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“If you keep eye fucking me, I’ll drag you into a dark corner and have my way with you.” His voice is low, for only the two of us. The thought is tempting. “Katrina, I can’t concentrate with your eyes blatantly staring at my cock.”
“Sokolov.” We’re interrupted, and my husband takes a step back.
“Siya.” The men shake hands. “This is my wife, Katrina.” Demetri nods my way.
My hands fidget with my glass. This is the first time I’ve been introduced as his wife. I had assumed that Demetri would keep me like his dirty little secret, but instead, his hand slips over my shoulder and pulls me to his side.
“Nice to meet you. I hear many great things about your art and gallery. If Demetri is impressed, it must be something incredible.”
I force a smile. I’m very protective of my work. I can’t help but wonder why anyone would be talking about it unless they want to use it to their advantage. It’s what my family did when they realized how well it could funnel in money when needed. It started off as a one-time thing, then as a favor to do it one more time. It’s why my pieces were going for so much more than all the others at the gallery. Eventually, they held their own art nights, but I made sure my side of the business never mixed with theirs. I wanted to be legitimate. It was my way of attempting independence.
“Thank you. That’s very kind of you.” I play the dutiful woman part that I know I’m expected to portray.
“Whatever you want is on me tonight,” Demetri tells the man, and Siya’s eyes come to me. There’s no doubt about the thoughts in his head—he wants me. I stiffen, but Demetri stays perfectly relaxed. “The bar tab is already set up for you.”
Demetri
Ican’tstandthesight of the man in front of me. His family tried to destroy me once, and I’ll never repeat the same mistakes again. They want more money for my diamond ports. Ports that I’ve been doing business with since my old man’s time. Unfortunately, they’ve taken over from the former regime in South Africa.
He greedily casts his eyes all over my Katrina. I will never forget his family had a part in killing my first wife. I refused to do business with them then, and I continue to do that now. I’ll have to come up with a better solution than the one he’s brought to me.
I would love nothing more than to murder him like I did the others. I pull my wife away, not wanting him to look at her anymore. I don’t trust him, and I’m going to have to put more guards on Katrina while he’s in town.
Thenextday,Ican’t concentrate. My mind keeps wandering to Katrina. I’ve used my phone to pull up her gallery feed at least a hundred times in the last hour. She’s smiling, happy in her element.
In fact, I haven’t seen her look anything but content since she got her gallery back. Charlotte seems to have adjusted well. The two of them get along better than I could’ve ever asked for. It seems like I’m getting the second chance in life that I never realized I wanted. But it also feels almost too good, surreal, and it has me on edge instead of relaxing me.
Every time I’ve ever gotten this feeling of being content, something happened. Someone was taken away from me. It’s why I work late hours. I needed to protect Charlotte from this life, and the less I was attached to her, the better chance she had to grow up happy.
But now…? My hand runs through my hair, the other down my beard. I’ve gotten to experience life as a family man, and I never thought I would enjoy it. I never expected Charlotte to love me so unconditionally. She doesn’t hold it against me when I’m not home. Her smile is always bright when she sees me. I don’t deserve it. But I love it.
I don’t deserve to have Katrina treating her like her own. I don’t deserve to find love. Nina and I were convenient, we respected each other, but never loved each other. The thought sucker-punches me in the gut. I love Katrina. I love the family and life we are creating together. And this puts everyone in so much danger. It’s why I never planned to marry again. I refused to let anyone have any hold over me. I’ve somehow taken three steps back and now have a weakness once again.
I hold my phone up, and my fingers slide down the glass screen. Katrina’s smile shifts, and it makes my entire body tense. Then I see Siya enter her shop.
Katrina
“Goodafternoon,”I’mgreeted.
My smile falters for a moment as I see Demetri’s work associate enter before I force it back up.
“To what do I owe this surprise?” I have to fight to stop my teeth from clenching at the back. I don’t want these types of people in here. “I find it hard to believe my little shop would be of any interest.”
He chuckles and walks farther in. The guards I kicked outside come walking in, gaining the attention of the older couple in my shop who were looking for a piece to hang in their living room. They whisper to each other before scurrying out.
“I’ve heard praises about your collection and wanted to see if you’re as talented as everyone says. I’d love a tour,” he prompts in his accented English.
I stand there, my arms crossed, not wanting to show him around. “This gallery has nothing to do with Demetri’s businesses.”
He walks even closer as he answers, “I’m fully aware. I can’t understand why though.”
I hate that I’m the one who ends up following him around instead of the other way around. Especially when he stops abruptly, and I almost trip over his legs.
“Heels look beautiful, but I’ve never envied anyone who has to wear them,” he comments as if the heels have anything to do with me tripping. “I would like that one.” He points to one of my paintings. This is the game my family’s clients would play sometimes.
“Mine are not for sale.” Not to criminals with no moral code at least.
“That’s too bad. I would have loved to gift it to my wife. She’s very beautiful, much like you.”
