It was too salty ... I knew it.
Lev then took a bite, followed by Mikhail and Dimitri. Each of them glanced at Max, seeking his approval before they said anything. Max gave them a stern look that clearly communicated they should keep their mouths shut if they didn’t like it.
“How is it?” I asked, testing Max’s control over the others. I wondered if they’d be honest.
“Oh, so good,” Mikhail said, forcing a smile as he washed it down with a generous gulp of vodka. His eyes widened slightly as the strong drink burned its way down his throat, but he managed to keep a straight face for the most part.
“Delicious...” Lev mumbled, scooping some of the noodles onto the plate with exaggerated enthusiasm. He wasn’tconvincing, but he kept his eyes on Max, clearly afraid to voice any criticism.
It was obvious they were scared of Max—afraid to tell the truth. I couldn’t help but find the situation amusing. These men, usually so tough and strong, had been reduced to nervous schoolboys under Max’s watchful eye.
That made me smile just a tiny bit.
Later, as I was heading up to bed, Max stopped me at the bottom of the stairs.
“Rosalie,” he called, his voice carrying a hint of urgency that made me pause.
I turned to face him, noticing his serious expression. “Yes?” I replied, my curiosity piqued. I wondered if he was going to thank me for the dinner I’d cooked, even if the sodium levels were a health risk.
But he didn’t. Instead he said, “Don’t forget about the engagement dinner. You’re not finding a way out of this.Friday. Six o’clock.” His words were quick and demanding, the urgency in his voice unmistakable. “And Rosalie?”
“Hmm?” I replied, the sound barely more than a hum of acknowledgment.
“Do not make me wait.”
CHAPTER 37
ROSALIE
“Do not make me wait.”
I could still hear the urgency in Max’s voice. The clock on the wall mocked me with its bold red digits. Two minutes. I only had two minutes left.
I bolted across the room, my movements frantic and uncoordinated, like a woman without a head. Punctuality had never been my strong suit—a fact Max knew all too well. Breakfast had always been my nemesis. It was obvious I’d never been a morning person either, perpetually at odds with the early hours.
But this was different somehow. This seemed like a date, almost. The thought did little to calm my nerves. In fact, it only made them worse. I absolutely hated feeling this way. I was anxious, on edge, and completely out of sorts. I couldn’t help it. My nerves were shot.
I was going to meet his family—the people I’d spent my life fearing. I needed to make a good impression, but how could I do that if I was only focused on everything that could go wrong?
Every worst-case scenario played out in my mind, which did nothing but amplify my anxiety. How would they react to me?Would they see me as worthy of him, or would I fall short in their eyes?
Would they even get along with my family?
Gosh... this was a bloodbath waiting to happen.
I took a deep breath and faced the mirror. I wrestled with the tangled necklace in my hands, trying to steady my trembling fingers. The delicate chain slipped through my fingers again, and I swore under my breath.
Why did everything have to go wrong, today of all days?
“You really know how to test a man’s patience,” a deep voice echoed from behind me.
Max. I froze for a moment, but my heart didn’t. It continued to pound.
Slowly, I turned to face him, the necklace still clutched in my fingers, and met his gaze. “I’m almost ready,” I stammered.
“Almost?”
“Yes, just ... give me a second,” I said as I turned back to the mirror. My hands continued to try to mess with the clasp of the necklace. It felt like the more I rushed, the harder it became to get the delicate chain to cooperate.
