Page 20 of No Longer Mine (Rags & Riches #2)

Chapter Eighteen

Dimitri

The applause still rang in my ears as I stepped off the podium, flashes from the press burning against my vision like an afterimage.

They cheered. They clapped. They smiled.

I shook hands with people I didn’t respect. I accepted congratulations from men who would sell their own mothers for a seat at the table. I let them take their pictures, slap my back, and pretend like they’d supported me all along.

It was all bullshit but I played along. I was one of them now. At least, that’s what they thought.

“Councilman Cristof,” a reporter called, stepping forward with a microphone. “How does it feel, officially taking your seat?”

I offered a small smirk, adjusting the cufflinks of my suit before answering.

“It feels like the start of something great,” I said smoothly. “A new era for this city.”

A new era, indeed.

The questions kept coming, but I dodged most of them with political charm and half-smirks, keeping my answers short, vague, and just compelling enough to keep them hooked. I was growing antsy as more questions were fired at me. I didn’t have time to do this all night. The real party was waiting.

The celebration—the exclusive gala where the city’s most powerful figures would drink, gloat, and scheme—was just beginning.

I had plans for tonight because the party wasn’t just about me.

It was my first chance to see who really had their bets placed on me.

Who wanted favors. Who was already planning my downfall.

I already had a few people calling me and trying to get my attention.

My father wasn’t among those, but I had a feeling he would be in attendance tonight.

If he wasn’t, it would be a scandal, and it wasn’t one that my father could afford.

Even though I wasn’t particularly thrilled about it, I knew my family was waiting for me at tonight’s celebration. They were proud of me, even if they knew it wasn’t all that it was chalked up to be.

When I finally arrived at the party, my mother was the first one to greet me. She wore a beautiful sparkling silver gown. My father wasn’t on her arm, and I didn’t expect him to be either. He was at the bar ordering drinks.

My mother’s eyes sparkled with unshed tears as she grinned at me. “I’ve never been so proud of you.”

“I guess it’s about time I did something to be proud of.”

My mother grabbed my cheeks as cameras flashed.

As much as I hated this kind of show, it was necessary.

I needed to look human—relatable to the people.

Even though I’d been sworn in didn’t mean anything; there was a lot of work to be done, and if I wanted a reelection— to stay in power, of course— I would need to keep the people happy. It was a never-ending cycle.

“You are my son. I will always be proud of you for anything and everything you do. You are a force to be reckoned with.”

I kissed her cheek and moved on to the next person waiting for me. Surprisingly, it was my sister-in-law, Carina. Ace stood slightly off to the side, and I wondered what his game was. Why was he here? Formality? Business? Father? Did he want a favor from me?

Carina launched herself into my arms and squealed. “You are a badass.”

I smirked as I patted her back gently. She was a beauty tonight; most men in attendance couldn’t keep their eyes off of her. “Thank you. Is Audrey here too?”

The beauty pouted. “They’re on their way, said something about traffic, but for some odd reason, Alexei hasn’t been able to keep his hands off of her. So I think they pulled over for a quickie.”

I grimaced. Some things I didn’t need to know about the closest people in my life. But it did explain why Alexei was always late and blamed it on traffic. More like a traffic stop. Their poor driver.

The night blurred with back pats and handshakes, smiles that never reached the eyes. People congratulated me, toasted to my success, but I wasn’t fooled. Every word of praise was a calculated move, every raised glass an attempt to align themselves with power.

Benson was busy sniffing out who was genuine and who wanted something from me.

Not that it was difficult for a super hacker to dig up dirt.

He wasn’t here tonight—after all, I owed him for too many nights out—but he was still working behind the scenes, feeding me intel from his computer.

Every few minutes, my phone vibrated with another message.

Names, affiliations, red flags. Who I could trust. Who I couldn’t.

I appreciated the effort. But I knew I’d learn the hard way, one way or another.

Another toast. Another meaningless speech. And then?—

A flash of red in the corner of my eye.

My grip on the champagne glass tightened as I turned. It couldn’t be.

But there she was.

It had been months since I last saw her at the club.

Since she disappeared without a trace. Every lead, every scent, and every damn trail had gone cold.

