Welcome back, my lovelies. Sorry, this took longer. Finished the taxes just in time. Was also struggling a bit with this chapter.
Thank you again for all your sweet reviews, favorites and follows.
The following is information on the residences for Dimitri, Ivan, and Lissa if anyone's interested.
Zillow: 32453-Pacific-Coast-Hwy-Malibu-CA-90265 (Ivan's house)
8500 Burton: 8500burton dot com (Dimitri's apartment)
Zillow: 1 Central Park S #1809, New York, NY 10019 (Lissa's & Christian's penthouse)
Chapter 11 is complete but still needs to be reviewed. Hopefully, I'll have it posted in a couple of days.
Now...on with the show...
DISCLAIMER: I own only the plot. Richelle Mead owns everything else.
Chapter 10: Back to Reality
(DPOV)
After his flight landed, Dmitri headed to the waiting limo. The driver was standing by the car, holding a sign that read "Marion Morrison." He used to get a chuckle out of throwing off the paparazzi by using John Wayne's real name. What a bunch of morons, he thought.
Handing his carry-on and camera bag to the driver, Dimitri slid into the backseat. Pulling out his phone, he called Ivan to let him know he had arrived. It was still early, and he was anxious to start finding out who had betrayed them.
"Zeklos," Ivan answered.
"Belikov," Dimitri replied.
"Hey, buddy. Was the flight okay?"
"Fine. I'm in the car now. Where are we meeting?"
"Whoa, reign in the energy."
Sighing, Dimitri pinched the bridge of his nose. "Ivan, it's already been a long day. I need to get this resolved. The sooner we start, the quicker we find this dick."
"Fine," Ivan said. "I'll wrap things up here. Why don't you drop your stuff at your place, and then meet me at my place in about two hours."
"I'll see you then," Dimitri said before hanging up.
The sedan pulled up in front of his building in Beverly Hills an hour later. The driver opened Dimitri's door before retrieving his belongings from the trunk. Dimitri grabbed the bags. The doorman silently nodded as he opened the door, as Dimitri strode through the lobby He made his way to the elevator. Pressing the button, he waited impatiently for the doors to open. As soon as they slid apart, he quickly stepped inside, entering his code for the penthouse.
After the short ride up, the doors opened once again. Dimitri walked into the entryway, making his way toward his bedroom. He dumped his bags onto the bed before making his way back out to the main room. The penthouse was four thousand square feet and came fully furnished. It had three bedrooms, four and a half bathrooms, a family room with wet bar, a dining room, nine-foot ceilings, motorized shades on the giant windows, six flat screens, private access to the roof terrace and pool, and original art.
He hadn't really needed something so luxurious or expansive, but Ivan had assured him it was the best. At forty thousand dollars a month in rent, it sure as hell should be, Dimitri supposed. It had provided him with privacy, as well as giving him plenty of room to host various parties Ivan had insisted upon.
Dimitri picked up the phone to call down to the Trader Joe's, placing his weekly pantry order. He hadn't had anything delivered in a few weeks, so now his cupboards and fridge were bare. He pulled out the one remaining beer, popping the top and taking a long swig.
One of Dimitri's favorite features was the floor to ceiling windows that covered the entire space, giving him a panoramic view of the city. The windows were tinted so that he could see out, but no one could see in. He stood in front of one set, drinking his beer, as he looked out at the scene. The sun was shining as people scurried about below.
Walking back to his phone, he called down, notifying the valet he would need his car. Dimitri made his way to the lobby quickly. He knew it would take about an hour or more to get to Ivan's. Sliding into the front seat of his Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, he pulled out, heading toward the I-10. Once he hit the freeway, he opened the car up, letting the 6.2-Liter V8 HEMI supercharged engine stretch its legs.
Dimitri pulled up at Ivan's house at three o'clock, about thirty minutes late. After entering through the double gates, he pulled up in front of the sprawling house. Slipping out of the car, he made his way to the front door. Not bothering to knock, he opened the door and entered the grand marble foyer.
