Page 56 of Forced Innocent Bratva Bride

Now, I was ready.

I strapped my silver watch to my wrist and glanced at the time. It was already past 8 P.M. I spritzed on my signature scent, a French perfume that wrapped me in an aura of elegance and sophistication. Grabbing my purse, I headed out, my heels clicking against the floor.

From the head of the steps, I saw him standing in the living room, all dressed up in a nice black suit, his cologne enveloping the air around him. He had his back against the staircase, his attention toward the door.

Alexei's eyes dropped to his wrist as he glanced at his watch, a testament that his patience was wearing thin. Excellent.

As I descended the stairs, my movement purposely graceful and elegant, he turned around, eyes traveling across my body with slightly raised brows. Alexei's lips parted, his mouth shaped like he wanted to say something, but no words were produced. He just stood there, transfixed, eyes glued to me as I approached him.

He blinked a couple of times as if trying to get a hold of himself, but his eyes betrayed him. I could see the perfect mix of lust, admiration, and a hint of pride flickering in his gaze, a gaze he couldn't tear off me.

Alexei swallowed, tucking a hand into his pants pocket and exuding an air of confidence even though my appearance completely mesmerized him.

He could fake being in control all he wanted, but I could see right through him for the first time. I had caught his attention, and despite his attempts at masking his lust, I still saw it in his eyes.

My plan was working.

Perfect.

He cleared his throat, fingers adjusting his tie—not that it needed any adjustments anyway. “Shall we?” A small smile played on his lips as he extended a hand.

I offered a seductive grin, eyes crinkling at the corners, and my elbow gracefully slipped into his.

*****

The atmosphere was filled with the soft hum of conversations as impeccably dressed men and women lingered around the expansive space in small groups.

The rich aroma of champagne, blended with the scent of perfumes and colognes, wafted through the air, adding to the ambience.

Soft lights from the chandeliers cast a warm glow on the faces of the guests, who were chatting and laughing, cradling glasses of wine in their hands.

Waiters and waitresses, dressed in their signature black-and-white outfits, strode across the hall carrying trays of champagne and canapés.

I could feel the gazes on me as Alexei and I walked further into the hall. Heads turned in our direction, and my husband was beaming with pride. A faint grin was plastered on his face, his movements majestic, and his fingers intertwined with mine as he led me through the crowd of affluent socialites.

Maybe dressing to impress hadn’t been such a good idea because now, almost everyone was staring. It was like I was the center of attention, and I was starting to feel embarrassed.

The plan worked; I had people's attention, including my husband's, but now, the whole thing just felt awkward. However, I started this, and I was going to see it through. Alexei, on the other hand, wasn't quite jealous. No, not really. He was filledwith pride, and that pride led him to introduce me to his top business associates.

At first, I was a little bit shy, but watching him proudly refer to me as his wife had a way of easing my tension. Some of his associates were mean-looking, serious-faced. Others were jovial and easygoing, but they all seemed to respect and honor the wife of Alexei Tarasov.

“Alexei, darling!” A woman, nearly as old as Alexandra, the housekeeper, approached us, her shiny dress glittering in the lights. “I'm so glad you could make it.” She halted in front of us, her warm smile contagious. Her hazel brown eyes sparkled with mirth when she looked at me. “You must be Lorena. You're even more beautiful than he described.”

My cheeks flushed at her remark, and I mirrored her smile.

“Lorena, this is Natalie Hemsworth,” Alexei said, his voice smooth, a grin spreading across his face. “She's an old associate of mine.”

My lips curved into a genuine smile as I took the woman's outstretched hand. “It's nice to meet you, Natalie.”

Her eyes simmered. “Oh, the pleasure is all mine, dear.” She chuckled, leaning closer to whisper. “It’s not every day you meet the woman who stole Alexei Tarasov's heart.”

I glanced at my husband, retaining my smile, my mind thinking about how handsome and insanely hot he looked this evening. It was obvious that we’d both dressed to impress each other, and from the looks of things, it appeared we had.

He'd caught me stealing glances at him a couple of times and vice versa, but despite his charm, I was still mad at him for hurting my feelings.

After Natalie Hemsworth greeted us and left, the rest of the evening unfolded nicely, even though Alexei and I didn't talk much, let alone address the elephant in the room. Maybe we'dhave that talk later, but for now, I was glad I came out with him. Being around these people was a lot better than sulking in bed.

Just as I was starting to feel at ease, a hush fell over the room. The lights dimmed, and a spotlight shone on the stage.

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