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Olga scrunched her nose when she saw the kitten. “Cat hairs are dirty.”
I frowned at her. “He’s not dirty.”
She shook her head. “Kristoff not like animals in house.”
“Doesn’t he now?” I really, really hoped this was a stray cat that I could keep.
Reluctantly, she put a saucer of milk on the kitchen island. I placed Caesar next to it and he immediately lapped it up.
I was just thinking about how to go about finding Caesar’s owner when Angel walked in. I ignored him. I hadn’t forgiven him yet for his part in siding with Kristoff.
He stopped right in front of me and put a car key on the countertop.
“It’s for the Veyron.”
I gave him the evil eye. “You think you can buy me off with a car?”
“The Veyron isn’t just a car.” He sounded insulted. “It’s heaven on wheels of fire.”
“You can take your wheels of fire and shove them—”
He wrapped his arms around me, and my words got muffled. I stiffened. He had no idea how much I needed a hug, but I wasn’t going to fold like a cheap suit. He’d hurt meby siding with Kristoff. Of course, I’d always known where his loyalties lay, but the coldness with which he had dismissed me…I just couldn’t forget about it.
His lips almost brushed my ear. “You know you are my family. And I don’t use those words lightly. But we both know there was no way I could have gotten you out of that situation. The only way you could have avoided that ring on your finger was by letting Kristoff shoot himself. You chose life, so stop sulking about your own damn choice.”
My back went ramrod straight. “Are you really throwing the fact that I’m a caring human being back into my face?”
“Take the car, which is my favorite by the way, as an apology, and let your rage go. You don’t want to end up like Damon.” He pulled back and gave me a crooked smile.
I snorted. “As if you have any less rage inside of you.” He just hid it better.
Angel shook his head, indicating that was a no-go conversation. A naughty gleam entered his eyes. “Besides, think of how much more you would piss off Kristoff if you forgave everyone else but him.”
I blinked at that lightbulb moment.
“I see you’re beginning to get what I’m offering you.” Then he frowned. “On second thought, maybe I should have led with that.”
He reached for the keys, but I snatched them away.
I stood on my toes and kissed his cheek. “I forgive you. But this car is mine.”
***
After salivating in the garage over my new car, I went back inside and was met with a nasty surprise. The illustrious Svetlana was in the living room, acting as if she owned the place. Kristoff stood along the wall, making a phone call. He didn’t stopwhen he saw me, just kept walking up and down the room while scolding someone over a delayed shipment.
Svetlana, on the other hand, had settled her butt on the couch next to the fireplace and held a glass of wine in her hand.
How was it that every time I saw her, she looked absolutely flawless? From her pristine white jumpsuit that hugged her long legs, to her huge pearl earrings and her white satin Manolos.
I hated every inch of her. I hadn’t forgotten about our last encounter, when she’d called me a silly girl for believing Kristoff actually wanted to marry me.
For a second I considered passing by the room and just letting them sit there conducting whatever business it was they needed to. Then I remembered that she was Kristoff’s ex, and an irrational volcano almost erupted inside of me. I had never liked her, and the feeling was mutual judging by how she pinched her lips and glared at me when Kristoff turned his back to her.
It suddenly hit me that I didn’t have to tolerate her presence in my house anymore. Yes,myhouse. Kristoff had married me, and I didn’t remember signing a prenup, so everything he owned was also mine now. Yet, the polite courtesy my mother had instilled in me didn’t allow for kicking out a guest, even if she was a poisonous snake.
I was about to leave them to it when Svetlana gave me a ‘bye bye’ wave.
I stomped back into the room. “What are you doing here?” I asked her.
