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She orders more food than she can possibly eat on her own and, as we’re sitting there waiting for it, I decide to pull out the flat blue box that I picked up while she’d been browsing baby clothes.
“What’s this?” Her eyes go wide as I slide the box over to her.
“I wasn’t about to let my father show me up. I had this specially made for you.”
She picks the box up tentatively and unclasps it. But her gaze veers to me before she opens the lid. “Ruslan, this is extremely not necessary.”
“Open it anyway.”
Shaking her head in disbelief, she opens the box. Another gasp. This one is higher, sharper, ten times more delicious. “Ruslan…” she murmurs as she pulls out the diamond bracelet with three fat pearls hanging off it. Her bottom lip quivers. “I can’t believe you did this.”
I wind my fingers through hers and lean closer. I want her to feel the weight of my words. “I didn’t think it was possible for me to love another man’s children as much as my own. But now, that feels like a stupid thought. I’d give them the world on a platter if I could,kiska.They’re mine in every way that matters. Just like you.”
She clamps down on her lip to stop it from trembling, then offers me her wrist. “Can you put it on me?”
“With pleasure.”
I fit the clasp around her wrist and she stares at it with wide eyes. “It’s blinding.”
“So are you.”
She blushes. It’s fucking adorable. Then the food hits the table and we help ourselves to what feels like one of everything on the whole damn menu. She’s been craving meat the last couple of weeks, which is definite proof that she’s carrying my baby.
The waiter is walking away with our dessert order when I notice a face that’s irritatingly familiar. “Fuck…” I mutter.
“What’s wrong?” Emma asks immediately.
Of course, the bastard heads directly for the table next to ours. And he’s not alone, either. Emma follows the direction of my gaze. Her eyes land on Adrik—but she doesn’t pale until she sees the woman standing next to him.
“Jessica Allens,” she hisses.
“Well, well. Funny running into you here,” Adrik remarks with that smarmy smile of his. “You both know my date, of course. Say hello, Jess.”
Jessica’s gaze is fixed squarely on Emma. There’s not even a hint of a polite social smile. “Officially dating your boss then?” she says coldly. “How on trend. You can’t buy class, can you?”
“Alright now,” Adrik intercedes quickly. “Let’s play nice, shall we? After all, Ruslan here is one of my oldest friends.”
I arch an eyebrow. “You’re playing fast and loose with that word.”
Adrik holds a hand to his heart. “You wound me.”
“If only.”
“Are you really gonna let them talk to us like that?” Jessica demands.
Just the wheedling irritant that is her voice makes me want to commit murder. Connections be damned. No amount of power or influence is worth dealing with Jessica fucking Allens.
I made the right choice when I jettisoned her.
Adrik only smirks. “Ruslan is just a little miffed that I was able to do what he couldn’t. It’s the way of the world, my dear. Other people’s success engenders envy and bitterness.”
“Your success was stolen off the back of mine,” I growl. “What you are,friend, is a fucking copycat bootlicker without a single original idea in his head.”
His smile stays frozen in place as he turns his attention to Emma instead of responding to me. “I must say, dear, you’re practicallyglowing.”
I stiffen instantly. Surely that had to be a coincidence. No one but my inner circle knows that Emma is pregnant.
I watch him closely. There’s no indication that he knows more than he should, but my skin is still crawling as he licks his lips. “Blue really is your color. Matches your eyes perfectly.”
