Page 13 of Arranged with Twins
Sienna
I wake up to a text message from someone named Ilya that makes my stomach clench with irritation.
It’s not a request and certainly not a “would you be available for a meeting?” Just a statement of fact, as if my schedule exists purely for Leo’s convenience. I check the time and discover it’s already nine-thirty, which means I have barely enough time to make myself presentable before he arrives.
The memory of last night crashes over me in waves.
The argument about contracts and security that led to anger shifting into something electric and undeniable.
The feeling of Leo’s hands on my skin, his mouth on mine, and the intensity of being with him in a way that felt completely honest for the first time since this engagement began lingers.
That memory is followed by the way he left afterward, pulling away both physically and emotionally with a kiss to my forehead like I was a girl who needed comforting rather than a woman he’d just been inside of.
I drag myself out of bed and into the shower, trying to wash away the confusion and hurt that’s been building since he walked out my door.
The hot water helps clear my head, though it does nothing to erase the memory of how different he became after we finished.
It was like he flipped a switch, becoming distant, like what happened between us was a mistake he was already regretting.
By the time I’m dressed in jeans and a cashmere sweater, trying to look casual rather than like I spent an hour analyzing every detail of our encounter, Nadia is buzzing my intercom.
“Emergency coffee delivery,” she announces when I let her up. “I brought the good stuff from that place in SoHo, plus croissants that are probably illegal in several states.”
“You’re a lifesaver.” I accept the coffee gratefully, needing the caffeine more than I want to admit. “How did you know I’d need emergency pastries?”
“Because you texted me at six this morning asking if I thought orange diamonds were tacky, then immediately followed up with a message saying never mind, you didn’t want to talk about it.
” Nadia sets the pastry box on my kitchen counter and studies my face.
“Plus, you look like you didn’t sleep much.
What happened after I left you yesterday?
Your life has been full-on crazy lately. ”
I sip my coffee and try to figure out where to start. “Crazy is right. Leo came over with business documents for me to sign. We got into a fight about the fact that he’d made decisions about my security and finances without consulting me.”
She tuts her tongue. “That sounds familiar. What did you do?”
“I told him he was treating me like property instead of a partner. He said some things about protection not being a democracy. I said some things about being tired of having my life controlled by other people.” I pause, remembering the heat in his eyes when our argument shifted.
“Then we stopped talking and started...”
“Oh.” Nadia’s eyebrows rise. “Oh…! You slept with him.”
“We had sex, yes. Then he left pretty quickly, and this morning, I get a text from his assistant telling me I have a meeting at ten.” I glance at the clock and realize Leo will be here in fifteen minutes.
“There was no request for my availability or asking if this time works for me. The message lacked basic courtesy and just assumed I’ll be here when he wants to see me. ”
She reaches for a croissant, wearing a frown. “That’s not great follow-up etiquette.”
“It’s exactly what I should have expected. Last night was probably just stress relief for him. Today, we’re back to business as usual.” The words are stark, and I wish they weren’t true, but I fear they are.
Nadia reaches into her purse and pulls out her phone. “Before we get too deeply into analyzing Leo’s communication skills, I need to tell you about an interesting visit I had yesterday evening. Your mother stopped by my shop.”
“Mother visited your shop?” That’s unusual. Katherine prefers to summon people to her rather than going to them.
“She wanted to discuss wedding dress options. More specifically, she wanted to explain why I wouldn’t be designing your wedding dress.
” Nadia’s voice carries a note of controlled anger.
“She was very polite about it, of course, explaining the Cooper family has relationships with established designers who understand their aesthetic preferences.”
“She what?” The coffee cup freezes halfway to my lips. “She told you that you couldn’t design my dress?”
“She suggested that perhaps I could contribute in some other way, like I could maybe design bridesmaids’ dresses or help with accessories.
Something more appropriate to my level of experience.
” Nadia’s smile has sharp edges. “She made it clear the wedding dress itself needed to come from someone with a more traditional vision.”
