Page 72 of The Arrangement

“Sure thing.”

Jen wasn’t gone but two seconds before a body dropped into the stool beside Viviana’s with an almost feline sort of grace. The shine of a red heel caught the glint of a light. It drew her gaze to the slender calve it rested on.

Pale, smooth legs were crossed as a clutch was tossed onto the bar top. A feminine sigh echoed. Viviana turned to stare into ice-blue eyes that all but glared back. Full, painted red lips tugged into a sneer. The woman was beautiful, no doubt about it. Plenty of curves from her hips to her waist, and a bust that filled out her short, red dress. With pixie-like features and blonde hair that fell halfway down her back in perfect waves, she oozed self-confidence and sexuality.

Still, the last thing Viviana felt in her presence was insecure. She didn’t know the girl from a hole in the ground. However, what she did feel was the burning resentment behind the stare. The woman’s first words sure didn’t help, either.

“Well, if it isn’t the Russian whore.”

Chapter Sixteen

The light Russian accent to the woman’s voice didn’t escape Viviana’s notice. The woman reached out with her hand, brushing over the engagement ring on Viviana’s finger.

Instantly, Viviana jerked her hand away as if she’d been burned. Many people had looked at the ring, their gazes appreciative when they asked how exactly Anton proposed, but not one had openly touched it like this woman just had.

“Pretty. But I bet I could have gotten a much nicer one out of that man. Is that all it took for you to roll over in his sheets and moan his name, girl? Just a pretty ring, a fast car, and a big house?”

Viviana felt air lodge in her throat, but the woman didn’t give her a chance to reply before she continued. “I mean, they all know you’re practically bought and paid for as it is,” she said with an indifferent wave to the crowd behind them. “But I want to know what it took for you to put on a show like you just did out there on the dance floor. He was holding you tight, making it look awfully sweet … like he actually fucking cared. And he’s so good at pretending, you know? Men like that, they can’t be caught. They don’t love.”

“That wasn’t a show.” Viviana’s voice had finally came back, but it sounded a lot quieter than she wanted it to. “Far from it.”

“Sure,” the other woman drawled with sarcasm dripping thickly over every word. “I’m Tatiana, by the way.”

Viviana scoffed. “And I don’t care.”

Placing her glass back on the bar before she left the woman’s space, she heard Tatiana’s soft, vague reply. “Oh, you will.”

“Listen, girl,” Viviana muttered, forcing herself to breathe and be calm. The very last thing she or Anton needed was some kind of drama going down on his birthday with so many Bratva around. “I don’t know who the hell you are, or what exactly this stunt is meant to prove, but you don’t bother me. Not a single bit. Sure, you’re pretty, and I bet you spread your legs like a pro. Have you screwed around with him, is that it?”

Tatiana raised a brow. “I have. Many times.”

Viviana nodded; she’d assumed correctly, then. “Honestly, I don’t much care to sit here and have a chitchat with some used up, back alley former fuck of my fiancé’s. Because I’d be the one to bet that’s just about all you’re good for, and that’s why he hasn’t come calling back. Don’t take offense, he’s just got someone much more worthy warming up his bed. But, oh, wait … Anton didn’t actually share his bed before me, yeah?”

The anger that blazed in steel-blue eyes had Viviana smirking. “Right … that’s it, isn’t it? Couldn’t resist checking out who got what you didn’t?”

“Wrong. One: my daddy is just as good as yours, girl, making me just as worthy. And two: you’re pretty, but you’re sure not me.”

Viviana’s fingers curled into fists at her sides as she stood gracefully from the stool. There wasn’t any way on earth she was about to let some flighty twit from Anton’s past ruin her night. For a brief moment, she searched the crowd of people for him again, but like he had warned, the club’s doors were now opened to the public and in just a matter of minutes, it seemed like the floors were packed full.

“He’s busy,” Tatiana said, drawing Viviana’s attention again. Those red lips curved with a nasty smile. “Having a moment with my father, I believe. Friendly Pakhans are rare, but our families have good history. Their territories are very close and business tends to intermingle.”

Shit. That didn’t help Viviana at all. Dread climbed up her spine with punishing steps.

“Mmhmm, been friendly for years,” Tatiana continued, turning on her stool to face the crowd in one fluid movement. “I nearly had him, too … nearly. We were quite young then, though.”

“Shut up,” Viviana spat through clenched teeth.

The woman laughed sharply. “I suppose you could say we grew up together. When that grandfather of his was having troubles with whatever nonsense, Anton was spending time at my family’s estate. Damn, didn’t he grow up good, huh?” The taste of bile saturated Viviana’s mouth. She refused to even look at the woman. “He didn’t want you then, Viviana. In fact, he didn’t want you at all.”

Ouch. Something painful sliced into her heart with wrecking force.

“It’s Vine. To you, whoever the fuck you are, it’s just Vine.”

“We’d have been a much better match. Powerful, too. He knew it when he was seventeen, but someone didn’t quite agree. Nearly had him,” she repeated a little more vehemently. “Anton didn’t want some pretty Italian pussy waking him up in the mornings and sucking his cock at night. No, he wanted a Russian girl. Someone who spoke his mother tongue and bled the blood of the Bratva. Of course, he didn’t know about you, then … not really.”

Viviana felt her lips quirk into a condescending smirk. “Yet look who he chose, hmm?”

There was a brief silence before Tatiana chirped out a high laugh.