Page 21 of The Bratva's Arranged Virgin Bride
Chapter 12 - Nat
I sputtered with embarrassment at the easy defeat Kolya served me. Was he kidding? All that to prove a point? We must have been playing for close to an hour, and I had been riding high with each clever move I made while dodging his probing questions.
I even thought we might have been beginning to get along, even though I stayed mostly reticent. It was too much like the evenings we spent in Milan, going over our earnings after another brilliant gallery show. How I had loved spinning tales to make the 100-euro paintings seem important and rare so we could sell them for tens of thousands to rich tourists who had more money than sense.
I felt like I was clever back then, too. A part of the scheme instead of just one of Kolya’s marks. It had been a whole lot of fun, but it had cost me everything because I had trusted a liar and a cheat. More than trusted him.
Now, he was making me a sandwich.
The kitchen was fully stocked as he had promised, and he had offered to grill me a steak, heat up the roasted chicken, or make me an omelet. Whatever I preferred. It seemed to give him so much actual happiness in acting like a chef at a private table, eager to show off his culinary skills.
That was why I told him a sandwich would be fine.
I sat at the cozy round table and watched as he pulled ingredients out of the huge stainless-steel fridge. While the beach house itself wasn’t overly large, the modern kitchen dominated half the ground floor. As a student in Milan, I had neither the time nor the inclination to cook for myself, especiallywhen I had fabulous restaurants offering fresh pasta just a short walk from my apartment. But I did love to eat, that was for sure.
While he pulled out the roasted chicken and began thinly slicing pieces, chose the perfect loaf of whole grain bread from the pantry, and even mixed up a fresh batch of mayo, I realized I was going to end up with a gourmet meal after all.
My empty stomach was happy about it, but I forced a scowl onto my face as he finally presented the work of art to me on a hand-thrown pottery plate. There was even a little side salad of baby greens and radishes. Did he remember I liked radishes? I sure did remember him teasing me that they were just about the most disgusting vegetable on earth, and the first person who tried one must have been desperately starving to go back for a second bite.
His own sandwich was also piled high with sliced chicken, and as soon as I was served, he sat down and bit into it with gusto. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from his mouth. A little seed from the whole-grain bread clung to his bottom lip, and I was transfixed as his tongue darted out to lick it away. He smiled at me around his mouthful, urging me to take a bite of mine.
“You watched me the whole time,” he teased. “There was no chance for me to add poison. I know you don’t count the radishes.”
So, he did remember. I couldn’t help but smile. I wanted this, the chance to work my way into his heart so I could crush it. There was no reason to keep pouting just because he’d tricked me into thinking I could beat him at chess.
As soon as I took a bite, he leaned close, watching me like a hawk. “Why did you really marry me?” He demanded. “Remember, I can read you like a book.”
I only shrugged, savoring my bite of the sandwich before answering. Maybe what he said was true enough, but the whole time he had been kicking my butt at chess, I’d been doing what he inadvertently told me I needed to do.
Think ahead.
It was true that he had always been good at figuring out what I was thinking, but that was back when I believed we were on the same side. I no longer had such delusions. It was also true that I probably couldn’t outright lie to him without being instantly called out, but I figured that my conflicting emotions might come in handy if I leaned into them instead of fighting them.
It disgusted me that I still wanted this swine of a man, but I did. That wasn’t a lie and couldn’t be called out. And when he had me in his arms, everything faded away except what I wanted him to do.
I hated it, but there it was. I hated him more, and it would only help me achieve my goal.
After I swallowed the delicious bite, I leaned closer, closing my eyes as if I were reminiscing. “After everything, I really did find myself missing you. I’ve been trying to find you.”
I opened my eyes. He believed me, because it was true. Maybe not for the reasons he thought, but he wasn’t asking that. He was asking why I married him.
“So you wanted me?” he asked.
“Yes,” I said simply, not feeling the need to expound. Once again, it wasn’t for the reason he thought. Not solely, anyway.
He scoffed. “Did you think a Fokin princess like yourself would ever be allowed to be with someone like me?”
“I’m glad you realize what you are,” I said, unable to hide the bitterness oozing out from behind my facade.
He only laughed and reached to touch my face. “We could have never been together.”
What was he saying? Was there regret in his eyes?
“And yet, here we are, married.”
Wow, that was thrilling, and such a great line. What a comeback. I was proud of myself for not being swayed, even when the slightest glance of his fingers made me tingle all over. He was definitely swayed by it, and looking at me in such a way, I didn’t have much fight left.
I felt myself being drawn in, letting myself become fully immersed. I was playing a part. Wasn’t I?
