Page 91 of His Wild Seduction

Meredith was mine.

And fuck, I really liked that.

CHAPTER THIRTY

MEREDITH

After chatting for a little while with the Volkov brothers, who were intimidating as fuck, Josef found us a small corner to sit down in one of the rooms off the main parlor.

Destiny got her way, I mused.

There was plenty of open space for the majority of the party dwellers to mingle, and though Marat did not want people just walking around willy-nilly, Josef had managed to convince him the two smaller parlors off the main room were perfectly secure.

It made Destiny happy, so Marat relented. And I, for one, was glad, too. Growing up with money, I’d attended plenty of parties, but that was so long ago.

I didn’t really fit in with that crowd, despite appearances. And I relished the privacy of the small parlor, and sitting with Josef as he handed me a small demitasse cup with a shot of perfectly brewed espresso inside.

“Thank you,” I said, smiling appreciatively.

“It’s decaf,” he warned, and I hummed my approval.

I didn’t want to have the jitters all night. It was only ten o’clock, but still. I was tired after my long work week, and Josef looked about ready to leave, too.

Our earlier encounter not forgotten, I hoped we’d make it home before sleep won out.

There were things I needed to say, and do, to my husband.

“Adrik is signaling me over. Do you mind if I go talk to him for a moment?”

“Of course not,” I said easily.

“Promise not to move?” he asked, and I grinned.

“Promise. I will be right here,” I told him and meant it.

Josef nodded, taking my hand, and pressing his lips to my knuckles before turning on his heel.

I hated to see him go, but I sure didn’t mind watching him leave.

I was so distracted by the view of my husband’s firm backside, it hardly registered when someone took the seat across from me.

“I never expected you would cavort with the enemy so publicly, Meredith,” a sharp voice said.

I turned my head towards the sound, startling when I saw Richard Hamilton sitting there. His expression spoke volumes.

I was stunned. I’d only met the man via Skype call with the attorneys after Franklin’s death.

There was no reason on earth he should address me so informally. We weren’t friends.

What was he doing there? I didn’t think Volkov Industries had any connections to Gray Corps.

Other than them owning it, I reminded myself.

A bad feeling settled in my stomach. He crossed his legs, relaxing back into the chair as if he had the right, and the overall wrongness of it was like a slap to the face.

Richard swirled whatever he was drinking in the crystal tumbler—scotch, maybe—and flicked his gaze back to mine.

“Looking for your thug husband?” he spat.

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