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Chapter Fifteen
“Self-sabotage,” Alyxdeclared half an hour later. They were at the Grachyovs’ garden, enjoying juice in porcelain teacups and a tiered-tray filled with an assortment of sweets that would have made the Duchess of Cambridge proud. Fredericka had tried asking for tea, but since that was bad for her, this was the next best thing.
“It’s a defense mechanism,” Alyx continued, “brought about by feelings of insecurity and fear. You’ve lived all your life alone and afraid of commitment, and now that you are in a relationship—-”
“I am?”
“Yes, you are, don’t bother denying it.”
“But I didn’t take his ring.”
“It’s just a matter of time, and we both know that, too, so stop lying to yourself. Let’s get back to the real issue at hand, and that’s you about to do something stupid and crazy so you could justify your paranoia.”
“You sound like a shrink,” Fredericka accused.
Alyx popped a macaroon into her mouth, saying, “That’s because I am. I minored in psychology, remember?” Her eyes closed as she savored the mouthwatering taste of the Grachyovs’ home-baked macaroons. Jesus Christ, these were so ridiculously yummy, it was a good thing she didn’t live here or she’d end up gaining a thousand pounds.
When she opened her eyes, it was to see that her cousin was nibbling depressingly on a scone, and Alyx sighed. “You have a really great thing going here and you know it. Don’t let your paranoia – and the past – win. Only an idiot does that, and you didn’t survive this long by being an idiot.”
Fredericka shook her head with a wry smile. “You really have a unique way of words, Alyx.”
“As long as I make sense, you have no reason to complain.”
“True.” She sighed. “And I know you’re right.” Fredericka squared her shoulders. “So no more thoughts about leaving.”For now,she added silently.
Alyx’s gaze narrowed at her cousin’s face, thinking pregnancy has completely lowered Fredericka’s defenses. She was ridiculously easy to read now, and she saw that Fredericka was still entertaining thoughts of leaving.
I’ll text Sergei about it and then it’s up to him, Alyx decided. But for now, she decided to change the subject, asking, “Have you seen the Beasts article?”
Fredericka flushed. “Yes, and I’m so sorry.” Some anonymous entrepreneurial tabloid writer had written an article titledFredericka Spears’ Six Degrees of Beasts,and the humorous piece had gone viral as soon as it went live. The article showed how all six “beasts” were related to Fredericka, and the list included Sergei Grachyov, the Russian Beast, as the father of her unborn child, Marco Ravelli – the Italian Beast – because he was married to her friend Anneke, Jeremy Al Rashid – the Arabian Beast – because he was Sergei’s business partner, Nathan – the Greek Beast – because he was going out with Alyx, her cousin, and finally Christien – the French Beast – because he recently ended up being her client.
In the article, ‘beast’ was a reference to how they were insatiable animals in the bedroom, as disclosed by their ex-girlfriends. In Sergei’s part, it had been Elsa Nilsson, a Swedish YouTube sensation who had met Sergei when they were both in college. Although the two had only been together on and off for a year, it was still the longest relationship that the billionaire was known to have.
“I’m not bothered by it,” Alyx dismissed. “What I’m worried about is that it could affect your pregnancy. You’re not supposed to get upset, right?”
“I’m not upset. So far.”
“So far?”
“As long as I don’t see her in person, I can pretend she doesn’t exist.” Fredericka grimaced. “Pathetic, right?”
“Just remember you’re the one Sergei wants to marry. That makes you winner by knockout.”
Alyx’s words surprised a laugh out of her. “It’s not a competition, Alyx.” Shaking her head, she asked, “What about you? How are things between you and Nathan?”
“So-so.”
It wasn’t like Alyx to be anything but blunt, and Fredericka gazed at her cousin in concern. “What’s wrong, Alyx?”
Her cousin popped two scones into her mouth.
Okay, something was definitely wrong.“You still haven’t told Nathan then?”
