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“That’s good,” he replies, looking relieved. “I wasn’t trying to be so harsh with her, but you see how she can be sometimes.”
“Of course,” I reply, attempting to soothe his worry so he doesn’t try to back out of the deal. I still don’t have Taylor’s hand in marriage, and thus, none of this will work if he starts having second thoughts.
“And the deed,” he says, wringing his hands. “That’s ready?”
“It’s ready, but I cannot give it to you until the marriage is complete. I will put it in escrow for you but remember that you cannot speak to anyone about it until the deal is finished. Our contract is private and violating that will result in some very unpleasant things.”
He frowns, leaning back at bit and looking me over. “Alright, well, just let me know when I can dig into the mine. I will be getting equipment prepared in the meantime. And don’t worry about other people knowing. I’ll tell them that the new equipment is for one of the mines we already have, so the orders won’t seem conspicuous.”
“Very well,” I reply. “Then I will see you out, and we’ll be in touch. The wedding will be this Saturday, if you’re interested in flying back in to attend.”
“I’ll consider it, but I’m quite busy, even on the weekends.”
“No pressure,” I reply, feeling satisfied that he probably won’t be there. I don’t want Taylor to have to see him again after this. It will only make her angry, and that could blow this whole thing out of the water. When tempers flare, things tend to get messy.
I escort James to the door, hoping that he won’t ask any more questions. I’ve already grown sick of his bullshit in the few short weeks I’ve had to deal with him. Warming him up to this deal was hard enough, but to see how he’s treated Taylor just to get his hands on yet another uranium mine that he really doesn’t need is sickening.
I have no sympathy for him, and no regrets for what I’m about to do. Taylor will be safe. She’s in my care from now on, but I can’t say the same for James.
“Thank you for having me,” he says as he puts on his coat.
“My pleasure,” I reply, thinking that the only pleasure that will ever come from seeing James is watching him leave.
I’m even tempted to parrot what Taylor wanted me to tell him, but I keep my mouth shut. We’re days away from the deal being final. That’s all it will take.
8
Taylor
Ican’t stop thinking about the way Danya looked at me when he mentioned consummating our marriage yesterday. It’s like he wanted to tear my clothes off and fill me up on the spot.
Maybe I’m just projecting my own desires onto him. He’s been much nicer about all this than my father has, and that’s the first time he’s ever mentioned doing something like that to me.
But still, I can’t imagine that I’ll be going from a single woman who has never even touched a dick before to a married woman with a giant tattooed man stretching me out in his bed. I’m secretly excited but I tell myself I hate it.
Everything is happening so fast!
I sip on a cup of black coffee that was brought in by one of Danya’s servants, looking out the window as the dress maker, Olena, arrives in a van outside. I can tell it’s her by the way the van is decorated with little spools of thread running along the side of it.
Danya said Olena would be here this morning to take some measurements so that my dress would be ready by Saturday. It's not much time to prepare, but I don’t have to do anything.
Danya tells me that there will be many people coming by to take care of my hair, skin, and nails before the ceremony. Normally, I’d have to take charge of such things myself, but Danya has already made all the calls and pulled all the strings. All I have to do is let life happen to me.
I’m impressed by his doting nature, but I haven’t told him this yet. I’m not sure I should be paying him compliments until I know him a bit better. It’s true that he’s treated me fairly, considering the circumstances, but I’m still afraid of him.
Afraid until I get to the point where I can’t hold back anymore, and I give in to his cold, searing gaze. I’m amazed by the way he makes me feel, and he barely has to say anything at all. My cheeks are hot and my heart flutters every time we’re in the room together.
So little said, and yet, a world of emotions expressed.
I move from the window when Olena exits her van, watching the door to my bedroom as though she’s going to teleport there and open it at any moment. I don’t like going out of my bedroom because of what Danya said about his dogs, even though he was probably joking. It’s impossible to tell when he’s being serious and when he really means what he says.
Well, if there are dogs, Olena is lucky to make it inside before they tear the legs out from beneath her. I can hear her coming down the hall already, humming an unfamiliar song while the heavy footsteps of Danya lead her to my room.
I try to look like I wasn’t waiting when she knocks on the door.
“Come in,” I say, grabbing a book from my nightstand and flipping it open. It’s in Russian, but she doesn’t have to know that.
I close it with one hand as she enters, Danya shutting the door behind her and sneaking back off down the hall. He’s elusive like that, and I only ever get to talk to him over dinner. Maybe he’s the one who’s afraid of me.
