“And how did Dimitri take the sudden contract change?” I wasn’t planning on asking Pavel this question, but curiosity got the best of me. I wonder if Dimitri remained unaffected or if he’s angry or…feeling anything really.
“He was pissed,” he confesses.
“Really?” I ask, surprised.
“Yeah. Stormed into our father’s office, demanding it be changed back.”
This is all news to me. Wow. Dimitriwantedto marry me? But that doesn’t make any sense. “I thought he would be happy about getting out of it,” I say softly.
“I thought so too, but I think he’s tired of being my father’s puppet. Getting married was sort of his way out of the family business and the riskier side of things. At least that’s what I think,” he says quietly.
“Oh, I understand.” So, it really has nothing to do with me but more so not having the luxury of being a married man with less responsibilities for his father. That makes more sense, because I’m pretty sure Dimitri hates me.
The waiter appears in front of the table. “Dessert?” he asks.
“No,” Pavel says immediately. “Just the check.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll be right back with that,” the waiter says before leaving.
Apparently, Pavel wants this date to be over with sooner rather than later. Not that I can say I blame him. It was definitely nothing like I’d expected. The only thing I learned about my future husband tonight is that we have literally nothing in common. But, hey, opposites attract; right?
Pavel quickly pays for the check and then walks me outside. My father’s town car is idling at the curb, and Pavel opens the back door for me.
“Well, that was…great,” Pavel says, and I swear he almost choked on the last word.
“Yeah, it was definitely something,” I agree with a nervous laugh.
Pavel leans in and places a quick, cold peck on my cheek. “Goodnight, Savina,” he says somberly before walking away.
I place my hand over my cheek. No spark. No lingering interest. Just…nothing.
“Goodnight,” I manage to say. Tears gather in myeyes as I climb in the back of the car, the realization hitting me like a ton of bricks. I have to spend the rest of my life with a man who can barely stand being in my very presence.What am I going to do?
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Savina
A WEEKAFTER my disastrous first date with Pavel, my father hosts an engagement dinner at our house to make the announcement of our imminent marriage official. Up until this point, no one in the family even knew about the contract or the upcoming wedding. And they certainly didn’t know the grooms had changed. Not that I’m allowed to tell anyone anything. My father made it known this morning that everything is to be kept hush-hush and just between us.
My stepmother had the entire house decorated in white and pastel pinks with lilies in vases strewn about — Cosette’s favorite colors and flowers, of course. God forbid she consults me for what I would like formyengagement party. But in all honesty, I could care less at this point; because, the truth is, I don’t even want to be here right now.
She had the great room cleared out and transformed into a makeshift banquet hall. We’re only expecting sixty guests or so forthis intimate affair, so the whole thing feels like overkill to me, but Cosette does love to spend my father’s money. And even more so, she loves showing off our wealth to others.
I’m standing by the hors d’oeuvres, looking over all the options and intent on eating my feelings over the next few hours when I feel a presence beside me. I don’t even have to turn to know who it is. My body is so attuned to his that it’s scary.
“Did you wear that short dress to entice all the men in this room?” Dimitri asks through clenched teeth.
I stare down at my white sequin mini dress, which I specifically bought for this party. It is short, but maybe I wanted to show off my legs and curves a little. Maybe a part of me was hoping my future husband would finally notice. Not that Pavel has even so much as glanced twice in my direction since he arrived.
Heatedly, I step closer to Dimitri and ask, “Why? Does it offend you, Dimitri?” He glares at me, but I stand my ground. He doesn’t scare me anymore. Not since I learned that he won’t be the one I’m marrying. In fact, it’s freeing in a way. I feel like I can conquer the world now and not cower down to him like I always did before.
“Someone could literally stick their hand up your dress,” he says, his dark voice like a threat wrapped in velvet. And by the look on his face, it seems like he wants to test out his theory.
I straighten my spine and glare at him, daring him to push me too far. “I will scream the roof down of this house if you try anything,” I warn him, staring him dead in the eye.
My warning does little to deter him; however, and he steps impossibly closer to me, closing what little distance we had between us until the front of my body is touching his. “Are you even wearing panties, Savina?” he asks, practically seething.
“I guess you’ll never know the answer to that question,” I tell him before turning away. And just for good measure, I walk over to the dessert table, bend over as far as my dress will allow, knowing that I’m practically flashing him, and maybe even the entire room, the bottom of my ass cheeks. I’m wearing a thong, but this is stillpretty damn scandalous as far as I’m concerned. I’m not normally this brazen, but Dimitri is always lighting a fire inside of me that I can’t seem to control. I lose my head when I’m around him. But I’m beginning to wonder if that’s such a bad thing. At least it makes me feel alive, which is more than I can say about his brother.
