Page 16

As much as I didn’t want to acknowledge it, I felt…odd.

An unsettling feeling had settled in my stomach a few days ago, and ever since, it hasn’t seemed to want to leave.

It lingered there, vaguely aching without causing any real harm. It was just enough to make me feel off-kilter, like something wasn’t quite right.

That queasiness felt like as much of a companion as Bear while I tried to focus on my work.

But as much as I wanted to push through it, I found it hard to stand for long periods…and even sitting on one of the tall stools didn’t help.

I spent more time lying around than I wanted to in the hopes it would pass.

Coffee was getting harder for me to drink, and certain foods didn’t appeal to me like they once did.

Val and I were still in a weird, somewhat rocky place after everything, and I had the feeling it was just the stress of it all finally getting to me.

A lot changed in the last little while of my being there, and though I had nothing but time, it still felt like I hadn’t truly processed everything as I should have.

I told myself it was probably some kind of stomach bug that I’d be able to shake eventually, or even just a period of lethargy.

All in all, I just felt different and very unlike myself, but I could only hope it would go away eventually.

The weight of everything had been heavy, and despite the two of us giving in to our attraction a few weeks prior, I still wasn’t ready to fully accept what the two of us were supposed to be to each other.

Legally, Val was my husband, and there was no denying how attracted to him I was. But even while knowing that, I still couldn’t trust him, and I certainly didn’t feel like his wife yet.

Everything seemed so…wrong, even if that moment shared between us felt more right than anything else.

Sitting on the couch with Bear resting his head in my lap, another faint twist of pain in my stomach made me clench. Putting a hand against it, I took several deep breaths and waited for it to pass.

I hated how normal that uneasiness started to feel, and I couldn’t stand how it continued to manifest within me.

But as it always did, the wave of discomfort passed, and I was left just as confused as ever.

Given how gross I felt, I had hoped to relax for the night without any potential issues with Val. I just wanted to turn in early with Bear between us and sleep off whatever was bothering me.

But of course, the door opened before long, and Val came in saying the words I didn’t want to hear.

“We’re going out tonight, just for a few hours,” he told me, sounding a bit more hopeful than usual while he untucked his shirt and started working the buttons undone as he moved towards the stairs. “Get ready.”

A pit of apprehension settled in my gut right beside that preexisting discomfort at the thought.

Getting ready sounded like a complete chore I didn’t want to be bothered with, but at the same time, I didn’t have the energy to cause a scene. And despite myself, I didn’t want to rock the boat.

With as much energy as I could muster, I eventually trudged upstairs and got dressed in something a bit more presentable than sweatpants and an oversized hoodie. While Val showered and got cleaned up, I fixed my hair and makeup, and before long, I was being whisked away.

The ride there was mostly quiet, but regardless of that fact, Val still seemed to be in a good mood, occasionally glancing in my direction.

Part of me wanted to question why we were going out, or where we were even going for that matter, but I didn’t want to talk. I just wanted to feel less gross.

Eventually, we pulled up to a swanky-looking building with a bright neon sign out front. It was nice, at least, with a sense of class that many of the other establishments nearby lacked.

“Take a good look,” Val said while the driver pulled up to the curb, wearing a hint of a proud smile. “This is the club…it opened just the other day.”

A touch of surprise moved through me at the realization, and I did as he said, looking through the window at the business he had mentioned to me a few times.

“This is what you’ve been working on?”

Val hummed and nodded. “The one and only. I figured we would test just how much you’re able to handle.”

That knowing grin as he called back to my previous claims—claims made when I didn’t feel quite so under the weather—made my chest tighten slightly.

It was both irritating and nerve-wracking for me.

At that moment, entering a strip club was the last thing I wanted.

But at the same time, I didn’t want to refuse him—not when I knew it would just lead to senseless bickering.

So, I pulled myself together and murmured, “Let's go, then.”

Val’s grin pulled at that, and without needing to be told twice, he nodded and got out.

While we headed for the building, the driver came along, staying several steps behind us while wearing a full suit. It wasn’t much of a surprise, but he seemed more like a guard than a chauffeur.

The moment we stepped inside, it was much more luxurious than I imagined.

He had money and a reasonable class of his own, but I didn’t anticipate the amount of care that had gone into the place. Not when many others in the city were seedy and less than ideal. The interior was clean, sleek and modern, and everything about the decor screamed high class.

It was clearly a place of indulgence, and while the music gave away the intentions behind the place, along with the dancers on stage, the lights made it all feel warm and inviting.

The place was a trap for those with wealth who wanted to get their money’s worth without the shame of going to a lesser establishment, and I had the feeling that was the whole point.

With a hand against my back, Val escorted me through the place, easily commanding the space without needing to say a word.

He took us to a private section lined with high-backed couches and a glass table in the center. It was neatly and subtly decorated with small yet effective pieces, giving the area a more exclusive feel than the rest of the club.

