Page 41 of Koroleva

"It's a tricky situation."

"And what isn't in our world? Men tend to underestimate the power of a woman. You don't see us as a threat because you can't believe we can be stronger, smarter, even more bloodthirsty. You always underestimate us and have no idea what women are capable of."

I grabbed her delicate wrist, and she pressed her fingers just above my heart. Her nails cautiously scraped me, sending shivers under my skin.

"Not all of us think that way about women." I placed my hand over hers. What I was telling her was true. I never underestimated a woman's worth. In fact, I thought they were more incisive, resilient, and vengeful, given the right reasons.

"Prove it. Let me help you with your issues just as I'll let you get involved in mine. Make me believe that a union between us is possible, beyond your father's will." I allowed myself to be swayed by those green eyes.

Maybe it wasn't a bad idea. Just as I intended for her men to spend time with mine for assessment, I could bridge gaps with my wife to understand her intentions.

"My father has planned a family day; he wants us all to go sailing and have lunch."

"That sounds good, there's time for everything, I'm quite efficient. Tell him we'll join them after you and I take care of a little thing we have pending." She ran her tongue over her thick lips. Her tone turned suggestive. "I'm sure you know what words to use with my dear father-in-law to convince him to give us the margin we need." Her body pressed against mine, her nose brushed the space between my collarbones. I pressed my lips together feeling the touch.

"I'll think of something," I murmured. She continued to scrape my shirt and I did not remove my hand from hers. She lifted her chin to meet my dark gaze again.

"I have no doubts. I'm going to go up to the room to grab a few things. Go talk to Massimo and wait for me in the garage. I promise I won't be long." I nodded, my gaze dropping to her lips. "I like it when you don't contradict me." She licked her lips. She stood on her tiptoes and pressed her moist mouth to mine with the force of an atomic bomb.

It was a second, long enough for my zipper to tighten.

She was about to pull away when I grabbed her hair and pulled her against my body.

"If you're going to seal something with me, do it for real." I lowered my face and kissed her hungrily. She reciprocated without reserve, tying her tongue with mine. My left hand flew to her buttock and squeezed it, making her gasp.

Nikita was a snake, one that could sneak into my nest and devour my eggs. I pushed her away roughly, and her tongue flicked out to give one last lick to my mouth along with a hoarse laugh.

"I like how you seal deals, Capulet. Especially when you don't taste of others." She finally pulled away with a sparkling look and went up the stairs, slightly lifting her skirt to show me her lack of underwear.

On another occasion, I wouldn't have hesitated and would have taken her right on the stairway.

I smiled. At least, my marriage wasn't going to be boring.

18

Nerves of steel

I looked directly at the Asian woman, and she returned my gaze in the same manner. She was soaked. Romeo told me they had tried to coerce a confession with jets of water, without considering that the woman looked as if she had been trained by one of the world's most ruthless mafias.

"Hello, Little Mermaid," I murmured, taking her chin in my hand. "My husband tells me your boss is screwing us over, and I'm a woman who likes to do the screwing, not get screwed. Do you understand me?"

"I haven't stolen anything."

"I believe you. Chin Lu, you don't look like a usurper."

"My name isn't Chin Lu."

"Let's doubt that, since you're not showing much intelligence by refusing to tell us the truth, so I'll call you Chin Lu until you decide to talk." Miss Wang made a face of disgust. "R says you're the brains behind Cheng, that your boss doesn't make a move without it going through your privileged mind. I have to say, I like smart women, and I know you're one because, even though we haven't met, I've heard wonders about you." She continued to look at me expressionlessly.

I wasn't lying. I knew the damage Cheng and his henchmen were doing to us. I intended to take care of it, but the problems with Mentium didn't leave me much room to maneuver, and I was one of those women who set her list of priorities. The Chinese were in third place.

I walked around Miss Wang with disgust. The atmosphere was most unpleasant and hostile. I didn't like to stain my boots' soles with shit. Although I understood why Romeo kept that place like that.

My husband and Aleksa, who were waiting outside, could hear me but not see me, a condition I imposed considering the size of the place and the unbreathable atmosphere.

I changed into black overalls, leather gloves, and high boots. I didn't like getting blood on me, and I had a feeling that Wang wasn't going to make things easy for me.

"I have a lunch meeting with my boss; if I don't show up, he'll pull the thread and find you. He's not going to like that you kidnapped me last night."

---