Ivan owned a twelve-thousand square foot home on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. It had seven bedrooms and eleven bathrooms. It was two stories and sat on five acres. It even had a detached guest house. Besides the ocean views from the nearly all the rooms, Dimitri's favorite parts of the house were the home theater room and full-size infinity pool. If it hadn't been so far from work, Dimitri would have taken up Ivan's offer to move in long ago.
He moved toward the room that housed Ivan's office, confident he would find him there. Without knocking, Dimitri opened the closed door, striding into the room. He saw Ivan sitting at his desk, laying back in the partially reclining office chair, his eyes closed. His hands were resting on the top of a head sheathed in bleach blonde hair. Dimitri smirked, as he took in the scene before him. Not wanting to cockblock his best friend, but also not wanting the play the part of the voyeur, he cleared his throat.
Ivan's eyes flew open, widening as he saw Dimitri standing a few feet from his desk. Misjudging the force he exerted, Ivan pushed back on the chair, only to tilt backward even further. He tumbled over and onto the floor, cursing. At that same moment, the young, buxom woman flew from her knees behind the desk, wiping at her mouth with one hand while straightening her short mini dress with the other. Ivan now lay sprawled out on the floor, Dimitri instantly bursting into laughter.
Ivan was slowly extricating himself from the chair, as he attempted to stand. Rising up, he turned away, the sound of a zipper being pulled up ringing out. After picking up the wayward chair, Ivan made his way to Dimitri, reaching out to embrace his best friend. Dimitri returned the hug, clapping him a few times on the back before pulling away.
"Sorry to interrupt," Dimitri said, smirking.
"Hey, no worries. I was just giving my new personal assistant an orientation." Dimitri chuckled as Ivan gave him a death stare before continuing. "Dimitri, this is Candee."
Dimitri stood there, still smirking, as the young woman sashayed over to him, holding out her hand. Staring at the outstretched appendage, Dimitri looked her in the eyes, replying, "Pleasure, but since I have an idea where that's been," he said, pointing toward her outstretched hand, "I think I'll pass on the handshake."
"Well, I do have two hands," she said, her intent clear to both men.
Dimitri rolled his eyes and then looked over toward Ivan. "Ivan, can you please ask your newest employee to leave so we can get started?"
"Candee, why don't you go down to the kitchen and ask Maria to make Dimitri and I some lunch. Please make sure we're not disturbed."
"And wash your hands before you touch my food!" Dimitri yelled at her retreating back.
"Dude! Not cool!" Ivan shouted.
Dimitri simply shrugged before taking a seat. Ivan walked to the doors, closing them, before returning to his chair behind the desk. Sitting down, he pulled out a file from his desk. Tossing it across toward Dimitri, he sat back waiting. Dimitri picked up the folder and began to peruse its contents. Inside were the photos that had appeared online. He was sure that they would probably be in print the next day.
"Any new information on who took them?" Dimitri asked, tossing the folder back on the desk.
"Not exactly," Ivan responded.
"What does that mean?"
"My office called as I was headed to the house. My secretary said a man had called, wanting to speak with you. When Meredith wouldn't give him your number, the guy said, and I quote 'If he knows what's good for him and the tart, he'll talk to me.'"
Dimitri sat up straight, his eyes narrowed. "That has to be him. Did he leave any contact information?"
"No, he said he'd call back. I told Meredith to patch the call through to me when he does." Ivan paused. "What do you think he wants? I mean he's already sold the photos."
Dimitri shook his head, "No clue, but if we can track this guy, then at least I'll have the satisfaction of exacting some justice."
"Justice? Sounds more like revenge to me. Dimitri, are you going to fill me in on what happened while you were gone?" Ivan asked, worry tinging his voice.
Dimitri sighed, "I met someone – a woman."
Ivan snorted, "That I gathered."
Shooting Ivan a glare, Dimitri continued, "She was staying at the house you rented. Apparently, the agency didn't realize she was still there."
Dimitri told Ivan everything from the time he met Rose until Ivan's call about the photos. Ivan sat, listening silently until Dimitri finished.
