Page 14
14
TASH
I pull up to Nikolai's penthouse in an Uber, carefully balancing the three bottles of vintage Bordeaux I'd picked up. The doorman recognizes me immediately, nodding as he opens the door.
"Evening, Ms. Blackwood."
The private elevator whisks me up to the top floor. Before I can knock, Sofia flings open the door, her face lighting up.
"Finally! I'm starving, and the Thai food just arrived." She pulls me into a hug, taking one of the wine bottles. "Chateau Margaux? You didn't have to go all out."
"Please, like I'd bring anything less to our girls' night." I kick off my Louboutins by the door, breathing in the aromatic scents of curry and pad thai wafting from the kitchen. "It's nice having the place to ourselves."
Sofia has already changed into silk pajamas, her hair pulled up in a messy bun. The penthouse feels different without Nikolai's commanding presence—lighter somehow, more relaxed.
"I ordered all your favorites." Sofia leads me to the kitchen, where food containers cover the marble island. "Red curry, spring rolls, and that coconut soup you're obsessed with."
"You're an angel." I set down the other bottles and grab plates from the cabinet I know by heart now. "How'd you convince him to give you up for the night?"
"Oh, you know." Sofia grins, uncorking one of the wines. "I have my ways. Plus, he can't deny me anything these days."
I pull out two crystal wine glasses. "The perks of being Mrs. Ivanov."
We settle onto Sofia's plush sectional, plates balanced on our laps. The city sparkles through the floor-to-ceiling windows, a perfect backdrop for girl talk and wine.
"God, I needed this." I take a long sip of the Bordeaux, letting the rich flavors dance on my tongue. "The museum board's been brutal lately."
Sofia picks at her pad thai. "Speaking of the board... have you noticed anything strange with Dmitri recently?"
My chopsticks freeze halfway to my mouth. "Strange how?"
"He's been distracted during family meetings. Nikolai says he's checking his phone constantly, which he never does. And yesterday?" She leans forward. "He actually showed up late to a business dinner. Dmitri's never late for anything."
The wine glass nearly slips from my fingers, red liquid sloshing dangerously close to the rim. I set it down stiffly, hoping Sofia doesn't notice.
"Maybe he's just busy with work?" My voice comes out higher than intended. "The Petrov acquisition must be taking up much of his time."
Sofia's green-gold eyes narrow. "That's what I thought initially, but Nikolai says he's been like this since the charity gala. You know, the one where you two danced?"
I grab my wine glass again, draining it in one long gulp. The alcohol burns down my throat, but I welcome the sensation. Anything to distract from the memory of Dmitri's hands on my waist, his breath hot against my ear.
"I may have kissed your brother-in-law," I blurt out, the wine loosening my tongue more than intended.
Sofia's eyebrows shoot up, a knowing smirk twisting her lips. "Just kissed?"
I avoid her piercing gaze as I pour more wine into my glass. The memories of Dmitri's hands, his mouth, and how he'd pressed me against his office desk flash through my mind. Heat creeps up my neck.
"He's being a complete ass about it," I deflect, setting down my glass. "You should have seen him at the board meeting last week. Acted like I didn't even exist while he systematically shot down all my research I'd spent months on."
Sofia refills her own glass, settling deeper into the couch. "And what about yesterday? Nikolai mentioned something about a scene with Gregory Matthews?"
My stomach flips at the memory. "Your darling brother-in-law went full caveman when Matthews cornered me in the corridor during the donor event. Practically manhandled him."
"Matthews cornered you?" Sofia's voice carries a note of concern.
"It wasn't..." I trail off, taking another sip to hide my expression. I can't exactly admit I'd orchestrated the whole thing, timing my conversation with Matthews perfectly so Dmitri would see us from the main hall. The way his jaw had clenched, his eyes going dark with barely controlled rage—it had been exactly the reaction I'd hoped for.
"Tash?" Sofia prompts.
"It wasn't anything serious," I say quickly. "Matthews just wanted to discuss his collection. Dmitri completely overreacted."
Sofia's expression turns serious. "Tash... you need to understand something about Dmitri. He doesn't do ‘casual’ anything."
I try to laugh it off, but the sound catches in my throat. "What, he can't have a simple fling?"
"There's nothing simple about an Ivanov." She shifts closer, lowering her voice despite us being alone. "Especially Dmitri. You've seen how he is at the museum board—every detail planned, every outcome calculated. That's not just his business style. It's who he is."
"Control freak?" I attempt to joke, but Sofia's grim expression stops me.
"You have no idea. When their father was killed, Dmitri was only sixteen. He basically raised Alexi while helping Nikolai build their empire. He had to control everything to survive." She glances toward the window. "There are things about their past... let's just say Dmitri learned early that control means survival."
The wine turns sour in my stomach. "Sofia..."
"I'm telling you this as your friend. Getting involved with an Ivanov isn't like dating normal men. Once they decide something is theirs..." She reaches for my hand, squeezing it. "There's no ‘casual’ or backing out—no changing their minds. Nikolai was the same with me—the moment he decided, that was it. But Dmitri?" She shakes her head. "He's different. More intense. More..." She searches for the word. "Absolute."
