At this point, the chances of my leaving this marriage at the scheduled time were rapidly depleting.
However, despite myself, I couldn’t help feeling something dangerously close to gratitude. Whether he played a role in my frustration or not, the truth remained that if he hadn’t intercepted that assassin when he did, I’d have been dead by now.
Chapter 10 – Adrik
“Women,” I muttered to myself, standing at the base of the stairs.
I couldn’t understand why that gender always took so long to get ready. I’d been waiting for her to come down for over thirty minutes now, and my patience was growing thinner by the minute.
According to my watch, we were already running late for the event—one I would gladly skip if possible. Pakhan Artem was throwing a gala, and the invited guests were asked to bring their wives along.
I’d yet to come to terms with the fact that this nosy young lady was my wife. It would take a while to get used to that.
Ever since she’d returned from her grandfather’s estate over a week ago, things had gradually gone back to normal at the mansion. She’d stopped avoiding me and had resumed work in my office. We still had our usual banter every now and then, nothing too serious.
That spoiled little devil never agreed with me on anything and always jumped on any opportunity to argue. It was as though she loved getting on my nerves, and I couldn’t blame her—the feeling was mutual.
I wasn’t sure what Richard Beaumont had told her while she was at his place. But whatever it was, it sure made her calm down. Maybe he told her who the man in my basement had been. Maybe he didn’t. Whatever the case, she hadn’t spoken to me about it again.
Since her return, she’d been handling a few documents for my underground businesses. I let her handle one or two Mafia-related cases, just to see how much she could handle.
So far, it didn’t seem to be an issue, and that’s how I knew that she was gradually easing into her new reality. She’daccepted her fate—she was dealing with a cold-blooded Mafia boss. Her eyes no longer held that previous fear and horror.
However, up until now, we still hadn’t spoken about the incident or her willingness to handle criminal files.
Again, I glanced at my watch, my left foot tapping rapidly against the floor. “What the hell is taking so long?” I whispered under my breath.
Just when I was about to climb up the stairs to go check on her, the scent of her perfume drifted into my nostrils. By the time I raised my head, she was already descending the steps, gorgeous in every way.
Her brown doe eyes simmered under the chandelier’s warm glow, her red gown clinging to her like a second skin. Her makeup was light and natural, blending seamlessly with her toned skin.
The daring slit on the side of her dress revealed glimpses of her alluring legs as she moved. Her manicured fingers brushed against the polished railing as she descended the stairs like a beauty queen.
My heart skipped a beat when I first saw her. And for the next few seconds, I was glued to her. Completely mesmerized.
Her dark auburn hair was styled to perfection atop her head, her eyes sparkling in a way that thawed something frozen inside me.
Damn!
I was so used to seeing her plain and simple that I forgot this version of her existed. She looked just as gorgeous as she did on our wedding day. Maybe even more gorgeous. She managed to leave me smitten—speechless.
Now I understood why she’d taken too long to get ready. She was trying to look her best. And inmyopinion, she nailed it. I had no doubt that she was going to be the best-dressed at the gala. And I couldn’t wait to show her off.
She reached the base of the stairs and then sashayed her way over to me, her hips swaying gently. “Sorry, I’m late,” she said. Even her voice was smooth like silk and sweet as honey.
As the hard man that I was, I refused to let my mask slip. I maintained my usual composure. “No, you’re not.”
Her lips curled into a mischievous grin. “You’re right. I’m not.”
My eyes discreetly traced the gentle curve of her mouth, painted a bold shade of red. Wildly enticing and very tempting.
She stared at me, as if expecting some sort of reaction. I knew what she was waiting for, but I wasn’t going to do it.
“You know, other men would’ve complimented their wives by now,” she said, her tone soft and almost teasing.
“I’m not like other men,” I replied dryly.
She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, you never fail to remind me every time.”
