Page 17 of The Crimson Lily
He sees how my eyes have changed, but I’m quickly able to sound like a dumb groupie again.
“The Kinzhal Strastey,” he begins. “William assures that it’s the find of the century!”
“Have you seen it?” I ask, determined to finally get something out of this chatterbox.
“Sadly, no. He talks about it, but he won’t show it,” Victor confesses.
He remains silent for a moment. I think he’s processing some sort of shame that William doesn’t trust him enough to show him his prized dagger. I want to ask him more, but I know I won’t get much else out of him, so I smile at him and bid him a good evening. He doesn’t want to let me go, but hey, he doesn’t really have a choice.
All right, Liliana, this is your last glass of champagne. I thank whoever hands me my final flute for the night, then I spin on my heels and search for my husband among the crowd. Strange…The lady in blue is alone. How long ago has he left her? Where is Maksim? Where is my handsome and dashing?—
“You shouldn’t be drinking when you’re on a mission,zaya,” he comments, right next to me.
I twitch my nose at him and repeat his words like a little child, then I laugh at myself for sounding like a child. “You’re drinking too!”
He chuckles. “A simple sleight of hand, Liliana.”
Wow. I’m on the verge of diving deeper than the state of tipsiness, and Mr. Business Class here is completely sober. Shit. I feel foolish. I veer my hazy eyes back to the crowd and rejoice when I see Mr. Zhang is finally alone. However, he has a line of at least eight puppets waiting to talk to him. I really wonder who he is, especially for having so many attendees waiting to get a chance to speak with the man.
“That is Yi Zhang. He’s an art dealer from Beijing.”
Maksim has definitely read my thoughts.
“We actually think your boss has partnered with him to sell the dagger.”
“What did you get out of the girl in blue?” I spontaneously ask. I don’t know what’s come over me, but now I want to know everything about his conversation with that annoying lady.
“Not much,” he replies. “Only that she’s heard about the dagger but has never seen it.” He pauses for a second, then straightens his posture and signs for me to follow him. “Let’s go stand in the Zhang line.”
He takes my hand, which he pulls toward him, leading me closer to him. I have no clue what’s going to happen next. I find myself squeezed between him and another man behind me, in a sea of people who have begun to dance to the rhythm of amplified music. Maksim now has both his hands wrapped around me, joined at the arch of my back. I have to stand still for a minute to let another group of people pass. I look up to him as he pulls me even closer, pressing me against his chest.
Fuck.I’m falling for him, I think for a split second, like nothing else matters.
And there, in the middle of an intoxicated crowd, I find myself with my arms around his neck and my lips on his.
I only let go when I realize he isn’t kissing me back. I freeze into place. He has no expression on his face. I blink a few times, hoping I haven’t done what I just did. What the hell? I clear my throat, stand up straight, release myself from him, and hasten toward Mr. Zhang. I don’t look back, and I really don’t want to. I feel so stupid. I beat myself up in my thoughts as I reach the line of now nine people. What the hell have I just done?
I can officially declare that I, Liliana Springfield, am drunk.
I’ve never been drunk in my second life.
I’m standing in the line, my arms crossed before my chest, staring into the abyss, biting my lip furiously. Stupid, stupid, stupid Liliana! How could you be so stupid? What the hell were you thinking, kissing him like that? What the hell has gotten into you?
I remain there for at least ten minutes, silent, looking away. I know he’s standing beside me, but I am most certainly not going to look at him. Not ever again.
Not until I feel his lips down my neck, going in for a nibble.
I bounce on my feet, surprised, then veer to him with furious eyes.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
He’s chuckling again! I can’t believe it. He pulls a Maksim on me, not answering my question.
As we make it to Mr. Zhang, he leans in closer to me.
“Convince Zhang to walk with me,” he instructs.
“What?” I instantly retort, confused.
