I turned to see Derek strolling into view.
He had his supermodel on his arm, that false smile plastered on his face, radiating ill intent.
Vivienne's body tensed instantly.
I turned, casually blocking her from view, hand landing firmly on her shoulder as I lowered my voice.
"Don't worry. I've got this."
But what surprised me was that Vivienne didn't bristle with hostility like I'd expected.
She fell silent, seemed to be weighing something.
Then she looked up at me with a faint but genuine smile.
That smile was like morning sun breaking through clouds, and in that moment, it made me forget the revulsion Derek's waste-of-space presence usually triggered. Beneath that carefully made-up, breathtakingly beautiful face, her tense, hostile demeanor seemed to soften.
My heart slammed hard in my chest.
I suddenly realized—Vivienne Cole wasn't just my shield, wasn't just a piece I needed to control, wasn't even some tool of revenge I'd picked up.
She was mine.
That thought alone triggered something primal, overwhelmingly male, an unprecedented possessiveness.
Chapter Fourteen
Nikolai
The possessive urge that had nearly burned through my restraint hadn't even cooled in my veins when Derek's face—reeking of cheap cologne and fake charm—shoved itself right in front of me. His eyes glinted with vicious glee, like a cockroach stupid enough to crawl into my territory.
"Well, well, look who it is. Vivienne, it's quite the miracle you managed to squeeze yourself into a couture gown tonight." Derek cocked an eyebrow, his smirk dripping with superiority. "Though I should warn you—midnight blue velvet can't hide all that extra padding you're carrying. People in this circle prefer refined, camera-ready size zeros, not... oversized packages."
Chloe let out a paper-thin giggle beside him, nestling into Derek's embrace as she swept Vivienne with a contemptuous look.
I felt the hand clutching my arm clench tight. Vivienne's body went rigid as iron, her previously radiant face freezing mid-smile.
This gutless parasite had drained three years of her life, and now he had the balls to use her dignity as a doormat for his social climbing. The rage I'd been choking down all evening exploded like gasoline hitting a flame.
"Derek, I warned you once to clean up your mouth. What, you miss the feeling of me holding your head underwater?"
I looked down at him without bothering to waste expression, but the air around us solidified. Derek's fake smile stuttered.
"Nikolai, I'm just catching up with an old friend." Derek swallowed, trying to play it off as casual bro talk. "Besides, Father's upset. After all, everyone knows she's just a nobody who—"
"Shut your mouth." I cut him off cold. "Your mother climbed into my father's bed with that shameless tongue of hers. What, she never taught you that closing your filthy mouth is a survival skill around people who actually hold power?"
Derek's jaw tightened, fists clenching, but he didn't dare swing. He knew what that would mean.
"Take your trash and get out of my sight." I settled my hand on Vivienne's tense shoulder, eyes sharp. "Go enjoy your pathetic honeymoon before the Council strips away what little privilege you have left to suck dry."
Derek sucked in a breath, couldn't manage a word of protest, and slunk off into the crowd with an equally pale Chloe, like two dogs who'd gotten their tails stepped on.
I looked down at Vivienne. She was clenching her jaw, a layer of moisture filming over her blue eyes.
"Vivienne, you okay?"
She blinked, turned her head, then quickly rolled her eyes, forcing that I-don't-give-a-damn tone. "Yeah, I'm fine. Don't look at me like I'm sick. Can't stand it."
