[FROLO]

The sun rose and set while Sergei still sat in the same position. Still looking at the same feed. Still trying to understand. Still desperate to know how to fix it all. But even he couldn’t fix it.

He had known it last night, when he watched helplessly as his omega kicked his best friend out.

There had been calls to the mansion all day, but none had been answered. Because even if they were to answer, no one knew what to say.

The chairman was still sleeping.

The barbarian hadn’t moved an inch from that desk.

The damage controller, Anya, didn’t know what move to make. Because Sergei hadn’t said anything. Even as the city burned with the feeds from last night. With the humiliation of the omega chairman.

There were whispers, obvious whispers of the humiliation. Of how Yaroslav did not care for his husband.

And then came the whispers of the chairman mentioning the senator. Only that they didn’t vilify him for that. How could they, when everyone could see he was flaming from a point of hurt?

Oh, but so much was happening in Frolo.

Yet within the mansion, Sergei still stayed silent.

Hadn’t even made a call to his son to check for the truth. But what use would that be. When he himself had known the days when Yaroslav cheated on his omega?

Then Sunday ended.

And came Monday.

Sergei couldn’t hide anymore in his office.

Katya didn’t even have a recollection of how wasted his weekend was.

And when they met at the breakfast table at six in the morning? No one spoke.

They all ate in silence.

One on painkillers because of the splitting headache he had.

Another desperate to ask how the other was feeling and apologize for the several misunderstandings he had learned Saturday night.

Meanwhile, Anya just watched in silence, her heart breaking for the first time since she had truly interacted with the omega.

After all, there was only so much pain a person could take because of another.

"You will ride with Sergei from now on," Anya said, her words so simple, so unparalleled, yet words that had Sergei’s fork hitting the table harshly.

But she didn’t seem fazed.

Katya didn’t complain. He’d made peace with him being a tool for the Moskowskys.

"Understood, ma’am," Katya acknowledged, careful not to sound rude.

And Sergei’s heart sank into his stomach.

He knew where that came from.

He knew how that felt for Katya.

He had watched the feeds obsessively.

And he couldn’t even refuse. He couldn’t try to say that Katya was free to do whatever he wanted as long as he came home at the end of the day. Because saying no to the arrangement Anya had said would give Katya worse ideas.

Sergei now understood that.

The extent of Katya’s fear of him.

The man he cared for the most was scared of him. And his words, however reassuring, he hated to make them, would always sound like another trap for Katya.

Oh, Sergei understood.

And it hurt worse than hell.

"Do you remember what happened over the weekend?" Anya asked, her tone neutral, and Sergei wanted to die and never come back to life, suddenly.

"What?" Katya asked, genuinely confused.

He didn’t remember.

Hell, he didn’t even have his phone on him.

He could try to lie his way around this, but in the time he had known this woman, he understood that she despised liars and hated him even more.

He didn’t want to give her any more reasons to kill him at the table. Because even Katya knew Sergei would never be opposed to that.

After all, everything Anya did was run by him.

"What you did... over the weekend?" Anya added, her voice still neutral, and Katya hated how he could place whether she was angry or wanted to smack him with the plate before her.

Instinctively, he looked at Sergei, as if he wanted to see if the devil of Frolo hated him for the weekend or something.

But Sergei’s face was also neutral.

The only reaction he had gotten was that of the fork slipping, but he had picked it right up and continued his breakfast like Anya hadn’t said a word.

And Katya was confused even more.

So, he chose honesty.

"My apologies. I do not remember much. Did I breach the contract?" Katya asked in earnest, and Anya stared at him, face still neutral like she was trying to gauge what Katya was doing.

But what was the use when the sincerity on the man’s face and his words were more than obvious?

"Have you not checked your phone?" Anya added passively.

"I must have left it with Svet and Andre when I came home. I’ll get it back today, my apologies," Katya said, his honesty once again having Anya look at Sergei.

But Sergei was focused on something else.

Home.

Katya had talked of home so casually.

Granted, a part of Sergei knew that it was just a statement of the residence, but he couldn’t help but wonder if Katya really saw 13 Emerald as his home. It was a nice thought, and Sergei lifted his head to look at him briefly.

And their eyes met across the table.

Sergei was sitting at the head.

Katya on his side while Anya on the other.

"Alright. Whatever happens out there... If you need help, find Rahim, me... Or Sergei," Anya said, and the barbarian broke into a fit of coughs.

Anya, on the other hand, was dead serious.

Katya didn’t even know what it was that was happening, but damn, he was starting to get terrified.

What had happened that could make his jailers offer him help so freely like that?

"Is it... My parents? My friends?" Katya asked worriedly.

He knew he didn’t have a right to prod because he didn’t have any rights in this house. But curiosity was a strange thing that never let people breathe easy.

"Your family and friends are fine. Just remember, if you need anything out there, find the nearest phone. Dial 334 and help will come. 334, memorize that number," Anya said, and Katya felt his head beginning to hurt again.

The Moskowskys offering help like that was suspicious as hell.

What happened over the weekend?

Why did he not remember anything past Svet and Andre coming to pick him up on Saturday afternoon, and the Sunday he slept in?

"I’ll go ahead first. I’ll see you at the company. Both of you," Anya said with a tone of finality, before she left.

And then it was just Sergei and Katya.

One with all the memories.

Another with missing memories.

"I’m sorry for inconveniencing you, Vladimir," Katya breathed sincerely, and Sergei almost fell off his chair.

That name again.

Dammit.

"We have work to do. You heard Anya. Call me if you need anything," Sergei spoke instead, his words coming off in low waves like he was trying to be the most normal person around his crush.

Oh, but Anya was evil for making them ride together.

"My apologies," Katya said as he got up.

"Where are you going?"

"It’s almost seven. Can’t be late for work."

"You haven’t touched your food."

"I’m fine. I ate earlier," Katya lied.

"Nice try, Solnyshka. Sit down and eat. The company is not running away."

"But the tim—"

"Do I have to force-feed you?"

"I’m sat, Vladimir," Katya pouted nervously.

And Sergei’s heart almost jumped out of his chest at the sight.