“I can’t believe she did that. We discussed this at brunch, and Leo supported the idea of you designing my dress. She has no right to override that decision.” Anger is stirring again at my mother’s highhanded ways. I get so tired of this constant battle, but I also get tired of acquiescing.
“She seemed to think she had every right. She also mentioned she’d already arranged for ‘proper’ engagement ring photos to be sent to the society pages.
She said the ring Leo gave you was inappropriate for a Cooper bride.
” Nadia is scowling now. “I assume that’s why you asked about the orange diamonds at six a.m.? ”
I nod as I think about the package that arrived yesterday and is still sitting on my counter. “She sent me a replacement ring. A boring solitaire that she thinks is more suitable.”
“She what?” Nadia’s eyebrows shoot up. “Show me.”
I retrieve the velvet box from the counter and open it to reveal Katherine’s idea of appropriate jewelry. The solitaire diamond is undeniably beautiful but generic and soulless.
“This is what she thinks you should be wearing instead of what Leo chose for you?” Nadia examines the ring with professional interest. “It’s lovely, but it’s also completely impersonal. This could be anyone’s engagement ring.”
“Exactly, which is why I fucking hate it.” I close the box with a snap. “She probably thinks that’s a feature, not a flaw.”
“Where is the ring Leo actually gave you? I’d like to see it properly.”
I retrieve the orange diamond ring from my jewelry box, where I placed it carefully before bed last night.
In the morning light, it’s even more striking than I remembered.
The center diamond catches the sunlight and throws it back in brilliant flashes, while the smaller orange stones create a warm glow around the main setting.
Nadia takes the ring and examines it closely, turning it to catch the light from different angles. “Sienna, this is extraordinary. Look at the detail work in the setting.”
“What do you mean?”
“Here, around the main stone. It’s not just orange diamonds.
There’s a hidden halo of smaller white diamonds that you can only see from certain angles.
The craftsmanship is incredible.” She hands the ring back to me.
“This isn’t something someone picks out quickly or casually.
This level of detail work takes weeks to execute properly. ”
I look at the ring more carefully, noticing the intricate metalwork and the way the smaller stones are arranged in patterns I hadn’t observed before.
“He said he changed his mind about the first ring he selected after getting to know me better. He wanted to give me something that would make me smile when I looked at it.”
“That’s not the decision of someone who’s just going through the motions of an arranged engagement. This is the choice of someone who was thinking specifically about you when he selected it.”
After handing back the ring, Nadia settles back in her chair with her coffee. “Which makes me wonder why you look so miserable this morning if he went to that much trouble to choose something perfect for you.”
“Because after we slept together last night, he couldn’t get out of here fast enough.
Then this morning I get that text scheduling a meeting like I’m just another business appointment.
” Without much thought, I slide on the ring again and start twisting it around my finger, remembering how carefully Leo slid it into place at the restaurant.
“Whatever happened between us last night, he’s obviously decided it was a mistake. ”
“Or he’s scared. Men do stupid things when they’re scared, especially men who are used to controlling everything around them. I bet he really likes you and it’s tearing him up inside.”
“Leo Denisov doesn’t strike me as someone who gets scared of anything.”
Nadia waves a hand. “Everyone gets scared when they start caring about someone they didn’t plan to care about. So, are you going to let him retreat into business mode or will you fight for what you want?”
Before I can answer, my doorbell rings. I check the time and realize it’s exactly ten o’clock, which means Leo has arrived with his usual punctuality. “That’s him,” I say, suddenly nervous about seeing him again.
Nadia crams the last bit of croissant in her mouth, asking, “Do you want me to stay for moral support, or would you prefer to handle this privately?” before she starts chewing.
“Stay for a few minutes? I could use the backup.”
I buzz Leo up, then take a moment to check my reflection in the hallway mirror. I look tired but not terrible, which is probably the best I can hope for under the circumstances.
When Leo appears at my door, he’s back to being perfectly put-together, with his expensive suit, carefully styled hair, and neutral expression that reveals nothing about what he’s thinking or feeling.
The man who kissed me desperately and moved inside me with such intensity might as well have been a different person entirely.