Genius at Heart

Beau:

Fuck! Getting shot at was a bummer. And if there was one thing she hated the most, it's being coddled.

Her independent streak was rearing its head. She had sworn to poison Dominic with belladonna if she could get her hands on one.

Two whole weeks she had been confined to this bed. The wallpapers had made her dizzy from staring at it all day. She had memorized every pattern she could decipher, even made equations. And answered them in different ways. And there was one more thing that aggravated her the most. Those fucking pain killers had her knocked out all the damn time!

She and Dominic had barely spoken, other than civilized small talk-the usual good morning and good night and how are you phrases. He made it a point to avoid her.

Well, except at night. He retired to their bed beside her only if he was sure she was fast asleep. This was not always the case.

She could feel his warmth as he cuddled with her gently and his deep even breaths lulled her to sleep.

But the fucker was always gone when she woke up. As if nothing happened and everything was dandy fine. This frustrated her to no end. She wanted to know what's going on. Why was he acting like he had KGB or CIA secrets? Dominic's sister-bless her beautiful heart-and his mother were the only people keeping her sanity intact. Or she would have ended screaming the roof off in her agitated and boring state.

Her goal today was to get up from their huge bed. Alone. And eat all the berries in the world like there was no tomorrow.

-Fuck you, Dominic!-

But that's one of the shitty things she forgot all the time.

He didn't want to fuck her anymore. Damn him! He was treating her like she has the plague or worse like she was a carrier of yellow fever.

She knew she sounded like a whiny bitch and melodramatic but like she gave a damn. She had been confined in bed for almost a month. A few more weeks and she'd be in an asylum.

Oh, she would also need to order Chinese. She was craving some steamy buns.

Beau mentally scoffed. She changed thoughts faster than the speed of light.

Wincing, she gingerly navigated, by slow progress from the bedroom to the carpeted hallway.

The huge house was too quiet. She hasn't had the chance to explore since she had always been confined in her room.

Dr. Lizzie Hope had been a constant companion as well and she grew fond of the shy, demure physician. Can't help when the good doctor basically saved her from death's door. They became buddies of sorts, and she has helped her today by not drowsing her in pain meds. This was the first time Beau was fully lucid since she woke up.

The only drawback was she could feel every painful twitch of her bullet wound. Fuck! It was near unbearable.

She was gasping for breath by the time she reached the busy spacious kitchen. All activities stopped and the maids gaped at her in shock. Yeah. Surprise.

A handsome lady in her sixties scurried over to help her on a cushioned leather seat. She flashed her a grateful smile while she gritted her teeth.

"You shouldn't be up on your feet, tzarina." The old lady admonished and clucked her tongue several times. Beau presumed she was the head housekeeper because everyone was looking at the woman for guidance.

"I'm okay. I'm sorry I didn't get your name?" She glanced at Beau while she poured her a glass of water. She took a sip, sighing at the coldness of the drink.

"Call me Mrs. Bell, tzarina." What's with the ridiculous title?

"I am not a Russian Queen, Mrs. Bell." She ignored the housekeeper's surprised expression. "I'm hungry. Do you have fresh berries?" Her taste buds watered imagining its sweet nectar.

"We have some blueberries and strawberries. Do you want it with vanilla ice cream?" The lady asked with a thoughtful expression. Eager to please the young tzarina.

"Umm, I think sour cream would be best," Beau answered.

Mrs. Bell nodded and made her a bowl of creamy delight. She presented the odd combination to her with a gentle smile.

Beau moaned at the delicious treat. Finishing it in under 10 minutes and she asked for another one. Still indulging, she remembered the buns. "Can you call for Chinese delivery? I want the hot meaty buns for lunch," she requested. Mrs. Bell nodded enthusiastically and ordered a maid to do it.

"Do you want me to order different varieties of berries, tzarina?" She asked eagerly. She was way too happy to oblige her.

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Beau's eyes narrowed but she answered yes. The lady was like a motherly figure, and she liked her.

"Do you know where I can find Dominic?" She needed to talk to that stubborn man soon. Give him the tongue lashing he deserves.

"He didn't tell you, miss?" Uneasiness gripped her insides. It seemed that he didn't want to tell her anything anymore. Screw him! "No." Where the fuck was he?

"The tzar left on a business trip to Brazil today." Mrs. Bell gulped when she noticed the tzarina's blank expression. A facade. Her anger was palpable. She was seething with rage, and she wanted to bash his head with a porcelain vase. Business trip her ass. He was probably avoiding her. Perhaps he doesn't know how to end things with her, that's why he left. Well, she will finish this stupid affair for him. No more engagement too.

She lost her appetite, but her stomach grumbled. The berries look great.

To hell with it! She will stuff her belly until she bursts.

***

"Beau, you should be resting." Dinara licked her lips nervously. Lizzie was with her and they were both unsure what to do.

To say that she had invaded Dominic's office was an understatement. She basically spent the whole day in his private domain. To spite him, she has approved every damn proposal at his table. Reviewed financial reports and sent summaries to his accounting team.

This started five days ago. She was beyond pissed at him. No calls and no texts.

But what she hated the most was she couldn't eat her damn Nutella. She was constantly on edge, and she got riled at the drop of a hat.

"I'll stop working if you tell me where your brother is," Beau said silently. Both women looked at each other. It's impossible he would still be on business in fucking Brazil.

"It's not my place, sis," she has no qualms about this pixie beauty calling her sister because she wanted that too. What she hated was this imposed engagement to Dominic. He didn't even have the decency to ask her.

She didn't have a fucking choice and it bothered her. All her life, she was in control. And she was not ready to relinquish that control to him.

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And she was not ready to put herself in a position where she could get hurt beyond her imagination. What he was doing to her right now was a perfect example of that. She wouldn't risk her heart.

"Okay. I want to leave this house and go back to my cottage. Alone." She knew she sounded like a brat, and she didn't care. The need to be alone to think overwhelmed her.

Lizzie sighed deeply. "I can't let you do that. I won't take the risk of you going off alone and getting shot again. That's too risky, Beau. I'm going with you," she announced with determination.

Beau's jaw dropped at the doctor's conclusion. Dinara shook her head in agreement.

"But before we do that and escape our bodyguards, tell us why first?" Her future sister-in-law sat at her desk. Well, her brother's desk...ugh!

Shit! Could she go through with this? She didn't want to put these precious girls in trouble. And they would definitely be in trouble by aiding her.

"I want to teach your brother a lesson and I have to make a stand." The words came out of her lips, and it sounded a bit idiotic. She frowned. It's not! Dominic was messing with her mind. And this was long overdue. "You don't want to marry my brother?" That's a loaded question coming from Dinara.

-Do I?-

She didn't have an answer.

"I can't answer that when he didn't even ask me. He commanded!" Beau seethed with anger. She was not asking for a down-on-your-knees with a huge heirloom ring on a velvet box kind of thing.

What she wanted was the freedom to choose and to decide. It doesn't matter if her answer was yes or no. That's a moot point. Does it make sense? She was doubting this, her decision. Beau mentally scowled. "Yeah, I feel you. My brother, bless his heart, is a stubborn idiotic asshole sometimes. Don't worry, Beau. I'm on your side." Dinara grinned mischievously.

Beau nodded. Glad she had their approval.

The doctor snorted. "You may be on her side, we both are, but the real question is, how are we going to escape this fortress with hundreds of guards roaming the estates?" A stupid headache plagued her suddenly. How indeed? Beau and Lizzie glanced at Dinara.

Dominic's sister laughed evilly. "Leave it to me girls. Just be ready by midnight."