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Public events were perhaps my least favorite part of the gig, but they were unavoidable, it seemed.

Even though the night had only just started in the grand scheme of things, it felt endless, but of course, I still had several hours ahead of me.

The clinking of glasses and aimless chatter all blended in around me, topped with overpriced cologne and perfume, the gleam of diamonds and other various jewels in the low light, and the usual practiced smiles that rarely struck me as genuine.

Despite spending more time than I cared to admit at galas and whatever other events were going on in the city, it always felt so exhausting. Like being stuck in a gilded cage with someone trying to strike a deal for your escape.

I wasn’t one to scoff at the finer things; it was the people that bothered me, how they came with agendas of their own, even if it was all in the name of charity.

Navigating through the crowd, seeing quite a few familiar faces, I shook hands with those I knew and managed to become acquainted with those I didn’t. I could pretend like I was there out of the goodness of my heart, but in all honesty, I didn’t have any right to mock them for coming armed with hidden motives…not when I had one of my own.

Everything my family did was intentional, and that didn’t stop with me.

Rubbing elbows with the city’s finest was a gift in disguise, regardless of how tiring it all was. With more than enough money floating around the place, I was exactly where I needed to be.

The biggest and brightest of the elite loved to showboat, and they also loved any opportunity to make themselves even richer. Which meant my target audience was right in front of me.

After things fell through with Andrey, it left me with no choice but to move forward with the business…or at least, to find a partner who could help me without trying to ensnare me at the same time.

The one thing he did offer me for free from our meeting was the concept. A luxury strip club was exactly what I needed, but the idea couldn’t get off the ground without someone to man it for me. Someone who knew all the right people, along with the ins and outs of what it took to manage.

I needed a business partner with the same experience as Andry, and one who could handle taking orders from me without having a complete fit.

Of course, there were plenty of connections and deals to be made that night, and I only needed to take full advantage of that. I just needed to schmooze and be patient. It was only a matter of time before something fell into place.

With whiskey in hand, I stood by the bar, listening to yet another story about a vineyard I couldn’t care less about. I didn’t care about his grapes, and I certainly didn’t care to be in his company, but I stomached it as best as I could with the occasional polite nod and comment when I could muster one.

It was a shame that such a dull man could possess so much money and influence…but even so, I had to keep up appearances. Uphold my reputation and that of my family.

When I eventually ran out of patience, I excused myself, downing the rest of my whiskey before walking off and sighing.

By that point, the names and faces were blurring together in my mind, and I was getting sick of trying to kiss the asses of everyone worthy.

Then, I spotted him—Andrey.

Irritation and a vague sense of envy coiled within my stomach at the sight of him, knowing he had exactly what I needed, but I wasn’t willing to pay his price.

It could’ve been so simple, but of course not.

Damn him…

His eyes lit up faintly with recognition at the sight of me, and I knew at once I’d be locked into my next agonizing conversation.

“Val,” Andrey said with an almost friendly, yet knowing, grin. He put a hand against the back of the woman he was with and approached. “I’m pleased to see you here.”

I nodded and pulled a tight-lipped smile of my own, but my eyes fell on the woman, and I felt everything around me halt at once.

“This is my daughter, Tatiana,” Andrey said, making an introduction that suddenly seemed more important than anything else. He gestured to her, then to me again. “And this is Valentin Novikov. The one I mentioned previously…?”

I couldn’t tell if it was just me or the room itself, but the temperature shifted at once, and there was no way I could stop myself from staring.

She was gorgeous…stupidly so.

To my surprise, she was taller than most women there, filling her light-blue gown with beautiful curves that were screaming for my attention…and god, did I want to give it.

Her soft, dirty-blonde hair was pulled back in an elegant yet seemingly effortless style, and those brown eyes settled on me with a touch of innocence I couldn’t miss.

That gaze of hers held me there completely, almost like looking at sunlight through bourbon. I didn’t want to look away.

It wasn’t like me to forget how to breathe, but somehow, some way, she rendered me completely speechless.

That was Tatiana…the woman he tried to set me up with.

Inwardly cursing myself, I did my best to maintain my composure.

God, was I an idiot for refusing.

The faintest color that hadn’t been there before entered her smooth cheeks as she sent an almost burning look toward her father.

The one I mentioned previously…

So that meant Andrey brought me up, for reasons I was unaware of.

It was both satisfying and irritating to think about, but at that moment, I didn’t care too much. Not when she had my full attention.

Still, she sighed and gave me a faint smile, as if she was just as tired of being there as I felt.

“Tia is fine. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Tia,” I repeated, as if testing it out. “The pleasure’s mine.”