Leaning back in his chair, Ivan crossed his arms across his chest. "And you're certain she didn't know who you were? I mean, maybe she was playing you, or maybe she's in cahoots with the guy that took the photos?"
Growling, Dimitri said, "No, she wouldn't do that. I may not have known her long, but I know her. She's not like us, Ivan."
Ivan shook his head slowly, leaning across the desk. "Okay, if you trust her then I will too. So, what now? We just wait for this asshole to call back?"
"Yes," Dimitri said. "Like I said, I won't let the shit part of my life touch her. I'll do whatever I have to."
(RPOV)
As Rose deplaned at LaGuardia, she made her way to the waiting sedan. Lissa had texted her saying she'd have it waiting. After the driver placed her bags in the trunk, they drove toward Manhattan. Rose laid her head back, looking out the window of the car. Tourists and natives hustled about the sidewalks, as cabs, cars and bike messengers fought for pavement. Christmas was only a couple of weeks away, so the buildings and storefronts were awash in decorations.
The car pulled up to the building. Rose had been here once before, but it still took her breath away. Sliding out of the car, she stood, her necking craning up at the ornate building. Lissa and Christian owned a penthouse at the Plaza on Central Park South. It had four bedrooms, five bathrooms and was over five thousand square feet. It consisted of both the eighteenth and nineteenth floors of the building. One of Rose's favorite things was the terrace that overlooked Central Park.
Rose passed through the private entrance into the building's lobby. It reminded her of Edwardian and Medieval French Chateaux style. The floors were marble, and the furniture ornate. Rose entered the elevator, the valet behind her with her bags. Using his keycard, he selected the penthouse. Once it stopped and the doors slid open, the young man smiled, holding the doors open while Rose exited. The elevator entered directly into the house, putting Rose and her young steward in the entryway.
Lissa was already striding toward her, arms outstretched. "Rose!" she exclaimed, engulfing her friend in an embrace.
"Hey, Liss."
Pulling back, Lissa looked behind her to the man standing there, his eyes cast downwards, waiting. "Oh, Jeremy, you can just set those down. Christian can put them up later."
He set the bags against the wall before slightly bowing and exiting back through the elevator. Rose snorted once the elevator doors had closed, "What was that about, your majesty?"
Lissa rolled her eyes, "I have no idea. I've asked him to stop. It is a little creepy."
Linking Rose's arm with her own, Lissa led her further into the house. While decorated in the traditional style, which Rose did not particularly care for, she still found it comfortable. Rose was continually astounded by how Lissa could afford only the best, and yet she was so down to earth. Sure, she liked nice thing–very nice things–but there wasn't a condescending or pretentious bone in her body.
Lissa led her to the sofa, pulling her down as she sat. Turning to Rose, she said, "So, how was the flight? Did you get any rest? How's Mia? Have you heard from the jerk?"
Her questions were fired so rapidly at Rose, she barely had time to formulate answers. Putting her hand over her friend's, Rose said, "Liss! You need to take a breath."
Lissa laughed, "Sorry. So, was the flight okay?"
"It was fine," Rose replied. "I ended up sleeping most of the trip."
"And how's Mia?"
"She's doing well. They had a brief scare the other day, but it turned out to be Braxton Hicks contractions. They sent her home the next day. I told her that we'd try to get out there when the baby comes, or at the very least, shortly after that."
"Definitely!" Lissa said.
They sat silently for a while before Lissa spoke again, her voice barely audible. "So, have you heard from him?"
"If by him you mean Dimitri, then no. I doubt I'll ever see or speak with him again. He made it quite clear that I was no one of import."
Lissa sighed, "Oh, Rose. I'm so sorry. I…I have a confession to make." She was biting her lip and looking down. "I might have asked Eddie to keep an eye on you."
Rose's eyes widened. "What?" she yelled.
Cringing back a bit, Lissa winced, "I know, and I'm sorry! I was just so worried after your first call. I didn't want you to think that I thought you weak, but after everything that happened with Jesse." Rose winced. "I just didn't want you to be used and abused by another man."
