Four

Dimitri's POV

Even with Summer sitting right in front of me, I couldn't keep my thoughts on our dinner date. In my mind's eye, I kept seeing Valeria's green eyes. I just couldn't stop thinking about her. Valeria still wasn't backing down. She still reminded me that I had to get a replacement. Her attitude was beyond annoying.

"...want?"

With a start, I realized someone close to me had spoken. I turned to see Summer, and a waiter who I hadn't realized was there, staring at me curiously.

I looked from the waiter to Summer, wondering who had spoken. "Er- I didn't quite catch that. What did you say?"

Summer frowned worriedly, leaned forward and placed her hand on my cheek. "I was asking you what you wanted to order, but are you okay, love? You've been very absentminded. Is something bothering you?"

While she talked, the waiter retreated and stood at a respectful distance.

"No. Nothing is the matter." I caught her hand in mine and squeezed it reassuringly. "Some thoughts about business just intruded."

I beckoned to the waiter. I placed my order, and while we waited for the food to arrive, Summer talked about her day. I tried my best to nod and grunt in all the right places, though my thoughts tried to drift away again.

Halfway through our meal, Summer laid down her fork. She dabbed daintily at the corners of her mouth. Everything about her was dainty; her hands, skin... She was pretty, and looked every inch the mogul's daughter. "Dimitri," she said. "I've been having some thoughts about the date of our engagement. Can we do it next month? I think we have waited long enough."

I was about to tell her that we could do it at any damn time she wanted, as I just wanted to get it over with, though I obviously would not have put it to her in those terms. A movement out of the corner of my eye caught my attention.

A man had raised his hand to get the attention of a waiter. I was just about to look away when I caught sight of the woman with him. I blinked in surprise, all thoughts of Summer's question forgotten. The woman was Valeria without a doubt. She was in her element, talking and laughing happily with her companion.

They seemed to have eyes only for each other. I took a closer look at the dark haired man with her, and was again surprised to note that he was Noah Alfred, the recently returned CEO of the Alfred group, which was my fierce competition. I wondered how on earth Valeria knew such a man.

The fact that he was a business rival did not rankle as much as seeing how cozy and familiar he and Valeria were with each other. Summer lightly shook my arm, and I resisted the urge to snap at her.

"Who are you looking at?" she murmured just as I dragged my eyes away from Valeria.

I wanted to say 'no one' but I stopped myself in time. Summer would spot the lie. She turned slightly in her chair, following the direction of my gaze.

"Valeria... and Noah," she said, half to herself. There was a scornful look on her face when she flipped her long, blonde hair over her shoulder, and turned back to me. "That right there is typical of her."

In spite of myself, I asked, "What do you mean?"

"I was just saying that Valeria isn't wasting any time."

I raised a brow. "I don't understand. Wasting time to do what exactly?"

"Oh. I meant time to er- get as close as she can to Noah, seeing as he's moneyed and all. You keep a close eye on the business world, so you probably know that Noah Alfred flew into the country just a few days ago. Do the math. He just arrived in the country, and then he's having a date with her."

"A date," I ground out, the word sticking in my throat.

Summer's eyes widened as she took another sip of her wine. "Yes. Isn't it obvious? Just look at how familiar they are with each other. It's obviously not a business lunch. Some ladies have a talent for landing really big fish, you know?"

I said nothing, merely drank almost all the wine in my glass so fast that I almost choked. Perhaps Summer was right and Valeria was a serial gold digger, seducing and jumping on to the next rich guy when she left the first. I wondered if she had been cheating on me with him.

The thought had my fingers clenching on my glass. That could well be the reason why she was so ready and willing to leave me... for that motherfucker. I imagined going over to their table right now and planting a fist in Noah's face, disarranging his carefully slicked back hair and those prissy clothes. The fantasy made me feel a tiny bit better.

I was brought out of my reverie by the resumption of the clinking of Summer's cutlery.

"So... back to what we were saying. About the date of our engagement, are you okay with it being next month? The middle of next month, perhaps."

"Yes. Yes. Next month is okay."

She smiled, clapped her hands with glee. Though not looking directly in Valeria's direction, I kept her in sight. It was a fierce struggle for me not to watch her... and him.

“Excellent," she cried. "I will start preparations immediately. Next month is upon us already." I grunted. She brought out her phone. Her fingers flew across it as she typed a text.

She then put the phone away with an air of satisfaction. "I just sent a text to the caterer and the decorator for our engagement party. I want everything to be perfect. Is there any input you want to make, any particular way you want things done? We could talk about it-"

"-No need," I managed to give her a smile I hoped didn't appear strained. "I'll leave it all in your hands. I'm sure that you are perfectly capable of planning the event."

Summer beamed. "That I am," she intoned. "I'll tell father when I go to see him today. He will be so pleased. I still can't decide on the venue. Maybe it should be at that grand, new event center..."

I tuned Summer out, but I would give a lot to hear what Valeria and that asshole were talking about. I stole a glance at Valeria just in time to see her stand up. She smiled at Noah and went in the direction of the restroom.

I shifted uneasily in my seat. I had to see Valeria, talk to her and know why the hell she was with Noah. I forced myself to wait for about a minute so that it wasn't obvious to anyone that I was going after her.

"Excuse me, love. I have to use the restroom," I said to Summer, cutting short her chatter.

She nodded. "Okay."

When I slipped into the restroom, Valeria was washing her hands. She looked up and gasped in surprise when she saw me. I locked the door, leaned against it.

"Dimitri," she gasped. "What are you doing here?' She shot a wary glance at the door. "Why did you lock the door?"

"Because you aren't leaving this place until you answer my questions."

Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion and I sensed her heart beat faster. "I don't understand. Questions? What are you talking about?"

I straightened and walked slowly towards her. "I'm talking about you and Noah Alfred, the guy you're having lunch with. What is the relationship between you two?"

I took another step closer and caught a whiff of her scent. I could feel my wolf almost purr with pleasure. My wolf and I had missed Valeria's scent so damn much.