé shrug. "You are a big girl, more than capable of getting it yourself."

I clenched my jaw, my anger growing from his unmoving gaze. He got under my skin in one sentence and monotone voice. "God! Why do you have to be such an asshole? Do you wake up every day with a goal of people to piss off? Do you get off on hurting people? What is your issue?" I shook my hand back and forth, dismissing him. "You know what, don't answer that. I don't give a shit. You're a disgusting person."

He frowned, but didn't say a word. Unbelievable. Seething, I marched to the door and grabbed the knob.

"Adrianna." He called my name and I ignored him.

"Adrianna." I stiffened, my back rigid from the way Kova stressed the pronunciation of my name a second time. I peered over my shoulder and watched as he grabbed a set of keys off his desk. Leaning down, he opened a drawer and pulled something out. He slammed it shut, relocking the drawer, and waved the offending box in my direction.

My eyes narrowed, fury igniting in my veins once again.

"You kept that hidden in your office?" I said in a high-pitched whisper. "Where anyone could find it? What were you thinking?"

I stalked toward him and reached out. Before I could pluck it from his hand, he shot forward and grasped my forearm.

"Why would anyone assume it is yours? Ria, have you forgotten I am in a long-term relationship with Katja and have been for many years?" I couldn't help focusing on his lips as he drew out every word. The heavy inflection in his accent sent chills up my spine, while warmth pooled in my belly. Stupid Russian.

"Of course I haven't."

"People would assume it is for her, not you."

I tried to wrench away, but Kova tightened his grip and ran his thumb in soft circles under my wrist. I lowered my gaze in shock, hating that my stomach fluttered in response.

"Say please."

My eyes shot up, and I saw red. "Fuck you."

I yanked my arm out of his grasp, box in hand, and stared at him, trying to fathom how he could be so harsh and callous yet blessed with the face of a god.

He'd fed me lie after lie until I pushed him hard enough to finally confess the truth—he had pulled me from my first gymnastics meet of the season for selfish reasons. He wanted me to hate him enough so I would refuse his sexual advances because he couldn't control himself around me.

What a dirt bag. A deceitfully charming dirt bag who lied through his teeth because it was easier for him to deal with his urges. Asshole.

A low chuckle dripped from Kova's lips. I took a tentative step back, then another, and another. He was heartless. Cruel. My stomach fluttered again but for a different reason. The hair on my arms lifted as he peered up through thick, inky black lashes. The remnants of his anger gone, replaced by eager desire.

Tears stung the back of my eyes at the realization of how truly sick the situation was. My emotions were rising, my heart pounded viciously against my ribs. I wouldn't cry in front of him. I had to leave before I broke down.

Turning on the balls of my feet, I slammed out of his office, uncertain what would come of this heartbreaking, disastrous situation we'd both caused. The echo of his malicious laughter chasing me as I fled.