Rose's features grew hard as she glared at her best friend. "I can't believe you! Lissa, I am a grown woman! You all have got to stop treating me like some wilting flower. I know you guys care about me, but this has got to stop."
Lissa had moved further back on the sofa as if trying to lessen the blow Rose's words seem to have on her. She was looking down at her hands, gently folded in her lap. "When Eddie told me about the boat trip, I was so excited for you. Even Eddie seemed to think Dimitri was a good guy.
"Yes, well he had everyone fooled, then, didn't he?" she spat.
Lissa sat quietly for a moment as if pondering some life-altering equation. Tilting her head, she looked at Rose. "Rose, do you think…I mean after everything you've told me, and after everything Eddie said…is there a chance that Dimitri didn't mean what he said? I mean, he kept saying, before the pictures, that he didn't want you involved in his world because it could hurt you. What if he lied, about how he felt and what happened between you because he wanted to protect you?"
Rose was shaking her head vehemently. But, as she started to think over her time with Dimitri, she felt herself wondering if Lissa was right. He had told her he didn't want her corrupted by his life. Now, here she was, on the cusp of being outed as the lover of Hollywood's biggest prize. She knew it was something she wouldn't be able to handle. Her life was a quiet one, and given her upbringing, she knew without a doubt that being under the entertainment machine's microscope might destroy her.
"Lissa," she sighed. "Even if he didn't mean it, he didn't have to say it. He could have simply told me that he had to leave and that we'd have to end things then and there. I had told him that I would have no regrets. But that was when I thought he was someone trustworthy, honorable and a friend. Friend's don't rip someone's heart out."
Lissa moved closer to Rose, wrapping her arms around her. "Oh, Rose, I'm so sorry," she said, rubbing her hand along Rose's arm. "I wish there was something I could do to make it better."
Rose leaned her head on Lissa's shoulder. "I know, and I love you for it. I think I just need to get on with my life." Raising her head, she turned to look at Lissa. "I went into my self-imposed exile to figure things out after Jesse. I accomplished that. Now I think I just need to make my own way. I need to move forward."
A smile grew on Lissa's face, as she vigorously nodded. "Now that's the Rose I know and love. So, did you have anything specific in mind as you start this new adventure?"
A shy smile crept up on Rose's lips. "Actually, I have been thinking about it for a while. I just didn't have the drive until now. I'm going to apply to NYU and major in Art History. You know how I love art. I think I'd really love to be a curator."
Lissa pulled Rose back to her, hugging her tightly. "That's perfect for you! I'm so excited." She pulled back, looking into Rose's eyes. "Does that mean you're staying in New York?"
Nodding, Rose replied, "I guess so, assuming I get accepted. I guess I could stay in the dorms, or…."
Lissa interrupted her, "Oh no! You will be staying here with us. You know we have the room!"
Rose studied Lissa warily. She loved her dear friend and even tolerated her boyfriend, Christian. She just wasn't sure it was a good idea to live with them. She quickly realized, however, that she didn't have many options. Unlike Lissa, Rose did not come from money. Her father would be classified as lower middle class. Luckily, with Rose's grades and test scores, she didn't doubt she could qualify for some financial assistance and scholarships. What she knew was that she couldn't afford a place on her own.
Realizing she didn't really have any other choice, she said, "Fine. But Sparky has to keep his clothes on! No running bare-assed around the house anymore! I don't need to see his pasty butt on a regular basis."
"Who has a pasty ass?" Christian asked as he walked into the living room.
Lissa looked at Rose before they both broke out into fits of laughter. Christian walked to Lissa, leaning down to kiss her cheek, a look of confusion and consternation on his face. "What'd I say?"
"Hey, Fire Crotch," Rose said, greeting him by one of his many nicknames. He had acquired them after a nearly disastrous cooking experiment involving a flambé.
Frowning, Christian replied, "What's up, Rosie."
Narrowing her eyes, Rose reached over, smacking the back of Christian's head. "What have I told you about calling me that?"