At his gesture to sit, I did exactly that, unable to fully ignore the fact that there were dancers all over the place, along with their customers.

I wasn’t one to mind such a place…it didn’t really bother me, but given that I wasn’t feeling the best, the whole thing was harder to stomach.

“Want something to drink?” Val asked the moment a tray of bottles and glasses was delivered in front of us.

Grabbing the champagne, he offered it to me.

In other circumstances, I would’ve accepted it, but the thought alone was enough to turn my stomach.

I shook my head. “No, thanks…I’m not feeling up to it.”

A flicker of surprise moved through his gaze, but he shrugged and placed the glass down in front of himself. “If you change your mind, there’s more than enough here.”

I was glad he wasn’t pushing me, at least. It wasn’t much, but it was something.

Glancing around while the deep bass permeated the place, I couldn’t help but mull over the fact that Val had been investing his time and money here, and how he seemed to be incredibly efficient with it all.

“You said my dad has been helping you with this?” I asked, feeling more curious.

Val nodded simply and leaned back against the couch. “I did. He’s a partner, covering a lot of the bases I don’t otherwise have experience in.”

“Did you know him long before…everything?”

He seemed to consider that question for a moment longer before murmuring, “Long enough. He has a significant portfolio, especially in the city. It was the right choice.”

Nodding, I didn’t miss how vague his response was. Still, I didn’t want to make something out of nothing if that was the case.

As far as I knew, Val and my dad were associates, and while I didn’t know much about what my own husband did for work, I could only assume they operated in similar spaces.

When my curiosity got the better of me, I held his gaze. “Do you own a lot of other businesses?”

There was a faintly knowing gleam in his face, but he returned a measured, “Between my brothers and myself, we own quite a few.”

“And that’s all you do?”

He shrugged. “We have some significant investments as well that I keep an eye on.”

It didn’t entirely clear everything up for me, but at the same time, it was confirmation.

His eyes lingered on me for another moment before he hummed to himself. “Speaking of, I have something to take care of…I won’t be long.”

Despite myself, my stomach dropped slightly, but I didn’t argue. Instead, I watched while Val left the VIP area and disappeared into the crowd, leaving me with the driver standing just on the outside.

I let out a breath, feeling very much out of place in the club while the dancers meandered around or performed their routines on stage. Shifting in my seat, I waited for some time, taking in the thick aroma of perfume and smoke. It was enough to make my stomach clench, and after a moment, I sighed again and stood.

“I’m going to the washroom,” I told the driver, who only took a second to consider it before nodding.

“Don’t go far,” he said distractedly, not shy about the fact that he was watching the dancers.

With a nod, I wandered through the club feeling tense, taking a longer hallway towards the washrooms.

As the women’s room came into view, I went to reach for the handle, only to catch the sound of a man’s voice behind me.

“I don’t think I’ve seen you around much…”

Turning around, I tried to keep my expression neutral despite being caught off guard.

He looked to be thirty or so, with neatly trimmed blonde hair swept away from his face. His green eyes peered at me with an air of confidence that could be considered charming.

Shaking off that startled feeling, I murmured, “This isn’t really my usual scene.”

He hummed and nodded. “I see…well, it’s nice to see you out of your element then, I suppose. I’m Tomasso.”

When he held his hand out to me, I shook it lightly and pulled a polite smile. “Tia.”

Tomasso’s brow went up slightly at that as if my name rang a bell for him. “Tia Fedorov, right?”

I cleared my throat, feeling a bit strange being forced to face the reality of my situation. “Novikov, actually…”

“Ah, that’s right. You’re Val’s wife, correct?”

“Yes, that’s correct,” I said, noting that he seemed to know more about me than I would’ve expected. “Do you work with Val or something?”

Almost indiscernibly, a grin pulled at his lips. “In a way…we frequent similar circles.”

I nodded slowly, showing I understood despite how part of me just wanted a way out of the conversation.

There was something about his confidence and the way he talked so smoothly to me, almost like he wanted something from me, that made my skin crawl.

“You must get quite lonely, with him being as busy as he is…”

Something in me squirmed. “No, not really.”

He cocked a brow at me and moved a hint closer. “No? He’s a rich, influential man…you must be a bit worried about what he’s doing at times.”

My brows furrowed at that, hearing the implications in his words. “Is there anything you need?”

Tomasso smiled, but it only made the knot in my stomach tighten further. “Need? Not exactly, but there are a few things I want.”

Every moment I found myself stuck speaking with him only deepened the unease I felt, and something in me was screaming to get away.

“I don’t think I can help you with that, but it was nice meeting you, Tomasso,” I said, with every intention of leaving while I made to continue on my way.

But I froze as he reached for my wrist.

“Come on…don’t be a tease, Tia. I know Val doesn’t have what it takes to give you everything you need…”

With another twist of my stomach, the only thing I needed at that moment was to get as far away from him as possible.