Chapter Eight
Natalia
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!
Why didn’t I just keep working tonight? I had the chance. I thought I was being so smart coming home to pack. I wanted to make sure that I was nowhere around when Samuel came by. Now, look at what a mess I’m in. My eyes are fixed on Samuel, not knowing what to say. I’m pretty sure I look like an idiot with my mouth open. I can’t seem to move. I’m caught in the evil stare of my so-called husband.
“Well, hello there—wife,”
Samuel practically purrs.
I snap my mouth shut, narrowing my eyes at him. “Hello, asshole,”
I scoff. That should piss him off more.
Instead, his smile deepens. He lets go of Natalie and starts walking toward me. I take a step back as he comes forward. I finally hit the railing of the stairs way before Samuel stops. He’s standing right in front of me and I’m doing my best not to make the situation worse by knocking that arrogant look off his face.
“I think it’s time you and I get to know one another, Natalia.”
“My name is Isabel. The only person who called me Natalia was my idiot sperm donor.”
There’s a look on his face that I can’t decipher. It’s gone so quickly that I must’ve imagined it.
“Are you off work tonight, Shnookums?”
“Do not call me that. If you’re wanting to put out the terms for our divorce, then I can be free for that easily.”
“Now, Pookie, why would I be here to talk about a divorce? We’re married. That’s forever.”
“You don’t like me. I like you even less. Divorce is the best option.”
“Danny, he hurt my arm. Will you be a doll and take me to the emergency room to get it looked at?”
“Izzy, look at Natalie’s arm.”
“But Danny!”
she whines.
“God, how could you find that attractive?”
I mutter under my breath.
“I was mostly looking at her tits before I realized her brain was vacant,”
he responds.
His voice is quiet. I doubt Natalie could hear it over her incessant whining, but I still shoot him a dirty look. “I think the two of you would make a terrific couple.”
“I could tell by the way you let me believe she was you,”
he snaps back. “Do you realize I could have taken her to bed. You would have been the reason I committed adultery.”
“Oh, please. I doubt you’ve been saving yourself these last six months. Besides, we can draw up the paperwork tonight to start our annulment. You’ll be good to drag Natalie back to your house and tie her to your bed.”
He just stares at me. “Daniel?”
he calls out to my brother, his eyes, never leaving mine.
“Let’s go to my office to talk. Tayko, I will need you to take Natalie home.”
I giggle when I hear my bodyguard grunt. He hates Natalie. “This is your fault, Izzy,”
he mutters as he passes me.
“I’ll make it up to you. I’ll get Reva’s phone number for you,”
I offer quietly.
Tayko stops and looks back at me. “Not enough.”
I laugh, despite being terrified of meeting with Samuel. “I’ll also give you her favorite flower and which chocolate she loves to the point she says it’s better than sex,”
I add in my sing-song voice.
“That’s because she hasn’t had sex with me yet,”
he mutters. “Let’s go Natalie.”
“Who is that?”
Samuel asks, his hand grabbing mine. I try to pull away, but he just holds me tighter. Jerk.
“My bodyguard,”
I exhale. “Let’s get this over with.”
“I couldn’t agree more,”
Samuel agrees, leading me toward my brother’s office. I frown, obstinately thinking that he doesn’t have to sound so happy to get rid of me.
“Amen. The sooner we end this, the better for all of us,”
I practically growl, yanking harder on my hand. Samuel smirks down at me and refuses to let me go.
“Sammy! If you get all this taken care of, you can call me. Maybe me, you, and Danny could have some fun.”
I don’t miss the way Samuel’s body goes tight. “If she calls me Sammy again, I’m going to rip her tongue out of her mouth and wrap it around her neck.”
“Yikes,”
I gasp, looking up at him. I don’t think he’s joking at all. Perhaps he’s more like Ivan than I realized. I liked Ivan once I met him. Samuel, however, has been a grade-A ass since the beginning. The sooner we get this annulment done, the better.
He leads me over to a seat in front of Daniel’s desk. My brother is already in his chair. I don’t miss the look he’s giving me. It’s clearly a silent warning to watch my mouth and not alienate Samuel further. I roll my eyes, but I give a slight nod. I don’t want to make trouble. If it gets me free, I’ll be a good little girl. I’ll smile pretty and nod—all the while biting my tongue to keep from telling Samuel Levkin what an arrogant jackass he is. I just hope I don’t have to bite so hard that it’s in two pieces when this meeting is done.