Chapter 23

“What sort of party is this?”I press my hand against my chest where the teardrop diamond rests. It’s too much, I tried telling Viktor it was too much, but he only spun me around and fixed the clasp.

“An associate of mine is having a party to celebrate his daughter’s engagement.” He gently brushes my hand away from the necklace. “Stop playing with it.”

“What if I lose it, Viktor?” I demand.

“Then you lose it,” he says like it’s worth nothing.

“You don’t care if I lose a twenty-five-thousand-dollar necklace?” I touch it again to be sure it’s still there.

“How can you know what it cost?” He glances at me as our driver pulls down another street. Friday night traffic in the city is busy enough, but the closer we get to the party, the thicker the traffic gets.

“I found one like it online.” I touch it once more then look out my window. The townhouses are getting more elaborate as we inch down the street. “It’s a big party?”

“There’ll be plenty of people there. We don’t need to stay long, but my friend Roman is in town from New York. He and his wife will be here.” He brakes as we file into line with the other cars waiting to park.

“When you say associate, you mean for your real estate associates?” I pull down the visor and check my lipstick in the mirror. I went with a deep red for tonight, and I’m always afraid I’ll get a bit of it on my teeth.

“Mostly,” he answers after a pause. “Finally,” he grumbles as the car comes to a stop at the front of a brownstone. My door is opened for me, but before I can swing my legs out to hop down, Viktor tells me to wait.

“I can get?—”

“Wait for me.” The way he gives his order suggests I listen to him without argument. I notice people milling around the steps leading up to the elaborate townhouse are trying to get a look at me in the SUV.

Viktor chases off the valet with a simple glare and takes his spot on the sidewalk, offering me his hand.

I grab hold of him and slide down from the SUV until my feet are on the ground. He moves his hand to the small of my back and leads me away from the car to the steps.

“Touch it again and I will glue it to you,” he warns me in a low growl when he catches me bringing my hand up to my chest again.

I shoot him a look but move my focus to the steps so I don’t fall on my face. This dress he bought for me is gorgeous, but it’s long. Even with the slit that goes clear up my left thigh, it makes me nervous of falling.

A camera flash goes off to my left.

“What was that?” I ask, turning to see where it came from.

“Press,” Viktor grouses, moving quickly to my other side to block me from the press as he leads me up the rest of the steps and through the front door. We didn’t even have to show a ticket or anything; the doorman simply greeted Viktor as Mr. Petrov.

“Why is the press here?” I twist to look back out the door, but he sweeps me further inside.

“It’s a very high-profile engagement,” he says, pressing a little harder on my back and leading me to a room that’s nearly overflowing with people.

“Holy shit,” I gasp. “That’s Jenna Sterling.” I turn toward him. “She’s an actress, like a real movie actress.”

He chuckles. “Do you want to meet her?”

“No!” I move closer to him. “You said an associate, I didn’t think you meant movie star associates.” When I think about how I almost fought Viktor on this dress, I can’t even imagine walking in here in the black wraparound dress I would have chosen to wear. They would have laughed me out of the room.

He lifts an arm and wraps it around my shoulders, bringing me even closer to him. “I have no idea who these people are friends with. I do business with the father of the bride from time to time, that’s all.”

“Ah, good. A familiar face.” A man, a little older than Viktor joins us.

“Roman.” Viktor removes his arm from around me and takes Roman’s hand, shaking it with a grin. They exchange words in Russian, talking low as though anyone around us could understand them anyway.

“Your wife?” Roman points to me and a burst of laughter falls out of me.

I sober though when I catch a glimpse of Viktor’s glare.

“Sorry,” I say softly, clearing my throat.

“This is Marlena. She’s not my wife.” Viktor side-eyes me. “Yet,” he emphasizes.

“He’s kidding. We’re friends.” I smile what I hope is a casual uplift of my lips and not the panicked grin of a loon like I feel on the inside.

“Viktor doesn’t kid.” A woman at least a decade younger than Roman steps out from behind him. She’s much shorter than her husband and has much gentler features.

“He really doesn’t,” Roman agrees with a curt nod as he wraps his arm around the younger woman. “This is my wife, Billie.” The way his features soften when he looks at her fills my chest with a gentle ache.

“Hi, I’m Marlena,” I introduce myself to her.

