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She took a deep breath, her wish a silent prayer: I wish I didn’t have to hurt you.
She blew out the candles, and everyone applauded.
As the staff departed, after giving Bree their well wishes in a mixture of English and Russian, Vladimir took her in his arms.
“Do you want to know about your other gift?” he said softly.
She gulped. “I thought you weren’t going to tell me.”
“If you kiss me, I might change my mind.”
But she backed away. “I’m not really in a kissing mood, either,” she mumbled.
From the corner of her eye, she saw the stiffness of his posture, and felt his hurt. “Very well,” he said finally. “It is your special day. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.”
He paused. She didn’t move. His hands tightened at his sides.
“So I’ll just tell you what the big surprise is, shall I?” he said. “I’ve bought you a hotel. The Hale Ka’nani Resort.”
She looked up with a gasp. “What?”
“You dreamed of someday running a small hotel.” He gave her a crooked smile. “I bought you one.”
“But the Hale Ka’nani isn’t small! It must have cost millions of dollars!”
“Two hundred million, actually.”
“What?”
“Don’t worry.” His lips lifted in a smile. “I got a good deal.”
“Are you out of your mind?”
“It’s an investment. In you.”
Tears filled her eyes. “Why would you do something so stupid?”
“Because…” he said softly, reaching a hand toward her cheek “…with your brilliant strategic mind, Bree, I’ve always known you were born to rule an empire.”
Trembling, fighting tears, she stumbled back from his touch.
“I need to take Snowy for a walk,” she blurted out, and, picking up the puppy, she fled to the white, snow-covered lawn outside. Once there, Bree dawdled, taking as long as she could, until her cheeks and nose felt numb from the cold and even the puppy was whimpering to go back to the warmth inside. It was past dusk when she finally returned to the conservatory, her feet heavy, her heart full of dread.
To her surprise, the room was empty. The puppy flopped down on a rug near the warm fire, and Bree frowned. “Where is he??
?? she said aloud.
The puppy answered with a stretch and a yawn, clearly intending to have a long winter’s nap.
Bree went down the hall, passing various rooms. Then she saw Vladimir. In the study. At his desk. Signing papers.
Shock and horror went through her like lightning.
“What are you doing?” she breathed.
“There you are.” His voice was cold, and he didn’t bother to look up. He seemed distant—and how could she blame him? “I will join you for a late dinner after I finish this.”
He was signing the papers by rote, with rapid speed, as if his mind was on something else. She saw Kasimir’s contract peeking out beneath the next paper. “Stop!”
