Page 46 of Scarlet Vows
I’m not fine at all.
All through dinner,I smile as big as I can, laugh as much as I can, and let Isla and Isaak flirt and carry most of the conversation.
They take photos, making Ilya touch me more than I can take, because each touch zings through me now, and I’m drowning all over again.
He’s good at taking part in the conversation, acting at ease, and maybe he is. Maybe he doesn’t think a thing has changed. After all, we both know we’re just friends.
But occasionally he slides me a look that holds concern, so I just smile bigger, and I think I even fool Isla.
When we go to the bathroom, she tells me she forgot how good-looking Isaak is, that he doesn’t seem as obnoxious as she once thought he was, and that I came through this better than she figured.
But honestly, I’m happy when the evening winds down.
That’s when Ilya smooths my hair. “I’m going to ask again. Are you okay?”
I don’t give him the big smile. I give him the one that’s tired from the stress and guilt. “It’s been a long day, that’s all. I’m tired.”
“You look tired. We’ll go, then. These two can take care of themselves.” He lifts his head. “Alina’s in need of sleep, so I think we’ll call it a night.”
“We’re going to get a drink, and I promise to be a gentleman.” Isaak holds up both hands at Ilya’s glare. “And I’ll make sure Isla gets back to her mom and her daughter safe and in one piece.”
“You do that.” Ilya flashes him a warning look. “I know guys.”
“You are the guys,” Isaak says, seeming not at all threatened.
I hug them both, and then I leave with Ilya.
My husband.
My fake husband who made my heart flutter.
We get into one of Demyan’s limos, and the driver is a good man. I think he’s dating Olga, because I often see them close to each other, talking.
At first, I think we’re heading to my home, but we’re not.
Instead, we go to the Belov Bratva mansion.
It’s possibly even more majestic than ours. The grounds look bigger, grander. Demyan would roll his eyes at the blatant display of money.
When we pull up, Ilya comes around and opens the door, then he leads me into the mansion. People wait inside to greet me as the new lady of the house, but I start for the stairs instead as Ilya dismisses them.
He then follows me. “You’ll have to meet everyone tomorrow?—”
“I’m going to bed.” With that, I race across the first-floor landing to the second set of stairs before he can say anything else.
When I get to the second-floor landing, I stop, suddenly realizing I don’t know where I am or where anything is.
Heat burns within me as my heart thuds. I turn and trudge down the stairs.
“I don’t know where my room is,” I whisper, hoping he can’t see the tears that blur my eyes.
Ilya opens a door but doesn’t enter. He just stands on the threshold and points inside.
“It’s okay. It’s been quite the day. Svetlana runs the mansion. She’s sweet, so she figured this room would be something you might like. There’s a bathroom, a huge balcony, and a big bed she made up. Actually, it’s the main bedroom. I took a different room on the floor below. And you can redo this one however you like.”
It’s three times bigger than mine at Demyan’s, and the balcony is huge. It must run around this half of the mansion, which makes sense since the main room seems to do that, too. I’m guessing there’s also a huge walk-in closet.
The room is stunning, and even though I’m not in the mood to plan it, I already know I’ll take out all the heavy things and redo it as modern and bright.
