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She spent a good twenty minutes in front of the mirror trying to decide if she should wear her hair up or down before finally deciding it was better for it to be up. The dress was fairly modest in the front, but it had a deep vee in the back. Having her hair up would show a little skin, though she wasn’t sure what the point of that might be. If nothing else, he’d be happy that she was presentable by his standards, since he seemed determined to dress her for every occasion.
Before she knew it, it was almost ten. She made her way down to the front lobby to find Yakov barking orders at the staff, who scurried around like mad to make sure everything was in order for the arrival of the guests. He was dressed in a simple button down white shirt and black slacks. She stood awkwardly waiting to see where she was supposed to be or what she was supposed to do.
“Ah, Aileen. You look ravishing. That dress is perfect on you.”
It was more a statement of fact, like he would appraise a nice-looking car or piece of artwork, than it was any sort of compliment; but it was a sight better than the reaction, or lack of a reaction, she had gotten in response to the last dress he had put her in.
“Thank you.”
“The guests will be here any moment. I expect there to be about twenty couples, but usually about a half dozen or so of them won’t show. It’ll still be a pretty full house.”
“Is there an occasion?”
“Just a get together while I have the time so that people who didn’t meet you at the other gathering can get to know you. It’ll help them accept you into the clan if they’ve talked with you . . .shared a meal. You know, that sort of thing.”
“Got it. Anything, in particular, that I need to know?”
“Nope. I think it’s covered. Just stick to our story and try to stay close by me as much as you can. I want them to have the impression that we’re inseparable.”
“Okay,” she replied, not knowing what else she could add to that.
“Watch for Kevin. He’s the little punk that thinks he can take my spot as Alpha. He’s a shifty little shit, so be on your toes if he starts quizzing you. He’ll be looking for anything he can find to keep me out of the Alpha spot.”
“I’ll be extra careful about what I say around him,” she replied, just as the doorbell rang.
“Don’t worry, I’ll stick close by,” he said.
The doorbell rang again, obviously an impatient sort of guest. Yakov took a deep breath and let it out slowly before nodding to a female member of staff to open it. An older couple entered, the woman wearing a simple black dress, but dripping with expensive jewelry and the man in a high end Italian suit. They made their way toward Aileen and Yakov, looking around somewhat distastefully.
“Are we the first ones here?” the woman said.
“Yes, mother,” he replied.
Aileen forced a smile. He hadn’t mentioned that his parents were attending and she wondered why, but the answer was soon provided.
“I thought you weren’t going to come,” he told her.
“We weren’t, but we decided that we’d at least stop by. We can’t stay long.”
“Well, the bar is to your left. The bartender will make you whatever you like. If I’d known you were coming, I’d have doubled my liquor order.”
“Don’t be snide, son,” his father chastised.
“Dad, Mom . . . this is Aileen Venegra. She and I have been seeing one another recently.”
“Grand,” his mother replied, ignoring Aileen’s outstretched hand and turning to walk toward the bar. Her husband wordlessly followed her.
“I’m sorry. I would have mentioned that my parents are dicks, but I didn’t think they were going to show up,” Yakov said matter-of-factly, quickly turning his attention to other guests being let into the house.
Aileen couldn’t help but think that it all made perfect sense now. His parents were jerks and had raised a jerk. The apple didn’t fall far from that family tree at all.
After the first half dozen couples filtered in, the flood gates were open and new people seemed to be arriving constantly. Before long, the place was filled with people chatting, drinking and nibbling on the platters of finger foods being passed about by staff. She could hardly remember the names of the people she was introduced to, but noted Yakov’s parents slipping quietly out the front door after less than an hour. He didn’t seem to notice.CHAPTER NINE“Hello,” a voice said from behind her, just as Yakov excused himself to check on something with his staff.
Aileen turned around to find herself looking at the decidedly pretty Kevin she had meet previously. Yakov was handsome, but in a rugged, virile way. He exuded a raw, savage sexuality that she found intoxicating, despite doing her best to resist the attraction. This man, though, was something entirely different. His bright blue eyes sparkled. His almost platinum blonde hair was cut into a rather metrosexual fade, the top brushed into a perfect wave of loose curls. His teeth were brilliantly straight rows of white porcelain.
