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He didn’t leave.
I gestured to where the other guests were clustered in the hall. “You may leave. I’d like to drink in peace.”
“Thank you once again,” he repeated and wandered off.
Fucking hell.Why did Sergey want me here anyway? If he was going to marry Maxim off, then Maxim should’ve been the one he sent here.
Shoving one hand in the pocket of my suit pants and holding a glass of champagne, I walked from artwork to artwork, admiring the paintings on the wall.
Whoever drew this is talented,I admitted to myself, staring at the painting of a weeping mother in spring, clutching onto her dead child and seemingly ignoring the one withering away behind her.
The painting seemed to be set in spring as petals of cherry blossom cascaded from the sky—or a nearby cherry blossom tree. I wasn’t certain. I guess looking at painting while sipping on champagne with classical instrumental playing in the background wasn’t such a boring idea.
“Do you like the painting?” a voice asked behind me.
Turning around, there was a beautiful red-haired woman in a silver dress behind me. If Mariana hadn’t etched herself into my brain since we met, this lady would be my type. But no one beat Mariana for now. She was all I could think about this past week. “It’s not an eyesore.” My way of saying it was a pretty sight. “Did you draw this?”
She smiled, her green eyes twinkling. “No, but I think the artist was being superficial. I could make something better if I wanted.”
Oh, so she’s the undermining type. Totally not my type.
“So, why haven’t you made something better?”
She gasped a little. “Well…” She tried to laugh off her arrogance. “I was only joking.”
“Sounded like you were talking down on the artist to me.” Seeing as she was really young and in this gala, she must’ve been the daughter of someone very influential. Typical spoilt brat who’s had everything she’d ever wanted handed to her. No respect for other people’s hard work.
Her cheeks turned red with embarrassment. “I was only trying to say I’d seen better artwork.” She stretched her hand forward. “I’m Sophia Russo. You know my father don’t you?”
I stared down at her hand. “I don’t shake people’s hands.”
“Oh.” She balled her hand into a fist, then she drew it back to herself. “You must be Vlad Vadim. I’ve heard a lot about you. You’re more handsome in person, too bad you choose to stay away from the spotlight.”
“I don’t know you, and we’re not close enough to discuss my personal life.”
She threw her head back, laughing. “Right. Right. I was too ahead of myself, but I’m pretty sure you like that you have my attention. I’m the prettiest girl in this hall and I’m willing to give you my time.” She stepped forward, pressing her body against mine. “Every other guy here is dying to get my attention.”
See what I said? Spoilt brat who thinks the world revolves around her.
I stepped back, putting a good distance between us. “If there are other guys trying to get your attention then by all means, give it to them.”
“Playing hard to get, huh?”
“That sounds better than being a cheap target, isn’t it?” My words must’ve struck a nerve, seeing as she was struggling to keep that pretentious smile on her face. “Unless you want to betreated like a whore, fucked in a hotel room and waking up alone to a few hundred bucks for your time, you will soon learn the world doesn’t revolve around you, Joane.”
“Sophia. My name’s Sophia.”
I didn’t do that one on purpose. I’d never cared enough to remember a girl’s name past the first second after I’d heard it. It was different with Mariana though, that must’ve been the reason I found it hard to forget her.
Her name was the first I’d ever remembered.
“Sophia. Joane. I really don’t give a shit. Now go give your attention to the other horny bastards who can’t keep it in their pants.”
Sophia was seething, scowling at me with teary eyes. She tsked. “Whatever. I’ll have you when I…”
I raised a hand, stopping her as I saw someone stroll past us. Someone very familiar and beautiful.Mariana?
“I have a very pressing matter to attend to, Isabelle.”
