Chapter 13 - Arina

Every time Igor walks into our room naked, I can't help but stare. He's so… large. Everything about him is big. His arms, his legs… his cock. I remember how it filled me and how pleasured I was, and I almost want to beg him to take me again. But I'm not going to give him the satisfaction.

I've been going into the resort daily with Yvonne, sometimes staying over while we deal with the upgrades to the new resort.

I'm negotiating with three more resorts we want to buy and will meet with two of those clients later today.

I feel content as I wake up in our large bed. Igor's already up and in the bathroom, so I lay still for a moment, comfortable and warm. He comes out naked, and I peek at him on his way to the closet.

If this weren't a forced marriage, I'd consider myself fucking lucky.

I am spending my time at the resort preparing to execute my revenge against the Milovs, and I can't wait to see their faces. For now, though, I need to go to work.

I get up and sleepily pad across the room and into the bathroom to relieve myself before I have a quick shower, brush my teeth, and dry my hair.

When I come out, Igor has already gone to breakfast, and I get dressed quickly. He prefers that we eat breakfast with him, like a family, and I know he hates to wait.

I take the stairs as quickly as I can in high heels before I gracefully enter the dining room. Matvey is there, but he's not my biggest fan, and he's sitting next to Yvonne. Which makes sense; he wants absolutely nothing to do with me.

There is a bowl of hot oats sitting in front of me, and I wait until Igor tucks into his food before I get mine ready. I add butter and a heap of sugar. Matvey pulls a face when he sees it, but I ignore him. I like my oats buttery and sweet. No one is going to take that away from me.

Igor likes his the same way, which is cute. We are kind of like a matching couple sometimes.

Matvey turns to Yvonne. "What have you got on today? There's a show tonight at the theatre. I was thinking of getting us all tickets."

"Sounds lovely," Yvonne says between mouthfuls.

"Igor?" he asks.

"Yeah, we can do that," Igor says. "And get Arina one too, please. I want to be seen with her."

"Yes," Matvey says, though he gives me a disdainful look.

"Matvey," Igor says. "I think you can take the girls to the resort for me today. I have other business to attend to. Keep an eye on things and report to me if anything goes wrong." Igor finishes his porridge and stands up, wiping his mouth on a napkin. "I'll see you all later for the show."

He leans down and kisses my head. It's his new thing. I even find it endearing. He leaves before Matvey can answer, but I can see he's irritated by the request.

I have to admit, Igor in a suit ordering people around is quite the turn on. I love to be here when he's addressing his underlings and bosses them around. The way his suit shirt and jacket hug his thick arms… The bulge in his pants…

I mean, I am a woman, after all. I notice these things just like anyone else.

Matvey looks at us. "Well, hurry up."

"Don't be so testy," Yvonne says. "He said to take us, not to order us around."

Matvey looks sufficiently chastised, and I could kiss Yvonne for the look on his face.

This might be temporary, but I might be enjoying it a little too much.

We get into the car with Matvey, and Yvonne turns to me during the drive. "They're bringing in the final proposal today for the abandoned resort in the desert. I really do think we can bring it back to life."

"I do, too. It has so much potential, and the more we pump into it, the less people will notice where the money is coming from that we're pumping into it."

I'm no fool. I know they deal with illegal goods. I just don't know if it's drugs or something else. I also don't know if I'm okay with it. I mean, it's not like they're selling people.

"Richardson will meet you," Yvonne says. "But I've got an appointment at the same time, so you're going to be on your own for this one."

"That's fine. He's a creep, but I can handle him." I glance at Matvey. "What are you going to do while we work?"

"Play golf," he says sarcastically.

"No need to be so touchy," Yvonne says.

"Stop scolding me, woman," he says angrily. "You're not Mom."

Yvonne smiles slyly.

Once we're at the resort, we separate, and I go to the conference room to wait for Richardson.

I spend most of the morning going through everything to make sure I'm prepared, and I find that I have a couple of hours to spare. I go up to the Sidorov floor and enter our suite, where I've left some of my things. I change into a one-piece swimming costume. It's so damn hot I might as well cool off.

I go to the infinity pool and get in. I swim laps, relaxing in the temperature-controlled water. I can feel the warm sun on my face, and it's so refreshing to duck down into the cool water and come back up for air.

Honestly, my job has always been high-powered and high-driven, and it's ridiculous to think that I now get to take a dip while waiting for a client.

Once I'm sufficiently cooled off, I get out of the pool and wrap a towel around me. Matvey comes out and gives me a sour look. "Aren't you supposed to be having a meeting?"

