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“It’s simple. No more wedding talk, no mention of family matters or business affairs. I want to enjoy the weekend, get to know each other, and pretend, for just a weekend, that we’re normal,” she paused, letting her eyes drift across the table before adding with a smile. “Well, as normal as we can be. I want to relax, be myself, and not have to watch what I say around any of you.”
As Alisa listed her wishes, she turned to Maxim first, clearly seeking validation.
“Don’t be looking at me. I’m always honest,” Maxim replied with a shrug.
“We know!”
“Too honest,” the table answered in unison. I found myself smiling, feeling oddly at home.
While Maxim pouted in his chair, I lifted my glass, offering Alisa the confirmation she was looking for. “To Alisa’s completely normal weekend.”
I turned to Enzo next, hoping to lighten the mood as we indulged in the delicious food and wine. “Do you plan to take a blanket to the beach, or are you just going commando?” I teased.
“It wouldn’t be the first time,” he grinned, his voice as smooth as the wine in our glasses.
From the opposite side of the table, Luka broke in, his impatience cutting through the moment. “I can’t wait any longer,” he said. Dropping his cutlery with a clatter, he launched into a barrage of questions, excitement practically radiating off him. “When did it start? How do you choose who’s invited? Are therethemed rooms?”
While he ranted, I savored the incredible pasta alla Siciliana. The chef deserved a medal. The rich, bold flavors burst in my mouth, undoubtedly the result of handpicked, premium ingredients. The stories I’d heard about Enzo’s events only heightened my curiosity as I watched him react.
Calmly, Enzo wiped his mouth with a napkin, setting it neatly on the table before turning to Luka. “Telling you defeats the purpose of a private event,” he replied.
Unhappy with the answer, Luka switched tactics. “You should know, people talk.”
“You Galkins talk. A lot,” Enzo shot back, his tone sharp.
“We are who we are,” Luka shrugged, unfazed.
The dinner returned to a quieter pace. Nature’s sounds filled the background, interrupted only by the occasional clink of plates. Then, to everyone’s surprise, Enzo broke the silence. “Fine. Only if it won’t be used against me later.”
“What happens in the Hamptons stays in the Hamptons,” Luka grinned, clearly enjoying the moment. Enzo’s body shuddered at the cliché, already regretting his decision to spill the details.
Impatient, Luka leaned forward. “Just tell me already.”
But instead of answering, Enzo turned to me. “Taya?”
I choked on my sparkling water, genuinely caught off guard by the sudden shift in attention. “You want me to tell them?”
He gave a silent nod.
I sighed, leaning back in my chair. “I went once, and I’m still trying to erase the images.”
Exaggerating the night, I shrugged dramatically. But when the memory of how it ended crossed my mind, I couldn’t help but smile. “That’s how Enzo and I met.”
Alisa’s eyes widened, and I immediately realized how that must have sounded.
I rushed to clarify, “Not like that. Nothing ever happened between us.”
“How did you get in?” Enzo asked, his curiosity piqued. I guess we never really talked about that night.
“I don’t know. The invitation came through the web. It wasn’t traceable. Trust me, I tried.” I spent hours trying to trace the source and came up empty. “I was relatively new to the world. Knew Ilya, Malek, and maybe a handful of others,” I paused, recalling those early days. “I was working day and night, hardly had time to meet anyone, let alone enjoy myself. Sure, I went to the club, but this place? Disneyland compared to that. For a nineteen-year-old living a sheltered life, I was overwhelmed.”
I glanced around, imagining how it would be now. “If I went today, it’d be a totally different story.”
The mention of age caught Maxim’s attention. “How old are you now?” he asked, either out of genuine interest or simply to fill in the blanks.
“Turning twenty-four soon.”
Maxim muttered an ironic “great” under his breath and went back to his drink.