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Chapter Ten
Sergei and Fredericka
One and a half yearlater
Oh my God, it was Sergei Grachyov in the flesh.
News traveled fast whenever hot Russian billionaires were concerned, and by the time Sergei had stepped out of his chopper, practically every woman on the strip had forgotten about the beauty of their surroundings, with its swaying palm trees, powder-fine sand, and the latest music streaming from the competing beachside bars.
The women only had one thought in mind: do anything and everything possible to get Sergei Grachyov’s attention.
But it was impossible, since the billionaire only had eyes for his phone.
An incessant number of clicks from mobile cameras followed the billionaire as he walked down the beach, his concentration fully engaged by whoever it was he was texting. Not once did he look up to see where he was going, the billionaire knowing that his security team would prevent anything unnecessary from obstructing his way.
And by anything, this included a woman who had pretended to trip in front of Sergei, hoping to stumble into his arms, but security literally lifted her off the billionaire’s path before she could reach him.
Another woman daringly untied her bikini top and threw it at Sergei, but the piece of clothing was caught by one of the billionaire’s bodyguards and returned to its owner together with a warning about possible litigation if she were to do it again.
And so it continued, with all the women failing to snag the billionaire’s attention. Their failure left them vexed and jealous, all of them wondering whom it could be that the billionaire was texting.
Could it be his baby sister Seri, whom Sergei openly doted on?
Or perhaps it was none other than Elsa Nilsson herself, who had the longest sort-of-relationship with the billionaire?
It could only be one or the other, the women thought enviously.
But they were wrong.
****
THE SCENT OF THE SEAteased Fredericka’s nostrils as she made her way to the last vacant lounge chair while a gentle breeze played with the loose locks of her hair behind her back. It was the height of summer, and she was lucky enough to spend the holidays here in Teleios, a Greek island that had recently dethroned Ibiza for being the world’s most famous party paradise.
A weekend in Teleios should have meant a beach romance. It should have meant having a summer fling or even a summer one-night stand.
At this point, Fredericka would have taken any of it, but reality offered none of those choices. A waiter approached her, bearing a tray of drinks, and she gratefully accepted a glass of Shirley Temple. It was easier to look cool with a drink in hand, and right now she desperately needed to look really cool.
It was already the second night of Legal Fun 101, a lawyer networking thingy that she had forced herself to attend. Now that Fredericka’s days as state’s attorney were over, she needed to search for colleagues to partner up with, and Legal Fun 101 should have helped with that.
But it hadn’t.
Two nights of networking translated to six meals’ worth of bonding and countless hours of semi-communal living, since they were all staying at the same private resort.
And yet—-
“Everyone grab a partner,” the event host called out with drunken cheerfulness.“It’s time to party!”
Fredericka managed to stop herself from wincing even as all the other lawyers excitedly left their lounge chairs and stools. They headed straight to the open space in the middle, which she now supposed would serve as the dance floor.
Or dance sand,Fredericka thought unnecessarily.Whatever.The point was, the host either didn’t know how to count or he had a really poor memory.
This event was called Legal Fun 101 for a reason, and it wasn’t just because the seminars included 101 lessons on networking. It was also called that because there were exactly 101 lawyers present.
101.
Which meant, odd number.
