Page 112 of The Pakhan

I’d never been so touched by a gesture in my life. When I finally pulled away, I had to wipe tears from my eyes. “You do know this engagement is fake, right?”

The two girls looked at each other and even fake yawned like they used to do as kids. Then Sofiya held up my hand. “Funny how that rock on your finger says otherwise.”

Vadim had insisted he buy me a huge diamond ring, which I’d tried to convince him not to do. It had to be ten carats if not more, which was silly. “It’s just an object.”

“Uh-huh. You’re a silly girl if you think my father will ever let you get away,” Daniella told me. “You are exactly what Daddy needs and wants and for the first time since either one of us can remember, our father is actually living.”

“Exactly. If Dad is dumb enough to let you go, we will never talk to him again.”

“Stop. I can’t keep crying.” I was the one fanning my face.

“We are the three musketeers, you know,” Daniella added.

“Yes, we are,” I told them, hugging both girls.

Family.

It was funny that most people put so much importance in blood relations. I’d found more acceptance and joy in a family that I’d now all but adopted.

Maybe they were right.

Maybe this could be forever.

Maybe…

CHAPTER 29

“Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.”

—Napoleon Bonaparte

Vadim

The saying was way too appropriate at this point in my life. It had been a catch phrase of my father’s when he was about to swoop in like a venomous snake. In biding my time, I’d set the perfect scene for what I hoped would be a final adventure of sorts.

I laughed as I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the damn bow tie for the fifteenth time. I loathed the monkey suits but, in this case, the party had been billed as the most glamorous event of the season. Hell, I’d even hired someone to hand gild the invitations, which had taken two full days. From there, they’d been hand delivered to each invited party along with a box of Lindt chocolates.

That had been Caroline’s idea, Lindt truffles her mother’s favorite.

A jazz quartet had been hired, two distinct caterers providing the most delectable treats New York had ever seen. Even Sofiya had hired a party decorator, something I hadn’t known even existed. And she and her sister had supervised with an iron fist.

The entire estate looked gorgeous, twinkling lights in every tree, small tents in several locations. So many flowers had been brought in that the smell was overwhelming. It had all been with the intent of setting the perfect scene.

And in my mind, we’d accomplished that.

The light knock forced me to suck in my breath. “Come.”

Aleksander walked inside, also looking sophisticated as hell. “Don’t you look dapper.”

“Dapper? How old are you?”

“According to you, very old. But not as old as you are. You also look tense.”

I was frowning. “Just eager to get the party started. Is everything in position?”

“You bet it is. The staging area is set with soldiers keeping watch on every corner of the grounds just in case our illustrious guests try and either make a run for it or bring in their own men. I still find it difficult to believe the number of people involved in this.”

“You had to know the governor was.”

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