Page 80 of Beautiful Cruelty

"You didn't tell me we were coming to Irina's shop."

"Is that a problem?" Vadim's hand settles on my lower back, steady and warm.

"No, it's just..." I trail off, watching Irina move gracefully among the wedding dresses inside. The way she touched Vadim's arm at the event flashes through my mind. "I thought we'd go somewhere else."

"Irina is the only one I can trust to design a dress for our purpose." His fingers trace small circles against my spine.

"Right. The heist." The words come out sharper than I intend.

Vadim turns me to face him, his gray eyes intense. "Look at me,zvyozdochka. Irina is a friend, nothing more. She knows about our arrangement and has her part to play in it as well."

"Our arrangement." I touch the delicate necklace at my throat. "Of course."

"I need you to trust me." He tips my chin up. "Can you do that?"

The tenderness in his voice makes my chest tight. I nod, not trusting myself to speak.

"That's my girl," he murmurs, and heat floods my body at his words.

He guides me toward the entrance, and I try to ignore how perfectly his hand fits against my back. How natural it feels to lean into his strength.

This isn't real, I remind myself. Just a means to an end.

But as Irina opens the door with a bright smile, I can't help wondering why my heart is racing. Or if the intense feeling slashing at my heart is from jealousy or from Vadim's touch.

I paste on my best smile as Irina floats toward us, all elegance and grace in her designer outfit. Her scarlet hair catches the morning light, making it look like living fire.

"Vadim Petrovich! And Lacey." She kisses both my cheeks in greeting. The scent of her expensive perfume makes me dizzy. "I'd hoped I see you again after meeting you at Daddy's retrospective."

"Likewise," I manage, gripping her hand just a little tighter than I'd like.

"When Vadim called with the specifics, I knew exactly what to create." Her emerald eyes sparkle with genuine warmth. "He was very specific. And he also insisted that I incorporate some of your own design aesthetics as well.”

I blink in surprise, turning to look at Vadim. "My design aesthetic?"

Irina gestures for us to follow her deeper into the boutique. "He showed me some of your work."

My work?

"The dress you altered," Vadim explains quietly. "I had Lenka send it to Irina before this visit. Go. I’ll wait here.”

Heat floods my cheeks. I remember that the dress had been stained with both my spit and his cum after I put it back on. Didhe have it cleaned before sending it out? Or did Irina see how we've ruined it?

"Please," Irina continues, leading me toward a private viewing room. "Follow me."

My throat tightens as I enter the room after her. There, displayed on an elegant mannequin, is a wedding dress that takes my breath away.

I can see echoes of my own designs in the silhouette. It's not quite what I would've done, but she's managed to capture some of the same thought processes I would've had.

But no matter how beautiful these dresses are, envy still claws at my neck whenever I look at Irina. I can't stop thinking about the way she fawned over Vadim at her father's retrospective.

And most importantly, I can't stop asking myself:Why me? Why not her?

"You seem to be very fond of Vadim," I say, unable to keep the jealous edge from creeping into my voice now that we’re alone. "Have you always been this invested in his life?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" Irina's emerald eyes meet mine in the mirror. "If it weren't for him?—"

"Your father never would've gotten the money to have a fresh start," I say. "I remember. You told me he saved your father's business."

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