The memory of Dmitri's possessive grip, the dark promise in his eyes when he caught me with Matthews. "You're starting to scare me."
"Good." Sofia's voice is deadly serious. "You should be scared. Because if Dmitri's showing this much interest? If he's breaking his own rules of control? You're already his in his mind. The only question is whether you're ready for what that means."
I stare into my wine glass, watching the dark liquid swirl. "I can't stop thinking about him. Every time I close my eyes, he's there. When I'm at work, I keep expecting him to appear around every corner. It's driving me insane."
Sofia's expression softens as she watches me fidget with my glass. "Oh, Tash..."
"And the worst part? Even when he's an absolute bastard, there's this... pull. Like gravity." I press my palm against my chest, trying to ease the ache. "I've never felt anything like it."
"Nikolai says he's never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you," Sofia says quietly. "You should see him when you enter a room. It's like... everything else disappears for him."
"That's what scares me. He has these walls, this perfect control, and sometimes, when he's with me..." I shake my head. "It cracks. And what's behind those cracks..."
"Terrifies you?"
"I can't get in this deep, Sofia. Not with him. Not with what he is, what your family is."
Sofia sets down her glass, fixing me with that penetrating stare she must have learned from Nikolai. "Let's talk about your walls, shall we? When's the last time you let anyone close enough to hurt you?"
"That's different?—"
"Is it? You're both terrified of the same thing."
"I'm not terrified of him," I snap.
Sofia's lips curve into a knowing smile. "No, you're terrified of wanting him. There's a difference."
The truth of her words hits me like a physical blow, stealing my breath. I drain my wine glass.
"More wine?" Sofia holds up the nearly empty bottle.
"God, yes." I hold out my glass. "Let's talk about something else—anything else. Like how that new assistant curator keeps mixing up Rococo with Baroque."
Sofia laughs, topping off our glasses. "Or how about that donor who showed up to the Renaissance exhibit wearing what he thought was period-accurate clothing?"
"Oh my God, the polyester doublet!" I nearly spill my wine. "And those plastic gems!"
We dissolve into giggles, the tension from our earlier conversation melting away. I reach for my phone to show her pictures from that disaster of an evening, but I freeze when I see Dmitri's text.
We need to discuss tomorrow's board meeting. Your office. 8am.
My heart skips, and my fingers hover over the screen. Sofia's knowing "hmm" makes me look up.
"Interesting text?" Her eyes sparkle with mischief.
"Just work stuff." I quickly flip my phone face-down, but my cheeks feel hot. "The usual board meeting prep."
"Must be important work stuff." Sofia sips her wine, failing to hide her smile. "Your whole face just lit up."
"It did not!" I grab a throw pillow and launch it at her head. "And stop looking at me like that."
"Like what?" She catches the pillow, grinning. "Like, I know exactly who just texted you? I can see right through your 'just work stuff' excuse."
"I hate you." I grab my phone again, unable to resist checking to see if he's sent another message.
"No, you don't." Sofia stretches out on the couch. "So, eight a.m. meeting with my darling brother-in-law? Should I tell Nikolai to make sure Dmitri behaves himself?"
"Don't you dare." I point my finger at her threateningly. "If Nikolai gets involved, Dmitri will be impossible to deal with tomorrow." I twist my wine glass between my fingers. "He's already..."
"Already what?" Sofia props her chin on her hand, eyes glinting. "Do tell."
"Infuriating. Controlling. Completely unreasonable." The words tumble out. "Last week, he vetoed three of my acquisition proposals without even looking at them properly."
"Mhmm." Sofia's knowing smile makes me want to throw another pillow at her. "And you're sure that had nothing to do with you having lunch with that gallery owner from Paris?"
"That was a business lunch!"
"Of course it was." She reaches for the last spring roll. "Just like tomorrow's early meeting is strictly business."
But my mind's already racing ahead to tomorrow. Dmitri never schedules meetings before the board convenes. He usually sweeps in at the last minute, commanding attention without effort. What could be so urgent it couldn't wait?
"Earth to Tash?" Sofia waves her hand in front of my face. "You disappeared on me there."
"Sorry, just..." I glance at my phone again. Still, just that one message taunting me with its brevity. "It's weird, right? Him wanting to meet before the board?"
"Oh, now you want my insight?" Sofia's eyes dance with amusement. "I thought you didn't want me involving Nikolai?"
"I definitely hate you."
She reaches for the wine bottle. "You love me. And you're totally overthinking this."
"I'm not overthinking anything." But my fingers keep brushing over my phone screen, fighting the urge to reply to his message.
"Sure, that's why you've checked your phone five times in the last minute." Sofia tops off my glass. "Want me to text Nikolai? I'm sure he could tell us exactly what Dmitri's planning."
"Don't you dare!" I snatch her phone away before she can reach it. "I mean it, Sofia. Not a word to Nikolai."
Table of Contents
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- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14 (Reading here)
- Page 15
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- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
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- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
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- Page 35
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- Page 40