Meanwhile, Taya looked in the mirror and felt bad after hearing what happened. She felt that what Viktor said was right and that she should be more careful.
However, thinking about Viktor mentioning how those men who tried to tail them had all their tongues cut had her thinking since she had never come upon such men personally. Not ones who were targeting her anyway.
She felt that whoever sent them was very dangerous. Suddenly, she felt as if her decision to ask for Viktor's help at this time seemed like the right time.
Soon, everyone finished eating and even congratulated Denys by giving him gifts except for Taya, who awkwardly congratulated him and promised to give him a belated gift, but Viktor came in between and said he would buy a nice gift on Taya's behalf, later on, to which Taya could only shake her head helplessly.
Denys felt all his initial excitement had got doused by cold water with Lucien's arrival. They were all in his cottage, enjoying at his expense and celebrating in his name, but all the attention was on Taya's hot ex-brother-in-law.
When it was finally time to leave, Denys turned around and asked as everyone came out, "So, let's all enjoy our trip back in my car. Lucien, if you didn't have your bike, I would have been happy to drop you back."
Viktor came forward and smiled, "Oh, no worries. I have Taya for company," He said as he put his hand over Taya's shoulder.
Denys dryly chuckled as his expression couldn't look any more awkward and looked at Taya, "Are you sure you want to go on a bike? I mean, I am not saying going on a bike is bad, but surely you would be more comfortable traveling in my car, right? I can easily drop you off at home."
Taya suddenly realized that she had forgotten about the fact that Viktor came on his bike. She also knew that he would want her to ride with him and wondered if that was a good idea since others might see her riding on a man's bike, which could lead to a lot of misunderstandings if somebody gets the news.
Viktor chuckled, "Denys, you worry too much. You have no idea how much Taya loves to ride on bikes, especially mine. Besides, I stay very near to her house. So, we two don't want to make you waste extra fuel and stuff. I mean, we should burn less fuel and save the planet, right? Just before you told us you were leading one of the green initiative campaigns. So, the last thing we two want is for you to go against your values for us. Let's go, Taya."
Denys nodded with a strained smile and wondered how this man could come up with such sound excuses and why the usually confident and decisive Taya was so unusually quiet whenever Lucien talked and did not object to whatever he does.
Taya decided to let it be since she knew Viktor would surely come up with something to make sure she doesn't have any objections.
"Goodbye, Lucien."
"Goodnight, Lucien."
"Yeah, see you someday later!"
The three women called out from behind, to which Viktor replied with a wink, "See ya, girls."
The three women felt as if they got younger just because Lucien addressed them as "girls" and the very thought of it made them smile foolishly.
Sean felt pity for Denys, whose face looked like he aged a dozen years, and that too on his birthday.
"Here, put this helmet on. It will protect your head and your identity as well," Viktor said as he gave her the black helmet he had hung on the bar of his bike.
Taya hesitated for a moment and said as she put on the helmet, "This is an exception. I am only riding with you because it's so late in the night and because Eva is at home."
"Yeah, whatever," Viktor chuckled as he got on the bike, and Taya followed after, sitting behind him while making sure to leave some gap between them.
"Come on. Don't be shy and just hold me. I won't think anything about it."
"I am perfectly fine without holding you. Hmph," Taya said in a peeved tone.
"Oops, alright. Here we go," Viktor felt that she was quite angry about him teasing her in front of her friends and decided to let her cool down as he took off.
However, as they rode through the road, Taya couldn't help but stare at his wide back, losing track of time as memories of past took over, kindling her desire of revisiting those times.
Right as they were about to reach the Snow Mansion, Taya asked, "We are going through the back, right? I hope no one is there."
Taya was quite worried if others might spot her traveling on some young man's bike this late at night.
The last thing she wanted was for the media to make money using her name and also annoy her.
"Chill. Just like old times, no one's there nor does anybody else know unless you told them," Viktor casually said.
"No way. I never told anyone about it. Not even Eva. What would they think if I told them about it? It would be quite obvious," Taya said with a reddened face.
"Haha, you worry too much. In fact, you should be proud to brag about it to people."
"Oh, fuck off, Viktor. I already have enough stuff to deal with already. A scandal would be the final nail in the coffin," Taya said with a snort.
"Wow, it feels good to hear you cuss. And here I thought you had completely turned into a sophisticated woman. Good, you didn't," Viktor chuckled.
Taya's face reddened and indignantly said, "I am indeed sophisticated. It's just your fault that these crass words come to my mouth. Haa...you are really a bad influence."
"Bad? Maybe. But the one you need."
Taya rolled her eyes, and seeing that they had finally gotten through the secret backdoor of the Snow Mansion and into Viktor's garage, she got off quickly, "We will talk tomorrow."
Taya frantically got inside thinking that somebody might spot her sneaking in.
Viktor saw her warily walking through the door and mumbled, "Tomorrow? Hmmm...but the night is still young. I wonder what I should do…Ah! I got it..." A sly smile crept across Viktor's face.
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150 votes = 1 Bonus Chap
200 votes = 2 Bonus Chaps
300 votes = 3 Bonus Chaps
500 votes = 4 Bonus Chaps
750 votes = 5 Bonus Chaps
1k+ = 14ch/week ;)