Page 9 of Lord of Passion

"Yeah, that's how New York City was built," Alexsey said unrepentantly. "But it doesn't mean you're not qualified. Say yes."

Groaning, I'd buried my face in my hands for a minute. But what was waiting for me in Boston? My family was gone. I'd resigned from my position at the Four Seasons after mybrothers were killed. Then there was the case of that fucking Johann. I flinched away from that thought and smiled.

"I would be honored," I said, a bit giddy but who wouldn't be? "It would be the challenge of a lifetime."

"Good," Alexsey said warmly.

Liria applauded madly and called for champagne.

"You think you're the boss of me now, don't you?" I asked.

"I am the boss of you," she said.

"No, you're just profoundly manipulative and may I say I find that to be one of your most attractive qualities?"

"Thank you honey," she said, "I know you do."

***

We talk about the idea of buying into the hotel for a little while before I check the time and groan. "I have two meetings this afternoon, I've got to get moving."

"Think about the partnership," she says, hugging me goodbye.

I snort inelegantly. "Yeah, that's more like ten percent of the value, but still."

"No matter what you decide, you know I will be there, supporting you as hard as your underwire bra.”

That makes me crack up.

“And maybe think about Nikander?" She smiles diabolically. "I know he was attracted as hell to you."

"Seeing Nikandr again is about as desirable an anal bleaching," I say bluntly.

"Okay then," she laughs.

***

I run back to the hotel; it's about two miles from Liria and Alexsey's house. I haven't even bothered looking for a place yet in New York because it's easier to stay on-site during this first, crucial year. I have one of the corner suites on the ninth floor, just below the exalted Morozov section on the tenth.

Mine is one of my favorite suites in the entire hotel, with a carved cherrywood bed that curves and swoops like the ocean and piles of cream-colored bedding and pale curtains. I have my own little kitchen, along with an enormous sitting room, and a bathroom which is essentially architectural porn. It's all white marble within an enormous clawfoot tub. I'd personally scavenged that tub out of a demolished mansion up in Rochester. Thanks to a certain Bratva's connections, the designer and I had first crack at the estate sale. I'd bought nearly all the bathroom fixtures and furniture for the hotel.

Now that I have that twenty-five million though, I should probably do something with it. Invest in some real estate, maybe, buy an apartment. Just the thought of it is exhausting. I have to guide this hotel through its first year.

I've always been a tub girl, which is one of the reasons I pilfered this suite as my own. I lay back in the water, swishing my hands as I think about her question about Nikander.

He's a pompous asshole.

Why does he have to be so goddamn beautiful?

Why are the pretty ones always so bad for you?

Nikandr would definitely be bad for me. In the way that consuming an entire Red Velvet cake would be delicious and utterly satisfying, then leaving you sick to your stomach andfilled with self-loathing afterwards. I didn't need any of that. I had plenty of self-loathing as it is.

I have two dead brothers who committed themselves to the enemy. And I’m scared that I will never understand why.

Chapter Four

In which nothing is more enraging than two hot blondes and a smirking Nikandr.