While she seemed a bit more reserved than her father, there was still a simple, refined air to her that was also edged with inexperience. She seemed young and almost out of her depth, yet she was holding herself confidently enough.

There was a momentary stiffness between us while I reminded myself to pull it together before I made a complete fool of myself, and then a flicker of light gleamed from beneath her nose, glinting off the thin band of gold hooked through her septum.

The jewelry was so subtle I nearly missed it, but it caught my attention now.

Of course, I wasn’t the only one to notice, it seemed.

Andrey scoffed at the realization, and his brows furrowed as he glanced at her disapprovingly.

“Tatiana,” he uttered her full name, letting her know he was entirely serious. “Take that out. Now.”

“Why?” Tia returned, lifting a challenging brow at him, seemingly sparking with a hint of defiance I didn’t expect from her.

“This is not the time or place for that…it’s improper for an event like this.”

Tia locked eyes with her father, seemingly not appreciating the quiet warning in his tone.

Despite myself, I couldn’t look away from the exchange. Their tension was unavoidable, and for a beat, it was like they forgot about everyone else around them.

It wasn’t the first time her choice in accessories was a point of contention, it seemed.

“I’m keeping it in,” Tia finally said, apparently not backing down despite his insistence.

Andrey narrowed his eyes slightly, jaw twitching while he tamped down his irritation. “You don’t need it…would it kill you to remove it for a few hours?”

“There are enough diamonds in this room to blind us all. Why is my piercing any different?” she countered, unwavering in her conviction to a degree that impressed me. “If you want me here, then the piercing stays.”

They stared each other down for another moment before Andrey sighed and shook his head. “Fine, fine…just behave yourself. If you’ll excuse me, I have someone to speak with.”

Tia nodded and wore a vaguely triumphant grin as her father walked away, having won the battle.

Despite making a sound of acknowledgement as Andrey moved on, I couldn’t care less. I certainly didn’t spare him another glance—not while his surprisingly fiery daughter was right in front of me.

Studying her for another moment, it didn’t take long for me to notice the dainty line art of her tattoos in various places. They accentuated her skin beautifully, and while the work was nothing out of the ordinary, it made her stand out.

Most women there didn’t express themselves in that way. There were hardly any visible tattoos in the room, and yet, Tia seemed to own hers proudly.

I underestimated her, it seemed. She was bold, and something about her conviction was intoxicating to me.

“Don’t tell me you’ve been dragged here tonight,” I began, subtly looking her over and appreciating how the dress hugged her form, even if she didn’t seem all that used to it.

Tia sighed then and glanced over to where her dad had left. “That’s what happened…this isn’t exactly my idea of a Friday night well spent.”

“No? And what would you rather be doing, then?” I questioned, finding myself more intrigued by her than I cared to admit. “Going out with friends to a real party, maybe?”

She scoffed, almost sounding amused at the thought. “No, no…I have a canvas back home calling my name.”

That piqued my interest even more.

“So, you’re an artist then?”

Tia’s eyes brightened for a moment at the mention of it, and she nodded. “Trying to be one, anyway.”

Everything seemed to make more sense then…she was an artist, and obviously had no problem with expressing herself, regardless of those around her.

I hummed to myself. “Quite a few art pieces are going up for auction tonight…that should hold your attention, right?”

She crossed her arms, seemingly not entirely impressed with the thought of being there, while also giving away a hint of curiosity. “It might be a redeeming part of the evening, but I won’t get ahead of myself yet.”

“And if you find something you like, I’m sure your dad wouldn’t mind coughing up the funds,” I murmured with a slight grin, allowing a teasing lilt to accompany it. “It’s for a good cause, after all.”

Tia threw me an incredulous look. “I’m here as a favor, not to shop…and that’s the last thing I need.”

“What, for him to assume you’re actually interested in something like this?”

More irritation flooded her words. “Something like that.”

I couldn’t tell if it was the fact that she was still entertaining the conversation at all or the way she pushed back against me without fawning like most others would have by now, but either way, I was completely locked in. She could talk about the most mundane thing on earth, and I’d still be perfectly enraptured.

There was something about being around her…Something I didn’t want to end.

“A humble artist surrounded by vapid elites with nothing better to do than spend money to prove they have it—you might just be a rare gem, Tia.”

She seemed surprised by my words, and a delicate flush of pink moved through her cheeks again. Then she huffed dismissively.

“Don’t say that like it’s an accomplishment.”

Chuckling to myself, I felt my cheeks start to ache from grinning down at her. “It is an accomplishment. Not many can reach in a place like this.”

A slight fluster settled over her as she glanced away, almost impatiently, like she was waiting for Andrey to return to save her…and it only pulled me in more.

To hell with Andrey and the rest of the gala. I wouldn’t mind my night being filled with a lot more of her .