Page 86 of Unbreakable Vow

“Victoria.” Her name scratches my throat.

“I’m sorry. Do I know you—oh! Cora!” She laughs. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t recognize you.”

I swallow and take a small step back.

“I didn’t realize you were here.” Victoria flushes, touching her cheeks. “I assumed you’d be at home.”

“Why would you assume that?” I cock my head to the side.

“Well, this is Sergei’s club and you’re his wife. So, naturally, I assumed he wouldn’t want his wife to be here, dancing with other men.” Her eyes graze along my body. “In such a revealing dress.”

I put a hand to my chest where the neckline dips between my breasts.

“Sergei picked out this dress,” I say.

She arches a perfectly shaped eyebrow. “Hmm, his tastes have definitely changed.” She looks past me into the mirror and pats her hair. Not a strand is out of place. Nothing about her is out of sorts.

“I’m not sure what that means,” I admit. I wish Krista was in here. She’s better at these sorts of confrontations. I feel like I’ve gone to battle with an unloaded gun.

“Nothing. Just that he’s always enjoyed more… sophistication.” She glances at me in the mirror. “But maybe he thought you’d be more comfortable in something like that. Since you’re from a different sort of life than him.”

I tug on the hem of the dress.

“I don’t think you know Sergei as well as you think you do,” I say.

“I don’t know.” She lifts a shoulder. “We’ve been getting along wonderfully this past week.” She turns and leans her ass on the ledge of the sink. “It’s been like no time has gone by.”

My heart sinks as a deep pang hits me.

“You said you had some financial issue with him. I assume it’s been addressed?”

She smiles. “Oh, yes. It’s in the works.”

“In the works?” I curl my toes inside my shoes. She doesn’t deserve to see my discomfort.

“Yes. He explained that the marriage with you is only for a few more months. But we’ve been talking with a lawyer who thinks that things can be arranged.”

“Arranged? What can be arranged?”

She sighs. “Well, I’m sure you’ll be thrilled really. You’ll be done with him soon.”

“What the hell does that mean?” My voice raises and the woman washing her hands at the other sink looks over at us.

“It means we’ve found a way for him to divorce you and marry me and still be able to keep his inheritance. It’s all about timing, you see.” She rests her hand on my shoulder. “It’s for the best really, Cora. His world is too much for an innocent like you.”

I step away from her, letting her hand fall away.

“An innocent like me?” My fingers curl in, my nails dig into my palm.

“Yes.” She nods, totally missing how irritated I’m getting. “I’ll let him fill you in on the details. But it’s for the best. I’m sure you’ll agree. You just aren’t his type.” She makes a pointed look at me, dragging her gaze over my body. “If you know what I mean.” She runs her hand over her hips. She has the perfect curves without any of the added softness that I do.

“I need to get back. He’s probably wondering where I disappeared to. The restrooms upstairs were closed for cleaning.” She pats my cheek and breezes past me.

Spinning on my heel, I hurry to the door.

If he thinks I’m going to just sit by while he carries on with that, that, that woman, he’s going to be very surprised.

After throwing open the door, I rush out into the hallway and see her at the end of it.

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