Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 72284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 361(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 361(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
“You’re that too.”
Of course, his expression is unreadable. But the muscle of his jaw is flinching, so I know I’m at least irritating him.
“So, where are we going tonight?” I ask.
“A charity auction.”
“Sounds like fun. What are you buying?”
“I haven’t made up my mind yet.”
“Is it a fancy event or more of a casual affair?”
“It is formal.”
“Fine, I’ll dress nicely. But only because you’ve kidnapped me.”
Amusement gleams in his eyes. “It’s nice to see you’re learning how this works.”
29
BROOKE
I don’t see Lev for the rest of the day, so I spend it in his library, reading, and I get so lost in the book that I don’t realize it’s late afternoon until Enya pops her head in.
“There you are.” She comes over to me. “We need to get you ready for tonight.”
“Ah yes, the charity auction.”
“For someone who is about to get wined and dined at a very fancy event, you don’t sound very excited.”
I want to tell her that I don’t think excited is a word I’d use for any of this. But that’d be a lie. Because when I put my hand on Lev’s rock-hard chest this afternoon, electricity tore through me like I was a human transformer. Which is bad, bad news. Because I can’t afford to let Lev make me feel anything other than contempt for him.
Not this relentless craving for just one more night with him that seems to have reared its head in the last twenty-four hours.
Like seriously, it’s like my hormones are on steroids or something.
“It sounds like it’s going to be a whole lot of rich people standing around in all their diamonds pretending to feel bad about something,” I say, not looking forward to the night of small talk and phoniness.
“Oh no, Mr. Zarkov would never attend anything stuffy like that. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised and have a wonderful time. Besides, that dress you ordered online earlier just arrived, and you’re going to look stunning wearing it.” She takes me by the wrist. “Come on, let’s get you ready.”
Again, Enya works her magic with my hair and makeup.
“There, what do you think?” she asks, adding the finishing touches to my hair. She’s swept it into an up style with loose tendrils hanging around my face.
“You might actually be a fairy godmother,” I say, admiring what she’s done.
She giggles, and I realize how infectious it is because I can’t help but smile and feel my spirits rise whenever she is around.
Our eyes meet in the mirror.
“You know, Igor seems nice,” I say.
Enya’s smile becomes coy and shy, and she looks away. “He is.”
And I get the feeling he is a topic she’s thought a lot about.
“I think he likes you,” I say.
Her gaze darts back to me. “Oh no, Igor wouldn’t be interested in someone like me.”
“Someone like you? What do you mean?”
“He’s the pakhan’s bodyguard and driver. He’s an important man in the bratva.”
“And you’re just as important.” I turn around to face her. “He would be lucky to have a woman as smart and as talented and kind and beautiful as you.”
She smiles sweetly. “You’re too kind, but—”
“No buts, Enya. It’s all true. If you’re interested in him, then tell him.”
“You think?”
I wink. “I know.”
She helps me to my feet and guides me over to the full-length mirror so I can see the whole package.
“My God, you look stunning,” she says, her gaze sweeping up and down the red velvet dress clinging to my body.
The dress is very Pretty Woman. In fact, all of this feels like something right out of the movies, and I have to remind myself not to get carried away. That all of this is just as fake as the movies.
Lev isn’t some debonair billionaire come to whisk me away from a life of struggle and scarceness. He’s a ruthless businessman who controls a large empire full of men and women whose main objective is to be rich and powerful and who are prepared to do anything to get there, no matter the cost.
But then I look at Enya, and I can’t help but feel like some of this is real.
She goes to turn away, but I gently take her wrist in my hand. “Thank you. It’s nice to have a friend while I’m staying here.”
Her smile is big. “I hope you decide to stay a little longer.”
I don’t have the heart to tell her that I’ll be gone in a matter of days. After all, Wilson will probably be on his way back from Oregon by now.
“One thing I’ve learned lately is to never say never,” I reply cryptically, and she smiles brightly as if the idea of me staying makes her immensely happy.
To avoid any more arguments and to keep that vein in the middle of Lev’s forehead from popping, I make sure to be ready on time, and at seven o’clock, I am in the grand foyer. I’m expecting Lev, but it’s Igor who is waiting.