“Right. Viktor’s not yet wife and friend.” She flashes a genuine smile. It’s so natural, the way she’s standing with Roman. She’s not intimidated at all by these hulking Russian men.

“The old man wants to talk before dinner,” Roman says.

“Andrei and Sergei aren’t here yet.” Viktor cranes his neck, searching the room.

As if by simply conjuring his cousins by mere thought, both of them along with Izzy appear from out of the crowd.

“Oh, thank god you’re here!” Izzy hurries to my side. She’s wearing a simple black sheath dress with a string of pearls around her neck and two droplets from each earlobe. Her hair is pulled up into a twist that I taught her how to do when she was living in the apartment across from me.

“You look amazing!” She holds me out an arm length. “Viktor has great taste, right?”

I smooth my hand over the skirt of the dress. “It is pretty, but it’s a little fancy.”

“It’s not your usual style, but it’s really pretty on you.” Her eyes go to the diamond necklace.

“I know.” I tug on it gently, making sure the chain is secure. “It’s too much.”

“I have to meet with some people for a few minutes. Don’t wander too far away.” Viktor slides an arm around my waist and pulls me to him so he can kiss my temple. “And stop touching the necklace.” He pinches my hip before pulling away and throwing me a wink.

“Go to your meeting.” I try to shoulder him out of our little group, but he’s already on the move.

“You’re from New York, right?” I ask Billie after the guys are gone and it’s just the three of us staring at each other.

“Yes, but I have a friend that lives here in Chicago part of the year. She’s married to Roman’s cousin, so we’re staying with them while we’re in town,” Billie explains.

“I thought Viktor does business with the host, for real estate stuff?” I take a glass of white wine from a tray passing by us. “Don’t you work with that, too? Should you be in the meeting?”

Her smile fades at the edges. “They’re not meeting about the real estate businesses. I only manage properties in New York. I manage Roman’s properties, one for Viktor and a few others.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t introduce Izzy. She’s married to Andrei.” I nudge Izzy forward, and she greets Billie.

“Have you been married long?” Billie asks.

“No, only a few months,” Izzy says.

“And have you and Viktor been together long?” She turns to me.

“What? No. We aren’t together. I mean not like that. We aren’t…” I drink my wine. I’ve never been drunk before, but I do know a glass or two of wine will help ease the tension out of my muscles.

“He brought you here, didn’t he?” Izzy pokes me. “And you said you’re spending the weekend with him.”

“That doesn’t necessarily mean anything,” I try to point out. Billie shares a look with Izzy and they both start laughing.

“Only because I’ve met Andrei a few times, I’m going to assume he’s as much of an overprotective man as my own husband. Am I right?” She holds up a glass of wine she’s snagged from a passing waiter.

“Yes.” Izzy clinks her glass, and they share another laugh. “Marlena is still under the impression that Viktor is simply going to walk away when she tells him to.”

“Oh, no.” Billie exaggerates a shocked expression.

“It’s not fair to gang up on me like this,” I point out, waving over another waiter and swapping out my empty glass for a full one.

“Who’s ganging up on you?” Izzy feigns insult. “We’re just trying to help you see the light. That man has it for you, and once these guys get their claws in, there’s no getting away. You should know this; you were there with me as I tried to fight off Andrei.”

“That was different. He loves you and you love him, I could tell.” I sip my wine and catch a glimpse of Chantelle making her way toward me with her hand up in the air waving.

“Marlena! What are you doing here?” Chantelle joins us with her hair perfectly curled and swept up to one side just as I had it when she left the salon this afternoon.

“To be honest, I’m not sure,” I laugh when she gives me a gentle squeeze. The light blue full-length dress with a chiffon overlay makes her look like a princess. I don’t want to wrinkle anything with a full hug.

“She’s here with Viktor Petrov,” Izzy answers quickly. Maybe she thinks Chantelle will think I crashed a party and go tell the host I don’t belong.

“Oh?” Chantelle’s smile freezes.

There are too many fancy people in this room with all the fancy decor and the fancy wine and the fancy chandelier hanging from the fancy ceiling. Heat rises up my neck. My heart beats against my eardrums as I look around the room.

Viktor said we didn’t need to stay long. Where is he? Can’t we go now before I really make a fool of myself and lose one of my best clients?

