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“I think that was the plan.” Mom shrugs. “Joe wanted the cook to really go to town to impress them.”
She sighs and fixes me with an apologetic look. “I’m sorry, honey. You will be bored to tears and I wouldn’t blame you if you swerved dinner and had something in your room.”
“On the contrary, mom.” I smile happily. “I can’t wait.”
* * *
It’ssix o’clock and I’m dressed in a red satin dress with matching heels which are the only formal clothes I brought with me. My hair is freshly washed, and my make-up carefully crafted and my nails are as red as the rose Alexei tattooed on my ass. I am so excited to see him again and still can’t believe he is here at all.
I wait nervously in the reception room with mom and find myself fidgeting and jumping at any loud noise.
“Are you okay, honey?” Mom appears concerned and I nod, trying to get my breathing under control.
“Of course. I’m just hungry, I guess.”
She nods. “Me too. I don’t imagine they will be much longer?”
As if on cue, we hear voices and I prepare my mood because I must act as if we are strangers. That was my rule and I wonder if he will remember that.
I hear Stoner’s loud voice approaching. “You won’t regret this, Alexei. You have chosen the right organization for your business.”
As they approach, my heart bangs mercilessly inside me as I detect the low rumble of a Russian accent, but I can’t make out the words.
We peer up as they get closer, and my heart actually flutters when I see Alexei walking into the room beside Stoner with Gleb behind him.
Our eyes meet and my heart races when I see the hunger in his match my own. They burn with desire, and it takes all my self-control not to fling myself into his arms and hold on tight.
I’ve only known him for hours, but it’s as if I’ve known him my entire life and it takes a superhuman effort on my part to smile politely as Stoner makes the introductions.
“Sarah, honey. Come and meet Alexei.”
Mom steps forward with a polite smile.
“I’m pleased to meet…”
Stoner cuts her off mid-sentence. “This is her daughter, Serena. She’s here visiting her mom.”
Alexei stares at me with a polite smile and I take his outstretched hand and say coolly. “Alexei, I’m pleased…”
“Ah, here is Martha with those drinks I promised you, Alexei.”
I don’t miss the irritated glare Alexei directs at Stoner, which is probably due to his rudeness as he dismisses both me and my mom.
However, Alexei merely steps back and looks with interest as Martha carries a silver tray into the room.
Stoner steps forward and hands a glass of champagne to each of us, and takes the martini cocktail for himself, before raising it in a toast.
“To partnerships. May they be long and powerful ones.”
Alexei catches my eyes and raises his glass. “To partnerships.”
I echo the words and as I hold the glass to my lips, I’m surprised when Alexei shakes his head slightly and doesn’t touch his drink. Gleb does the same and so I lower my glass, unsure what the warning means.
Stoner doesn’t notice and just proceeds to talk loudly over everyone, telling Alexei all about his businesses and how powerful he is.
I want to yawn so badly but I don’t want to upset my mother, who is doing an extremely good job of holding it together.
After an excruciating thirty minutes of listening to Stoner pontificate, Martha returns to tell us that dinner is served.
