She goes silent for a long moment. So long that I think she fell asleep before I glance down at her and see a frown on her face. “My mom is dead. I know it.”
“What happened there?”
“She left one day. Tired of my dad. But she didn’t take me with her even though she promised she’d be back. But she never came back.”
“Maybe your dad didn’t kill her.”
“I know he did,” she says with certainty. “I know it. My mom would not have left me alone with him. She was going to get us both out but she never came back. I know he did it. I just can’t prove it and even if I could, it wouldn’t change anything. He’s still a powerful man. And I’m just a woman.”
“You have me,” I offer. “I can’t go against your father and risk the alliance we built. But you can trust me to take care of you. I promise I’ll stop being a fuck-up. I want you to trust me.” I’ve never wanted anything more, I realize.
“Do you really think we can make this work?”
“If we try, we can. Do you want to try?”
She doesn’t hesitate to answer. “I do.”
Chapter Fourteen
Natasha
Ihave no choice but to attend a charity function with Maksim where my father is going to be at.
The charity is for children in need so at least it’s something good but that doesn’t make the thought of seeing my father any easier.
“You’re ok,” Maksim murmurs on the car ride to the event. It’s hosted inside a beautiful a ballroom in a hotel – a place a lot of people would love to go but I’m dreading it with everything inside of me. “I won’t let your dad hurt you.”
“He’s never hurt me. He just… scares me. A part of me was grateful to leave his house and now I’m going to have to see him again. I told you my secret. If he finds out…”
“I’m not going to tell him that you think he killed your mom. I know better than that. Trust me. We both promised to make this marriage work. I’m not going to ruin it by saying anything.”
“Thank you,” I breathe out.
We reach the hotel and I don’t even realize I’m shaking until Maksim helps me out of the car and wraps his arm around my shoulders. There’s a physical closeness between us after he put his mouth on me and I did the same to him. A part of me still cannot believe I did that but it had felt right in the moment and I don’t regret it. I want to make this marriage work more than anything.
The ballroom is decorated in soft browns and whites, which would be relaxing for most people, but I can’t relax at all. Not when I see my father across the room talking with Maksim’s dad.
“Is Kira going to be here?” I ask.
“No. She hates going to things like this. Says they’re boring.”
I deflate a little. It would have been nice to have a friend around.
With no other choice, Maksim and I walk across the ballroom towards our fathers.
“There they are,” Gregor says. “The hopefully happy couple.”
“Yes,” Maksim says in a tight voice. His demeanor shifts around his dad, I notice. I like having something in common with him.
My own father sets his stern eyes onto me. “I haven’t heard anything bad between the two of you, which is good. You’re making me proud, Natasha. When can I expect grandchildren?”
Maksim coughs. “What?”
“Grandchildren. If you have kids it will help ensure peace between our families even more.”
“Probably not for a while,” Maksim says. “But we’re working on it,” he adds quickly when both of our fathers frown. “We just want to enjoy being together first.”
My dad clears his throat. “Well… I want grandchildren soon.” He gives me a pointed look, silently telling me to do my job.