"Ouch! No need to break out the violence!" he said, rubbing the back of his head.
Rose smirked, while Lissa rolled her eyes. As Christian leaned in to give Lissa a kiss, Rose couldn't help but feel melancholy. She adored her friends and was especially happy that Lissa had found Christian. Looking at the two together, she was once again struck at how they seemed, on the outside, to be polar opposites. Lissa was slim, lithe even, with long blonde hair and emerald green eyes. Christian was toned, but lean, with jet black hair and ice blue eyes. Both had the appearance of needing a few good tanning bed sessions.
"Christian, I've asked Rose to move in here while she goes to NYU to get her degree," Lissa informed Christian.
Christian rolled his eyes, smirking. "As long as she doesn't run around bare-assed in the house, it's fine with me. That is not an image I want to be burned into my brain!"
Lissa looked over at Rose, raising one eyebrow, a secret smile on her lips. At the same time, she and Rose began laughing, tears coming to their eyes. Christian just looked over them both as if they had lost their minds. After a moment, he just shook his head, turning and heading to the bedroom. "I've got to change. Are you ladies coming tonight?" Christian asked.
"I hadn't asked Rose if she wanted to go yet," Lissa told him, before turning to Rose. "Christian's new restaurant is opening tonight. Would you feel up to going? If you're not that's okay," Lissa said, trepidation in her eyes.
Rose smiled, trying to reassure the couple. "Of course I want to go! Can't miss Pyro's big night."
"Wonderful!" Lissa exclaimed. "Why don't I take you to your room so you can get settled and changed," saying as she stood.
Rose followed, grabbing her bags. Lissa led her up the curved staircase to the second floor. Her room was at the end of the hall. It was a decent size, with its own bathroom and walk-in closet. It was the view that took her breath away. She looked over Fifth Avenue, and the city stretched out as far as the eye could see.
Rose set her bags on the black, queen-sized modern canopy bed. The room was elegant but sparsely furnished, which suited Rose. Lissa left her to get dressed, as Rose began to unpack. After she was done, she took a quick shower. Drying off, she blew her hair dry and did her makeup. Since it was a special night, Rose left her hair down, styling it into gentle waves. Her makeup was light, except for her smoky eyes and bold, red lips.
As she was slipping on her black lace bra and undies, she heard a knock at the door. "Rose?" Lissa called out. "Can I come in?"
Rose walked over, opening the door. Lissa slipped in, a garment bag and shopping bag in her hands. She walked over to the closet, hanging the bag on the door, before turning to face Rose.
"So, I don't want you to get mad, but I picked up something for you to wear tonight. I know you don't have anything really fancy, given that you've been sequestered at the beach house." Lissa's eyes watched Rose, warily, waiting for her to erupt in righteous indignation.
"Lissa, first, I would never get mad at you for being generous. Second, I appreciate you thinking of me. I know this was last minute."
Rose raised her finger in the air as Lissa was beaming, "However, I don't need you to spend so much money on me. Don't think I didn't see the name on those bags!"
Whining, Lissa responded, "But Rose that dress…it's your dress. And the shoes, well, a dress like that had to have those shoes."
Walking over, smiling, Rose slid the zipper down the bag. Pulling back the sides, her breath caught. Lissa had indeed found her dress. It was a Marilyn Monroe style sheath in crimson red with a bold sequin pattern with swirls throughout. The neckline was a boat neck style, with the hem falling right below her knees.
Grinning widely, she turned, pulling Lissa into a hug. "Thank you, Liss. It's gorgeous."
Lissa, smiling, pulled back, turning to the bed. Reaching into the bag, she pulled out the shoebox, handing it to Rose. "Well, that dress requires these shoes."
Rose opened the box, pulling back the white tissue paper. Inside were a pair of red Louboutin Pigalle Follies heels. She lightly ran her fingers over them. "Oh, Lissa. They're perfect. Thank you."
Lissa clapped her hands in excitement. "Okay, finish getting dressed then. The driver will be here in about twenty minutes to pick us up," she said before turning and walking out of the room.
