Page 43 of Dancing With Distraction

I stare at it for a moment, reminding myself I’m safe here and he can’t find me. I suddenly feel a wash of braveness run through me and I push to sit up.

Me: Fuck you, Marcus! I’m a grown adult and you don’t get to control me. Go torment your new plaything. You got what you wanted, you isolated me, so go bother her with your bullshit.

I don’t want him to hurt Phoebe, but I tried to warn her. Maybe seeing him for what he’s really like will make her realise I was right all along. She should have listened.

Marcus: So brave from behind a phone. How about you come home and say that to my face, you little bitch. You’re mine until I say otherwise. Get back here now. We have a weekend of fun together and if you don’t show, you know what will happen to Poppy.

I don’t feel his threat as much as I would if Poppy was home this weekend. Knowing she’s safe means I have time to think about my next move.

Dmitry

I open the surveillance app on my phone to see Victoria sleeping soundly. She hasn’t even moved since I texted her my warning earlier. Seeing her hand disappearing into her trousers almost made me march back in there and tie her to the bed. I thought she’d freak out knowing I have cameras in the apartment, but you can never be too safe in my world. I have CCTV in all my properties because if someone was to end me, which is a constant threat for a man in my position, I want my killers found.

Never did I imagine that I would be watching this gorgeous woman from the comfort of my office, a whiskey in my hand.

I keep telling myself that being her Dom means her safety is my priority, which it is, but that’s not the reason I took her to my apartment. That was a lie I told her and myself to make me feel better, because we both know things have changed between us and there is no way I can walk away now.

There’s a knock at my office door. Dropping my phone into my suit pocket, I shout for whoever it is to enter.

Roman strolls in and places a file on my desk. I nod at the seat opposite me, and he lowers himself into the chair. “The documents you requested from Leo,” he explains, and I eye the envelope, knowing the contents are going to enrage me, so I take it and place it in my desk drawer.

“I warn you, Boss, it’s not easy reading.” Roman runs his hand through his hair, looking tired.

Gulping down the rest of my whiskey, I place the empty glass on the desk. “Thanks, Roman, I appreciate this.”

“Boss, what is it about this woman that has you digging into her family?” He waits a beat, watching for my reaction before adding, “I’m not questioning you, but I haven’t seen you so interested in a woman.” He waits another beat, and when I don’t rip into him for questioning me, he says, “You haven’t got time for a plaything. Not with your father breathing down your neck.”

I run my hands through my hair in frustration, mimicking Roman just moments earlier. I know he’s right, but it’s not simple anymore. I wish it was her I was marrying. I have to find a way out of this fucked-up arrangement with Vivian. Resting my head on the back of my chair, I let out an exasperated breath. “I know you’re right, but there’s just something about her, and there’s no walking away from this . . . for either of us.”

“Dmitry, I love you like a brother, but your father will end you if you don’t go through with this wedding. He’ll see it as disrespect, and it’ll humiliate him in front of everyone. We all know how brutal he can be. He didn’t get where he is today by being sentimental. Son or not, he’ll make you pay.”

“I know, and if I could turn off the way I feel, I would. I’ve got a meeting with my father, Vivian, and Ronnie tomorrow.” I rub my eyes, exhaustion catching up with me.

“Can’t you just put Victoria on hold until you’ve got Vivian down the aisle and your father is back in Russia?”

I nod, knowing he’s right. I have to battle one problem at a time, and I won’t be able to have my forever with Victoria if my father ends me first. I have to play this right.

The following day, I enter my office to find my father waiting for me with Vivian and Ronnie. They stand in greeting, and I shake their hands then kiss Vivian on her cheek. My father’s stony eyes watch me closely. Maybe he can read the reluctance on my face.

“Can I get anyone anything? Coffee, something stronger maybe,” I ask, “before we get down to business?” Because that’s exactly what this is, a business arrangement and nothing more.

“No,” my father utters with irritation lacing his tone. “We’re here to get the ball rolling, not to sit around drinking fucking coffee.” He seems like he’s in a wonderful mood today.

“Of course.” I grab Vivian’s hand and lead her around my desk, bringing her to sit on my lap. She smiles longingly, which just irritates me. I need to portray to our fathers that I’m happy with their arrangement, and if that means putting on a show, then so be it.

“Vivian tells me you’re ready to set a date for the wedding,” Ronnie states, acting exactly like this is a business transaction and not the marriage of his only daughter.

“Father,” Vivian whines, and I feel as though I’m going to break out in hives, “I haven’t even had an engagement party yet.” Trust her to want to drag this bullshit out longer.

He rolls his eyes, showing she annoys him just as much as she does me. No wonder he can’t wait to get her off his hands. “Princess, do you really need a party for your engagement? Shouldn’t we just go ahead with the wedding? It’s taken us months to even discuss it this far.”

“Yes, I want a damn engagement. This is a huge moment for me, so don’t ruin it,” she snaps. “I’ll set it for this weekend. We can have it at Kat’s,” she states.

My hand itches to make her backside pay for her little plan. “I’ll make arrangements with my staff,” I say through gritted teeth.

“The wedding will take place by the end of the month,” my father declares, and I grimace, knowing this doesn’t give me much time to come up with my own plan.

I nod in his direction. There’s no point arguing with him until I can take a plan to him that will both appease him and get me out of this mess. “End of the month it is. The last Saturday?” He nods.

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