AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Ulyana meets us by the front door. She’s not alone; Olesya is at her side. Both of them smile at me, though Olesya is barely controlling herself. If she wasn’t being watched by Ulyana, I’m sure she’d be dancing.
When she catches my eye, she mouths good luck!
My cheeks burn wildly. Good luck ... Good luck for what? It’s just a date, one that’s for show to convince people we’re legitimately in love, so our marriage seems real.
“Here, devushka,” Ulyana says as she hands me a thick black shawl. “In case you get cold.”
“Thank you.” I wrap it tightly around my bare shoulders, enjoying the warmth of the soft material.
Both girls incline their heads to Arsen as he opens the door. I move through, my heart starting to race at the approaching freedom. I haven’t been outside in days. The black Escalade is parked on the paved stones. Surrounding it are five men—Arsen’s soldiers. I recognize Kostya immediately, but none of the others.
The way they fix their eyes on me curdles my blood. Arsen doesn’t notice. He strides forward, looking at each of them one by one. “Follow us closely,” he instructs in a grim voice. “It’s possible Yevgeniy will try something.”
“Yes, pakhan,” they say unanimously.
Arsen opens the passenger door for me. Unlike my last time in the car, we’re alone inside. He straps himself into the driver’s seat, casting me a tiny grin.
“Ready?” he asks.
“Yeah, definitely.” Buckling myself in, I turn around to watch the mansion vanish behind us.
Deep down, I wish that this would be the last time I ever saw it.
It’s not a long drive before we’re in the city. Pressing my nose to the window, I try to figure out where we’re going. I’m freed of wondering for long, because the Capitol Theater has such a massive marquee you can spot it before you reach the valet.
Every square inch of my brain lights up at the sight.
“No way!” I exclaim. “You’re kidding.”
“I’m not.” Arsen chuckles as he parks the car. My door opens; the valet starts approaching, but Arsen muscles in. He extends his hand to me as the young man in his oversized red vest hovers on the curb, flustered by the intervention.
“This way, Galina.”
Setting my fingers in his big hand, I’m pulled from the car. Arsen cradles the small of my back to make sure I don’t trip on the drop down to the sidewalk. His touch creates little waves of desire in my tummy. They remain when he releases me.
“Arsen, this is wonderful. I love the ballet.”
“That’s why I chose it.” Smirking proudly, he ushers me into the building.
As a child, whenever I was in the vicinity of the theater, I’d gaze at it longingly, imagining myself twirling across the stage. As a young adult, I’d plot out ways to afford a ticket to a show. Each time I scraped up enough, real-life problems would snatch the extra money away.
But now I’m here.
Turning in place in the lobby, I scan the rounded ceilings high above. The gold beams are studded with crystals that mirror the jacuzzi-sized chandelier in the center. Beneath my feet spreads a colorful rug that sweeps upward along the curved staircases on the left and right. They go to the upper levels, the balcony seats.
“Save your amazement,” Arsen says in my ear. I jump with the thrill of his breath on my skin; he points at the stairs. “The stage is waiting.”
The reminder of what’s just ahead makes my poor heart thud quicker. I start jogging in my heels, expecting an usher to tell me to stop. It’s funny how quiet things seem in the theater lobby. Shouldn’t there be people packed in lines, buying merchandise or picking up tickets at will-call?
Bursting into the main theater, I’m faced with more confusion. Rows upon rows of seats expand below me from the balcony. Arsen got us top-tier seats … But he doesn’t have any competition, because the room is empty.
“I don’t understand,” I say, facing him with my brow knotted. “Where is everyone?”
His smirk is sharp as a dagger. Settling into a plush chair, he spreads his arms over the back. “We’re everyone, Galina. I bought out the whole place.”
“You did what?” My God, how much did that cost? I can’t even afford a single ticket for myself. “Why would you buy every seat?”
“So we could be alone.” Gesturing with his chin at the stage, Arsen’s smile widens. “An intimate performance is the smallest of tonight’s surprises.”
