“Alexander,” he replied, looking up from his work and sliding his glasses off his face to see me more clearly. “Did you enjoy last night?”
I hadn’t seen him before leaving the party and he was pissy about it. I didn’t blame him; it was unprofessional and not like me at all. I was his right-hand man; I didn’t shirk my duties. I wanted to learn every aspect of his business and be ready for his retirement. I had made a point of being beside him for every meeting for the past two years. Of course, that was not only for my own benefit. The soldiers needed to see the transition of power. The prominent businessmen and politicians under our thumb needed to recognize my authority. When the time came, the change of crown would be easier.
Unfortunately, I’d forgotten about last night’s planned meeting at the party between my father and the heads of a business venture gone unexpectedly South. The issues were a matter of supply and the market, so it was a clean affair. No blood involved. No violence necessary.
Regardless, a party was never just a party. No one, save for members of my immediate family, warranted a soiree of that caliber. There was always an ulterior motive. The champagne and the caviar and the fancy locations always served a secondary purpose—mafia meetings were less obvious dressed up in ribbons and bows.
But, hell, after fucking the blonde Nikolai and I had left and gone to a club. I wasn’t sure what time it was when I got in, but the sun was rising and I’d practically drunk myself sober. Thoughts of Marisha had haunted my every move. Every woman was her. Every kiss I’d stolen was hers. Every set of lustful eyes upon me were hers. I needed to have her and move on, and quickly. I couldn’t recall the last time I’d been so obsessed with a woman.
Never. The answer wasnever.
I lowered my gaze to the floor. “I’m sorry, Father.”
He remained silent, waiting for me to apologize more. He was a fair man, but his disappointment in me this time required a lot more begging than I was used to.
“I got distracted,” I began, “a woman, you know how these things can be.” Appealing to a man’s want of women and wine might have worked on another man, but not my father. Yet, to my surprise, he seemed to perk up at my words.
He looked interested now, his anger subsiding at the knowledge of a woman in my life. I hated to disappoint him further, but I couldn't have him assuming I’d found my wife.
“Another gold digger, unfortunately.” I looked despondent and he sighed and nodded.
“Many women were there last night, all eager to meet you, and you managed to find the whore among them, keen on your power and money only, Son.” He shook his head. “It might be time for your mother and I to find a match for you. We are already making arrangements for Katya with the Fedorov family. It is only right that you should marry first. You must secure your standing.”
Fuck!
“I don’t think that’s necessary,” I stammered, my usually calm facade splitting. “I’ll make more of an effort. Give me some more time.”
He watched me, his gaze thoughtful for several beats. “Very well,” he finally replied. He looked back down at his papers. “I hate doing this stuff, but I can’t trust anyone with it. Fucking traitors everywhere. It needs to be in order, needs to be organized.”
I was more than glad we were moving on from me, but I’d heard this argument many times over the years. Father wanted to delegate the work, but his ability to trust others with the most intimate workings of the family business was slim.
“Every time I think I’ve found someone I can trust they let me down and I have to cut their treacherous throats,” he grumbled.
“Or blow their brains out,” I retorted.
He glowered at me. I’d overstepped my mark.
“Apologies, Father. I just think sometimes it would be better to give people second chances rather than just kill them straight away,” I explained, trying to ignore the look of anger on his face. “Ivan, for instance…”
“Traitorous bastard!” he snapped. “Did you see him with his whore wife last night! Do you remember what her parents did? How they tried to sink us all? And then he takes her as his goddamned wife of all things! He used all of his favors with me on that. There is no more credit in the future to save him should he fall from grace.”
I stood up and made my way to his mahogany dresser and poured him a vodka. I handed it over and he drank it swiftly. Apparently, the thought of Ivan’s treachery in marriage had given him a thirst.
“Perhaps it’s time to try and heal the wound?” I suggested.
He thrust the glass towards me. “If you’re going to talk such nonsense, then I’m going to need more of that.”
I gave a low laugh and refilled his glass for him before handing it back over.
“I’m not suggesting he be forgiven right away, but he was an important member of the business—,”
“Until he started thinking with his dick!” he interrupted.
I chuckled. “Yes, until then. But she is a pretty creature, you can perhaps understand his desire?” I sat back down in my chair, letting the words rest between us.
“You saw her last night then?” he said, his hard gaze on me. He knew me too well.
I smirked. “I did.”
