ROMANFIVE YEARS EARLIER I stared out the window of my Moscow apartment, watching the city lights flicker in the distance. The cool glass pressed against my forehead as I sighed, my breath fogging up the pane. My phone buzzed insistently on the nearby table, my father's name flashing on the screen. I knew I should answer it. I'd been avoiding my family's calls for weeks now, making excuses about being too busy with work. But the truth was, I just didn't want to talk to them. Every conversation left me feeling drained and irritated. The buzzing stopped, then started again almost immediately. I groaned, pushing myself away from the window and grabbing the phone. "Hello, Father," I said, trying to keep the annoyance out of my voice. "Roman! Finally, you answer. I've been trying to reach you for days," my father's gruff voice came through the speaker. "I've been busy. You know how it is with work," I replied, the lie coming easily to my lips. "Too busy to talk to your own father? Th
Bertha was upset. Crying, soaking my shirt through with her tears and quite frankly, all I could do was hold her to my chest and pat her back. Everything makes her upset these days, everything makes her cry. Almost like after she came back, she became a whole different person. Not the strong woman I knew her to be, that never cared whenever Amelia was near or whatever it was Amelia said to her. Now she was constantly emotional and as much as I hated to admit it, it was throwing me off. Still, it was my fault. I was the incompetent one for not divorcing Amelia and keeping her happy, it was all my fault. But a selfish part of me wishes she wouldn't be affected by it so much, I wished she would understand just how hard it was for me as well. Does she think I want to stay married to Amelia? “Bertha, I'm pretty sure, whatever your sister said to you, she didn't mean it…she was probably upset as well…” Bertha pulled back abruptly looking up at me with a teary gaze,
AMELIAThe dress I picked was the royal blue dress Roman had gotten for me when we went shopping. Mainly because I bought him a suit with the same color. A deep royal blue that I knew for a fact would look fantastic on him. There was a look in his eyes when I wore that dress, one that gave me a lot to think about. To see that look in his eyes again… No. I shook my head and watched my reflection. No need to think like a stupid person. Why would you want him to look at you with desire in his eyes? You don't want him! After pulling on the dress, I zipped it up as far as my hand could reach and proceeded to work on my hair. The event was starting in three hours and I had to be done in thirty minutes. After our so-called truce, Roman and I were now seemingly on good terms and quite frankly, he didn't annoy me as much but, a part of me dreaded going to the event. Not just because there'll be countless people staring but because I know he'll leave me alone to handle it a
There's so much I want to say to him, yet I knew it would be better to stay silent. I didn't trust myself to speak around him anymore, I seem to say the most stupid shit when I look into his eyes. Unlike what it looked like the last time I saw it, the department store looked magnificent. It was finished, higher than I remembered and painted a golden and silver shade that made the entrance alone scream luxury. Roman's arm was around my waist as the driver rounded the corner and we stepped down. Reporters and countless cameras flooded the entrance, all rushing towards us and asking a flurry of questions that I struggled to grasp. What bothered me was the flashes from the cameras, they felt uncomfortable and had my heart racing faster than necessary. I slowly tensed, panic rising in my throat as my ears rang and all the tiny hairs on my skin stood on alert. I didn't like it one bit. I couldn't see a thing, I couldn't understand why seeing so many flashes affected me,
“As much as I would love to take all the credit, all of this wouldn't have been possible without my wife here,” Roman announced, practically bragging as his warm arm came around my shoulder. His wife. There was that tingling feeling again. “Is that so?” Henderson’s eyss glinted with realization, “Well then I should be thanking you as well, Amelia, not only have you graced us with the presence of one as beautiful as you, you've also gifted us with such beauty,” He gestured at the wide expanse of the store. “You flatter me, Mr. Henderson,” I smiled like a fool, feeling my cheeks heat up as a compliment. He simply grinned and then nodded respectfully at Roman who now had a rather stiff expression on his face. “I will leave you two to attend to other guests,” Then he turned to me, “I do hope you will save a dance for me, Amelia…” My name sounded rather smooth on his tongue. He didn't call me Mrs. Wellington like the others and quite frankly, it was a breath of fresh air
After the dance, Roman and I were practically dragged away from each other before we even has the time today register or explain whatever it was that had just happened between us. “Let me borrow your wife for a bit,” I heard Greece say rather sheepishly, when I turned around I was surprised to find she was standing with her mother, Victoria. Now, I wouldn't have cared if it were only Greece but…with Victoria? The woman who hates me just for the fun of it? I turned to Roman for help. I gave him a pleading gaze, one he couldn't see through because he was probably too busy avoiding his mother's eyes. It seems they still weren't on good terms after the Tatyana drama. Speaking of which…Tatyana stood next to Victoria. Damn the woman was beautiful, she had shapely legs that went on for days. Honestly, if I swung that way I would definitely want her to have my babies. Multiple. “Of course,” Roman said stiffly, letting go of my hand and surrendering me to the wolve
This event should have been over a long fucking time ago. I plastered on a fake smile as Victoria led me towards a group of about fifteen women seated around an ornate round table. They were all dressed to the nines, dripping in expensive jewelry and designer gowns. As we approached, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being led to the slaughter. A few faces seemed vaguely familiar, but their names eluded me. One woman with striking red hair and emerald earrings the size of grapes gave me a particularly icy stare. Another, a blonde with severe features, wrinkled her nose as if she'd smelled something unpleasant. "Ladies," Victoria announced, her voice dripping with false sweetness, "I've brought Amelia to join us," She said. The woman never ceases to amaze me at how easily her demeanor can switch. Then again, to be the mother and wife of a Tycoon as wealthy as Roman and Yaakov, one would have to be pretentious to keep the business going. She turned to Greece, who had b
I hesitated in the doorway, my mind racing. The last thing I needed right now was another confrontation, especially with Bertha. But the sight of Greece's tear-stained face tugged at something inside me. Before I could think better of it, I stepped into the bathroom and let the door swing shut behind me. "Well, well," Bertha drawled, her eyes raking over my champagne-soaked dress. "Looks like someone had a little accident," She commented with a bit too much joy in her tone. I'm sure she was pissed off at me at that moment. I ignored her, focusing instead on Greece. "Are you okay?" I asked softly. Greece nodded quickly, wiping at her eyes. "I'm fine," she mumbled, not meeting my gaze. "Oh, Amelia," Bertha scoffed. "We all know you're just here to lick your wounds." I whirled on her, my patience finally snapping. "And what exactly are you still doing here, Bertha? Can’t you see me talking to my sister in law?" I snapped at her, knowing fully well it wasn't just the anger fr