Page 24 of Dancing With Delusion

“What is normal?”

“I grew up on a council estate with little to no money. I had parents who cared more about themselves than me or my sister. I didn’t move in rich circles, and I didn’t have parents I could rely on.”

She glances at her notes. “You talked earlier about people who made you feel like you weren’t good enough. Did your parents make you feel that way?”

“A lot of the time. Marcus could do no wrong because they needed to keep him sweet.”

“Marcus?” she repeats.

I swallow the lump of panic in my throat. “I don’t want to talk about him.”

“Not even to explain why they had to keep him sweet, or who he is?”

“He was my foster brother. They got paid a lot of money to foster him, and he held that over them, so they were nicer to him over me or Poppy. I didn’t get on with him.”

“You talk in past tense,” she remarks.

I stand abruptly. “That’s the hour up,” I say brightly, feeling relieved.

She gives a slight smile and begins to put her things away. “You know, for me to really get to the route of your bad dreams, we need to talk about some of the things that make you uncomfortable, including Marcus.”

“And we will,” I say, nodding with fake enthusiasm. “But we don’t want to run over the time slot.”

Dmitry

I wait for Victoria to see Mrs. Steele out. She’s a hard-nosed bitch who I try to avoid where possible, but Victoria seems to like her and that’s all that matters.

I head out of my office, just as she’s closing the door. “Good session?” I ask, causing her to jump in fright.

“Christ, Dmitry, don’t sneak around.”

I frown. “Hardly sneaking, my krasota. Are you okay? You look tired.”

She smirks. “Because you kept me awake half the night.”

“It’s hard when you’re lying beside me not to get tempted.” I pull her to me, kissing her.

Nik clears his throat, and I groan in irritation before turning to see him in the office doorway. “Your father is arriving,” he informs me.

“What?” I snap, rushing to the office and staring out the window as my father gets out his car. “Why the fuck is he here?”

“I assume to see you, Boss,” says Nik, and I spin to face him, arching a brow.

“You had men watching him, no? So, how did he make it to my house without us knowing?”

“They called as he turned into this area. Shall we let him in?” He almost looks amused, and it pisses me off.

Victoria leans against the door frame. “Should I disappear?”

I hold out an arm, and she comes to me, letting me tuck her against me. “Absolutely not. Let him see how amazing you are.”

“I don’t know,” she begins.

“Victoria,” I say firmly, and she clamps her mouth closed, “he needs to get used to seeing us together.”

“I’m just really tired after my session and?—”

Her words trail off when my father enters the room followed by one of his men and Nik. “Father,” I say, my tone irritated. “You’re still in London, what a surprise.”

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