Rose slid on the dress and slipped on the stunning heels. Grabbing her cashmere wrap, she stepped out of her room and headed down the stairs. Lissa was sitting in the armchair, sipping a glass of wine. She offered one to Rose, who accepted it with thanks. She hoped it would calm her nerves. She still wasn't sure she wanted to go out. Her heart and mind we're still trapped back at the beach house.
The ringing of the phone interrupted her thoughts. Lissa answered quickly and then hung up, just as fast. "The driver's downstairs. Are you ready?"
Rose nodded, still feeling uncertain. Lissa, sensing her nervousness, linked her arm in Rose's, escorting her to the elevator. After arriving in the lobby, they exited, sliding into the back seat of the black, sleek sedan. The driver pulled out into traffic and headed downtown.
"So, I don't think you guys ever told me what name you decided on for the new restaurant. Last time we talked about it, Christian was vacillating between 'Inferno' or 'Court.'"
Lissa grinned, mischievously, "You'll just have to wait and see."
Rose looked over at her best friend, curious at the devious look in her eyes. "Okay, can you tell me what kind of menu he decided to go with?" she asked, impatiently.
"Oh, it's fantastic! I swear I gained ten pounds just sampling it! It's California fusion with a focus on fresh seafood. Everything is organic and natural."
Lissa laughed as Rose's stomach growled softly. "Well we better get there soon," Rose responded. "If not, we'll have to make a pit stop at the closest fast food joint."
A few moments later, the car pulled alongside the curb. Rose glanced out, her eyes growing wide as she took in the crowds on either side of the entrance. Flashbulbs were popping off like fireworks, snapping images of the who's who of New York.
Seeing Rose freeze, her hand hovering over the door handle, Lissa reached over to cover it with her own. "Rose, it will be okay. Just breathe. Stay close to Christian and me. We'll get through the crowd quickly and then be inside. The only photographer inside will be the one hired by the PR agency."
Rose gulped, nodding briefly. The door flew out of her grip as the driver opened it, extending his hand to offer assistance. Lissa took it first, smoothly exiting the car. After a brief hesitation, Rose grasped the returning hand, slipping out and onto her feet. Please don't let me fall flat on my face, Rose chanted to herself.
Rose saw Christian exit the restaurant, heading toward them. He was beaming, a look of adoration on his face as he looked at Lissa. Sliding in between Lissa and Rose, he wrapped an arm around both, before leaning over to place a kiss to Lissa's cheek. Turning, he tilted his head down to Rose's ear. "So, what do you think of the name?"
She looked into his eyes before moving to look up at the sign above the door. Her hand flew to her mouth, as her eyes grew wide. It took all her inner strength to not break down in tears. In beautiful sweeping strokes, the red sign read, "Rosa." She wasn't sure if she was near tears because her best friends had named their restaurant after her or because of how close it came to Dimitri's term of endearment.
"Wow, I don't know what to say," she whispered.
Both Christian and Lissa grinned broadly before embracing Rose between them. After a few seconds, they started into the restaurant. Rose was struggling to stay focused on walking, as flashbulbs exploded all around her. People were calling out to Christian and Lissa, begging for comments and poses. Thankfully, they continued moving until they were inside the restaurant.
Once inside, Rose shed her shawl, handing it to the young woman at the coat check. She then stepped further into the restaurant, her eyes taking in everything. The décor was modern, but rich, made up of reds, black, and dark wood tones. The restaurant was already full, with people mingling about, talking and drinking.
As Rose was looking up at the stunning light fixtures, she felt herself bump into someone, nearly spilling the glass of champagne she had pilfered from a wandering waiter.
"You might want to watch where you're going, little mermaid," she heard the familiar voice whisper into her ear.
Beaming, Rose enveloped the man in front of her. "Adrian!" she exclaimed.
He tightened their embrace, holding her firmly to his body. "Oh, how I've missed you," he said. He placed a kiss on her cheek before pulling back.