"In a little while," I say. "I wanted to cool off and shower before it started."

"Living the life of luxury, aren't we?" he asks.

It doesn't sit well with me. "I didn't ask for this, Matvey. In case you forgot, you kidnapped me, and then Igor forced me to marry him. I'm just making the best of a bad situation." I squeeze my hair out and flick it, sending water everywhere, including his face.

He glares at me, and I walk away.

I don't like that man, but I don't want to push him too far.

I go to our suite and run a lukewarm shower to rinse the chlorine from my hair and body. I must admit, since I have been swimming at the resort, I have developed a nice tan. Every now and then, Yvonne joins me, and we have long conversations under the Las Vegas sun.

I dress and dry my hair, and once I'm ready, I go downstairs to the conference room, where I find Richardson waiting alone.

"Richardson," I say. "I wasn't expecting you so soon."

"I finished up my prior business a little earlier than expected. Is Yvonne not joining us today?"

"It's just you and me," I say with a smile. I sit opposite him at the table. "Let's talk figures."

He sits down and smiles. "Of course, you got the projected earnings for once the resort is back up and running."

"I think it was a little overestimated. There are many resorts opening in Las Vegas, and the desert isn't exactly the place that most people want to visit. They normally want to be close to the casinos and the shows." I push a folder toward him. "I can't give you eight million for the resort. I am authorized to offer you four and silent partner shares for the first ten years, at which point you'll be bought out."

Richardson opens the folder and looks at it. "Peter."

"Sorry?" I ask.

"Everyone calls me by my surname. You can call me Peter." He smiles. "If we're going to do business, we should at least be on a first-name basis, Arina."

I don't know why, but the leery way he looks makes me uncomfortable.

I smile and slowly stand. "I hope you'll consider our offer. It really is good. Failing that, it was a pleasure dealing with you." I realize too late that I've put Richardson between me and the door. I casually walk around the table, but as I fear, he stands up and blocks me before I'm fully around the table.

"Why the rush, Arina? Are we not here to discuss business?" he asks. "After all, we've been doing this dance for days now."

"There's no dance," I say, keeping myself poised. "It's business, plain and simple. And it's Mrs. Sidorov to you, I'm afraid."

I'm hoping the use of Igor's name will drive some fear into him, but if anything, it seems to excite him more, and he advances on me.

"You think I haven't noticed how you've been flirting? The low-cut tops you wear?" he asks, licking his lips. "Shoving those tits in my face every opportunity? I'll take your deal if you give me a little more than what's on offer."

I frown. "There is nothing else on offer, and just because a woman dresses nicely doesn't mean she's throwing herself at you. Please don't flatter yourself. I wouldn't come near you with someone else's hand."

Richardson's face changes into an ugly, twisted snarl, and he grabs me by my throat. I choke as he's cutting off my air. "I think you can first choke on my cock then you can bend over while I fuck you."

I scratch at him and catch his face. He roars and throws me against the table. I hit my lower back, and pain shot up my spine. I grasp my throat and take big breaths before I try to scramble to my feet.

Richards grabs me by my hair and pulls me against his crotch. I go with the motion and head butt him in the balls before he can pull me back. He grunts and bends over. I crawl away, trying to go around the other side of the table.

I feel a sudden kick to my stomach, and I cry out.

There's a commotion outside, and I hear the door slam open.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing?"

"She attacked me," Richardson says. "Look at my face."

I feel strong arms helping me up, and I fall into Matvey's arms. "Are you okay?" he asks.

I glance at Richardson, who is being restrained by two guards.

"He… he tried to attack me." I want to burst into tears, but I don't want to give Richardson the satisfaction.

Matvey tenses beside me and looks at the guards. "Secure him in this room. We'll be outside waiting for Igor."

He leads me outside. I limp slightly, and he holds me up. "You'll be okay. Igor is on his way anyway. He'll deal with this situation."

I shake in his arms, and I hear Yvonne from down the hallway. "What happened?"

I look up as she comes hurrying toward me. "That bastard…"

"I'll cut his dick off," Yvonne seethes, smoothing my hair around my face.

Matvey gets a guard to bring me a chair and sits me down. "Once Igor is here, Yvonne can take you home, and we'll deal with this prick," he says gently. He seems a bit out of sorts, as though he's not sure how to handle me.

I shake. I can't believe how close I came to being… Igor has never treated me that way. Even when we had sex, he was kind. I've been leered at before but never attacked.

We all look up as the elevator dings open, and Igor steps out, stopping when he sees me.