I had searched, I had hunted, and when that failed, I had begged.

I’d swallowed my pride and called in a favor from Benson, only to confirm what I already suspected—she was that good.

No security footage. Either she had someone wiping her tracks, or she knew exactly how to move, how to disappear, and how to slip through my fingers like she’d never existed at all. It only made me want her more.

My jaw locked as my gaze dragged over her body, my pulse hammering against my ribs. She was a fever dream in black lace. A fantasy I hadn’t been able to shake. And I had seen her half-naked, wrapped around a pole, drenched in neon and smoke. But this?

This was something else.

This was power. This was destruction.

The dress clung to her like sin—dangerous, and intentional. The bodice sculpted every perfect curve, the lace teasing at the edges of propriety, daring anyone to look too long. And I did. Consequences be damned.

She was effortless, moving through the room as if she belonged. As if she hadn’t spent months running. The fabric wrapped around her waist like temptation itself, the skirt flaring just enough to soften the edges of something already dripping in seduction.

And then—he touched her.

I forced my fingers to uncurl from the champagne glass before I shattered it in my grip.

Gavin fucking Crenshaw.

My stomach turned to stone as I watched him step into her space. I had to look away before I did something reckless. Before I crossed the room and ripped his hands off her. Before I reminded everyone in this room exactly who the fuck I was.

I exhaled slowly, forcing my head to tilt, forcing my focus elsewhere. I barely lasted three seconds before my eyes snapped back to her.

My teeth were going to be dust by the end of the night. Because there she was—the most beautiful woman in the room—on the arm of Manhattan’s most eligible bachelor. She was shooting him a blinding smile.

She didn’t belong here. And yet, she had gotten in with him. For the first time in months, I wasn’t thinking about chasing. I was thinking about catching.

My feet began moving before I could stop myself because on her hand was a giant glittering diamond ring. A diamond so large that it caught every flickering light in the room.

It glinted on her hand—her left hand. My blood turned molten in my veins. Anyone else would speculate it was an engagement ring, a promise that the Little Fox was about to become Mrs. Crenshaw.

I knew better because the ring wasn’t his to give. That ring was supposed to be buried in my bedside drawer, locked away like a wound I refused to look at. I hadn’t touched that velvet box since the night I lost Cassie. I hadn’t even checked to see if it was still there. I hadn’t wanted to.

And yet, here it was.

On her.

On his arm.

I inhaled sharply, my steps smooth, controlled, and lethal.

Gavin still hadn’t noticed me. I wanted her eyes to widen in shock.

I wanted that sharp intake of breath. That moment when she knew the game was up.

But before I let her drown in that realization, she was going to take off my ring.

I stepped into her space, close enough for her to feel the heat of my fury, close enough to make sure she had no escape.

“What a surprise,” I growled.

Instead of fear in her gaze like I suspected, she merely grinned at me. It wasn’t as bright as the smile she gave Gavin and it made me want to break something. What did he have that I didn’t?

Well, for starters, I did corner her in the bathroom of a strip club and leave her fleeing for her life.

“Congratulations on your inauguration,” Her voice… Fuck. I was going to be jacking off to it now. It was low and sensual. Everything about her was a fever dream that I would never be able to escape. “Councilman Cristof.”

Gavin stepped between us, almost possessively. “Yes, congratulations are in order.”

I wanted to ignore the prick so badly. He was a good guy from what I’d heard, but he still had his hand on her fucking waist and I wanted nothing more than to rip it from his body.

I’d done that once, and I wasn’t against doing it again.

Instead, I plastered on my politician smile because that was the only way I was going to get through this.

All the while, my phone buzzed in my pocket. Benson could wait.

“I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure of formally meeting your friend yet, Gavin,” I added in a chuckle to try to soften my tone, but I didn’t think it was working.

Especially since I towered over him by a good foot.

“We keep seeing each other but never get the opportunity to speak. Wrong timing, I guess. Are congratulations in order for the two of you, as well?”

Gavin practically vibrated with satisfaction to know he’d gotten to this woman first or so he thought. “This is Scarlett Montrose. She is a real estate and stock market mogul. I’m surprised the two of you haven’t met yet.”