Rose stared into his face, realizing he hadn't changed in the few years since she had last seen him. His light brown hair was still stylishly shaggy. His emerald eyes were shining, as he took her in as well. She had known Adrian for years. His family had owned the beach house next to Lissa's parents. They had spent many a summer together romping in the surf and enjoying warm summer days.
Pulling back, he held her at arm's length. Whistling, he spun her around, taking in the entire view. "My, my, you certainly have filled out. You are absolutely delectable in that dress. I think I might just forgo dinner and have you instead," he said, wiggling his eyebrows.
Rose smirked, playfully slapping him on his arm. "Still the same flirt, I see."
Raising his glass, he replied, "Why change a good thing?"
Rose clinked her champagne glass against his. "To old friends," she said.
"And to new possibilities," he replied, smirking before washing down the remainder of his drink.
"Excuse me," a man said. "Would you two mind posing for a picture? It's for the restaurant promotion."
Before Rose could object, Adrian had pulled her tightly to his side, his hand resting low on her hip. Just before the photographer snapped the picture, Adrian pulled Rose into his chest, his hand sliding onto her backside. Rose's hand instinctively flew up onto his chest, pushing him away, glaring at him.
"What the hell, Adrian!" Rose yelled.
"What?" he responded, giving her his best puppy dog expression.
Rose sighed, "Never mind. Just keep your paws to yourself from now on, perv."
She spent the rest of the night mingling with Adrian, Christian, and Lissa. Samples of the menu were passed around. Everything was delicious. Her favorite had been the wild mushroom and porcini arancini risotto balls. By the end of the evening, Rose found herself feeling less morose and having a good time.
When the evening finally ended, and they had returned to the penthouse, Rose slipped out of her clothes. Pulling on her sleep shirt, she crawled into the bed, exhaustion starting to claim her. As she drifted off to sleep, she tried to push thoughts of soft lips and long, silky hair from her mind.
(DPOV)
Dimitri had returned home after he and Ivan had determined the person who had taken the pictures wasn't planning on calling back any time soon. He walked into his apartment, grabbing a fresh beer that had been stocked while he was out. Popping off the top, he walked into the living room, picking up the remote. Powering on the flat screen, he started flipping channels.
Just as he was about to flip to the next station, he froze, staring at the images flashing across the screen. It was his Roza! Quickly turning up the volume, he caught the tail end of the report.
…at the opening of Christian Ozera's newest restaurant, "Rosa." He escorted his girlfriend, Lissa Dragomir and their longtime friend, Rose Hathaway. The three mixed and mingled with friends and the elite of NYC. The restaurant is a California fusion theme, featuring fresh seafood and organic ingredients. The Mayor, who we caught on the way out, said it was incredible, and he couldn't wait to come back.
Dimitri sat stunned. It was definitely Rose. He recognized the name of her best friend. Turning off the television, Dimitri made his way to his laptop. Turning it on, he immediately opened his browser and started a search.
He saw a few news articles about the event. Clicking on one, it opened to an article about the restaurant, its owner, and the opening. As Dimitri scrolled through the piece, looking for anything about Rose, his hand stilled on the mouse as he reached one particular photo. Rose was clutched against a handsome man, her hand resting on his chest. Dimitri felt his own hand convulse and grip the beer bottle as his eyes focused on the man's hand laying against her backside.
Before he knew what he was doing, Dimitri threw the bottle against the wall, glass shattering. He was breathing heavily, anger surging through him. He walked brusquely to the sliding doors that led to the balcony. Throwing them open, he stepped out, desperate for fresh air. He felt like his nerves were on fire, a burning consuming him. He shook his head, trying to wipe the image from his mind.
He wondered who the man was. He knew it wasn't that loser, Jesse. Had there been someone else she hadn't mentioned? Had she been seeing this man while she was at the beach? He knew she hadn't had time to meet someone new.
He laughed bitterly, as he came to a realization. He had been so consumed with keeping Rose protected from his life. Yet, here she was, splayed out in the news, her face and name out there for public consumption. Closing his eyes, he sighed deeply, realizing he had made the biggest mistake of his life.