Page 14 of The Crimson Lily

“What?” I instantly retort, confused.

“Mr. Zhang, good evening!” he greets before he can explain.

It’s our turn to speak to the man.

Maksim does most of the talking. In reality, I’m actually way too drunk to speak, and too busy beating myself up over the kiss.

I want to run away and hide and never come out.

I do notice, however, that Mr. Zhang only has eyes for me.

He’s actually my size, so he has a better view of me than he does of Maksim.

He has small, round brown eyes and short black hair.

I think he’s in his early forties, like William.

Speaking of which, I have not seen William in hours.

I figure he’s gone, and I feel so relieved I didn’t run into him.

“Follow me, Mr. Zhang. I can show you what I have in store!” I hear Maksim exclaim.

I turn my head back to them. Mr. Zhang is still checking me out. I’m not sure what is expected of me, because the two have fallen silent, and Maksim screams at me with his eyes. I look at him, then back at Yi Zhang, then back at him.

I think I need a nudge, and Maksim agrees. He puts an affectionate hand on my arm and leans in closer.

“You can leave, zaya . Don’t wait for me. I’ll show Mr. Zhang our creations, then I’ll join you.”

I get the message. I look to Yi Zhang and give him the most seductive smile I can.

“Please go with my husband, Mr. Zhang,” I am able to say in a smooth sentence in my best Russian accent. I actually feel proud of it. I see Maksim’s look of perplexity on his face but take it as a win. “I’m feeling a bit tired. I’ll be heading out.”

I have no idea what Maksim has in mind, but I just helped him get his way, and that feels quite refreshing. Mr. Zhang found it very hard to refuse my request. On his way out, Maksim hands me a little folded cardboard piece, which turns out to contain a hotel room key.

That is my signal. I am done for the night. I bid Mr. Zhang goodnight and cast a see-you-later at my husband.

It takes another hour before I hear the door open behind me.

I took my heels off the minute I got into the room.

Enough of those monstrosities! I don’t see much of the room, but I feel the soft carpet underneath my feet.

Considering the state I’m in, I’ll need at least two nights of uninterrupted sleep to recover.

I turn around to meet Maksim taking off his tie and tuxedo jacket. He lays them carefully on the nearest chair and walks toward me.

“What did you do?” I have to ask.

“I got what I needed,” he replies. “The dagger is in the safe, in your boss’s apartment here, in Paris.”

I don’t want to know what he’s done to Mr. Zhang. Maksim stands in front of me. I can hear his relaxed breathing. He has his eyes on me, on the slim opening by my chest, then I see him glance at my face for a second. I removed my shoes, my makeup—the only thing left is my dress.

“You’re still wearing it,” he says. That’s not a remark; it’s a request.

“You’re looking at me.”

He chuckles. He sits on the side of the immensely large bed, his face turned in the opposite direction of me, while I remain standing in front of the mirror, on the north side of the room.

The dress is supposed to open at the nape of my neck.

Only this time, I have big-time struggles finding the button to pop.

I’m really not a dress person. After trying and trying, twisting and turning my arms to get to my back, I eventually give up with a long sigh and turn to Maksim, who’s been watching me while wearing this annoying smirk.

“Can you help?” I ask, timid.

He doesn’t reply. He simply rises to his feet and comes closer.

He slinks behind me, and with a single movement of his fingers, opens the collar of my dress.

I thought he’d stop there, that he’d turn around and go back to sit on the bed, that he’d return to leave me some privacy.

He does none of these things. None of the things that I expect.

Maksim pulls the collar of my dress, opening it wide, then slips the sleeves along my shoulders, delicately.

He pulls it down until I free my arms and slides it along my waist and hips.

He reveals my buttocks, which are covered by a thin satin thong.

And he does it so gently. I have no idea what he’s thinking.

My chest is flaring. I don’t hear him breathe.

I don’t hear him speak. I am completely mesmerized.

I can’t move. I can’t make a sound. I just let him undress me in the silence.

He stands back up straight. I know he can peer over my shoulder, at my free breasts, at my nipples that have hardened from his touch.

I stay frozen, attentive, expectant of what he’s going to do.

If I have to be honest with myself, I want to feel him closer.

I want his hands to make their way to my chest, down my thighs.

I want Maksim to spin me around and kiss me, then lead me to the bed and?—

Was that a kiss I just felt?

It was faint, like a soft breeze brushing against the nape of my neck.

I’m not sure it even happened. He kissed me there, in the crook, or did he not?

An idea of a kiss, perhaps? Did I imagine it?

Is it because I wanted it, or did he actually do it?

All I know is that bumps on my skin are starting to show.

I can’t take it anymore. I need out before something I’ll regret happens, before I do something with this dangerous man.

I turn around to escape but notice he’s already back on the bed.

There and then, it’s not relief that I feel.

It’s disappointment. I want that kiss. I want that kiss more than anything else.

I want him so badly that I didn’t even notice until now that I’m standing in front of him with only a thong to protect me.

Embarrassed, I run to the bathroom to wash my face.

Again. As I look in the mirror, I witness how exhausted I am.

I have huge dark pockets under my bulging eyes.

All right, I know I just need to sleep this whole night off.

When I come back, I slink into the bedsheets, turn my back to him, and my system shuts down like an old computer during a power outage.