Nicolai had sewn every loophole up tight.
Even he wouldn’t want to pay out that much.Millionslike that surely wouldn’t be petty cash even to him.
Right?
When his lawyers finally allowed Nicolai to put pen to paper and sign it, he watched me carefully as he held the tip of the black ballpoint in contact with the signature line, considering something, before he bent his head and scrolled his name to seal the deal.
I did the same thing, holding the pen and watching for any reaction from him before I wrote my now-legal name on the contract:Alexandra Faith Romanov.
And with that, Nicolai’s lawyers shook hands all around and vacated the room, but Victoria pulled me aside for one last sidebar. “Okay, that contract is signed and valid, but I’m not sure it would hold up in court. I’m not even sure why you signed it, other than some misguided notion that you'd get more with that contract than with a settlement. But I gave you my professional opinion, and it is your option to legally bind yourself in any way that you want to, even if I could have taken him for way more than that.”
“That’s almost exactly what the clerk at the marriage bureau said.”
Victoria laughed. “My contact info is on your phone, and I will always have a copy of this contract available for you. If you need me, call. If you have any questions, call. If you feel like you need to talk out any decision and want to know the ramifications for this contract,call.Do you understand that I want you to call me for any reason?”
I smiled at her. “Loud and clear. Enjoy your purse.”
“I figure you have three years of retainer paid in advance with this purse.Use it.”
When all the lawyers had left, Ueli and Nechtan searched the room, batting aside the curtains and checking closets behind the suit jackets hanging inside, examining any space even remotely large enough to conceal yet another Russian assassin.
They didn’t find anyone.
PART FOUR
cotillion
LEXI
CHAPTER 16
cotillion
LEXI
“Do you feel like I suckered you into signing that post-nup contract?” I asked.
Nicolai and I were riding in the back of the SUV driven by security guys again, this time to some big fancy dance party, which seemed odd because it was a Sunday night.
Sunday always seemed like you should be recuperating from church and stuffing yourself stupid at Sunday family dinner, not that I had done either one of those when I was a kid. At the very least, it seemed like I should be resting up for the workweek ahead.
Instead, I was wearing a white formal evening gown and heading to a “cotillion” to dance with people who didn’t care whether they made it to work tomorrow or next week, or ever.
“Not at all,” Nicolai said, tugging at his white bow tie. “I’m more concerned that I accidentally used reverse psychology to trap you in an intrigue you might not understand.”
“I’ve seen James Bond movies andA Game of Thrones. I know what’s going on.”
“It’s a bit different when you’re living it in real life.”
“That Russian guy breaking into the hotel room was scary. Are you going to be okay at the cotillion tonight?”
“I always look like I’m all right. I’ve been training to be charming my whole life.”
Mordecai drove the SUV, Ueli riding shotgun as usual, and coasted to a stop in a large circular drive of the Skyview Casino and Resort. I waited for one of our guys to open the door because I didn’t want to get yelled at again.
Dusha was suddenly beside the SUV, and he looked inside and caught my eye before he opened the door.
Scalding outside air rushed into the vehicle, bringing with it the tang of chlorinated pool water and quiet strains of classical music.