“How about you? Where’s your date?” I ask, looking behind her. “You mentioned a party tonight, but I thought it was another work function.”

“No.” She slides closer to me to let another group pass by. “No date. This is my sister’s engagement party.”

It takes a second for the words to wrap around my brain. If this is her sister’s party, then the ‘old man’ Viktor is meeting with right now is her father.

“Oh, wow.” I force a casual grin. Another woman wearing a similar dress and color to Chantelle’s dress glides past us with a man dipped in a million bucks on her arm. “Is she your sister?” I point to the dark blonde woman.

“No. That’s Marguerite, my sister’s maid of honor. She wanted all the bridesmaids to be wearing similar dresses for the party tonight.”

“Your sister did?” I clarify.

“No. Marguerite. My sister is a very dutiful, hands off sort of person. She’ll go where she’s told, when she’s told, and with who she’s told to go with. Marguerite gives the orders for the bridesmaids. She’s going to be my sister’s sister-in-law.” Chantelle’s usual upbeat energy feels dampened tonight.

“Sounds like a lot,” Billie chimes in. “Do you at least like the groom?”

Chantelle laughs as though Billie just said something hilarious.

“I guess not.” Izzy downs the last of her wine.

“There’s so many people here.” I glance out over the crowd, again touching the necklace.

“My father invited every business associate he has, then there’s the family, the family friends, my sister’s sorority and their families, and pretty much anyone who has any influence or an ounce of power in this city is here.” Chantelle rolls her eyes. “Oh, there’s Nicole Donato, she owns Luxe Strands, right?”

My stomach bottoms out as I see my boss on the other side of the room talking in a small group. As my gaze swings back, I catch a glimpse of Michael Agosti maneuvering through the crowd toward the main foyer.

I take a step to my left, putting Billie in front of me.

“What’s wrong?” she asks, puffing up her small frame to try to cover me even though she has no idea why.

“Nothing,” I lie. Nicole is on one end of the room, and Michael is in the house somewhere. If he sees me and she sees me, I might not have to worry about Jimmy anymore.

“You’ve been drinking?” Viktor’s warm hand takes my glass from me. I look up at him, and concern peers back.

“Just wine. I’m fine,” I assure him with a quick smile.

He deadpans when he sees Chantelle standing with us.

“Chantelle comes to the salon,” I explain before he starts making up other reasons for her being here.

“You did her hair? I love it,” Izzy compliments.

“Marlena’s the best,” Chantelle agrees.

“Your father is looking for you,” Sergei announces to Chantelle.

“They’re probably just wanting to get dinner started,” she says, her shoulders dropping. “Hopefully, I’ll see you later? Who knows what Margarite has planned for us.”

I try to give her a reassuring smile. “Try to have some fun.”

“You’ve never been to one of these things before, have you?” She laughs. “They’re stuffy and boring and full of people who are only playing nice so they can get something from you.”

“I think someone is trying to get your attention.” Billie gestures to a girl dressed in the same color blue gently waving in our direction.

Chantelle groans. “I’ve been found. I have to go.”

“I’m going to find our seats,” Sergei announces then stalks off into the crowd. “The sooner we eat, the sooner we leave.”

Only a moment after Sergei departs, a man walks into the room and announces dinner will be served in the grand dining hall.

“The grand dining hall? How big is this place?” I ask as Viktor sweeps me toward the door, following the moving herd.

“This is one of the largest estates in the city,” Billie says as we move toward the double doors. “After dinner, there’s dancing in a ballroom.”

“A ballroom?” It just shoots right out of my mouth. Several heads turn to see who just shouted. My face flames.

“You should have warned me this was so fancy.” I push my elbow into Viktor’s ribs.

He retaliates by pinching my hip. “Do you care about fancy?”

“No, but I don’t want to embarrass myself. Or you.”

He lifts an eyebrow at me. “You could never embarrass me, moy sladkiy voin.”

He has to stop saying all the right things. It’s unsettling and it’s starting to make me doubt my ability to walk away from him when he’s done with me.

We enter a dining room that easily seats over a hundred people. This is just the engagement party? How big will the wedding be?

He leads me to a table with our names printed with gold embossment on placement cards sitting on the plates. Viktor pulls out my chair for me.

“You’ll dance with me after dinner then?” I ask after he’s seated beside me.

He arches an eyebrow. “I don’t dance.”