Page 53 of Beautiful Deception

Before I can talk myself out of it, I go online and buy another set of tickets for the botanical gardens.

Inessa

The day is finished. The house is sparkling. And I’m exhausted.

So, I’m surprised when I get a knock on my bedroom door. I open it to see Viktor on the other side.

“Sir.” I feel the urge to curtsey like I’m in an old romance novel.

“Inessa, I wanted to ask you if you would join me to the botanical gardens tomorrow. It’s your day off.”

My heart skips a beat. It’s foolish. Viktor is a dangerous man. He’s not someone my heart should be skipping a beat for. “Like… a date?”

His brow furrows. “More like two friends spending time together. That’s allowed.”

“You make the rules,” I whisper, clutching the doorknob tight in my hand.

“I do make the rules, don’t I? You don’t have to go with me. You won’t be punished for it.”

“I want to go,” I blurt out. Spending the day with Viktor? Stupid of me to do but god, do I want it.

“Great. We’ll go around ten in the morning before it gets too hot outside.”

“Ok.”

Viktor’s eyes rake me over and it doesn’t bother me one bit. I’m not wearing anything revealing – just a simple pajama top and bottoms – but Viktor makes me feel naked before him.

“I should leave you be for the night,” he practically growls. I shiver.

“Yes.”

With a sharp inhale, he walks away. For just a moment, I thought he would push my door in and have his way with me. I would let him. God, this is all kinds of messed up.

The botanical gardens are a stunning sight. Flowers in all different shades of color. All different types. It’s a cacophony of beauty.

“You’ve never been?” he asks as we walk along a path inside a large glass dome. Flowers surround us, making it feel like we’re alone, even though other people are nearby.

“Never had the money,” I admit.

“It’s only thirty dollars for one ticket.”

“When you need to spare those thirty dollars for food, something like this isn’t important.”

Viktor averts his gaze. “I apologize. I forgot.”

“It’s ok. I take it you’ve always had money?”

“You would be right. Money is second nature to me. My parents were rich and they taught me how to handle it and I’ve made my own success over the years.”

“Through the Russian Mafia,” I whisper, leaning down to smell one of the flowers.

“Yes,” he says gruffly. “Does that bother you?”

“Why would it matter if it bothers me? I’m just your maid.”

“Right. Of course.”

We stare at each other a moment – both of us wanting to say so much and yet we know we can’t.

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