Hi, guys!
Sorry for not uploading in a while, somehow I managed to get a horrible cold in the middle of the hottest weather we've been having. And to top it all off, teachers want homework on their desks. Anyhow, I just wanted to thank everyone, because when I logged in to update I saw the amount of followers the story has and I can't explain how happy that makes me, that you've been enjoying my writing. The main reason I write, besides my passion for writing, is to improve my English the best that I can because if you haven't noticed my native language is Spanish. So thank you guys for inspiring me to become a better writer.
Saluditos!
Here's the next one :)
Disclaimer: These characters don't belong to me, they belong to the lovely Richelle Mead. Also English isn't my first language, so please be patient with any spelling or grammar mistakes. (To the person that so kindly offered to take a look at my chapters before I uploaded them, Thank you very, very much!)
Chapter 5. - Million Dollar Baby
7:40 p.m
Hair. Check.
Makeup… Check.
As I put the lid back on the lipstick and set it down on the vanity, I made a mental note to clean up the battle zone that had become of it. Though after seeing the finished results, it justified the mess. And considering I'd never attempted something as elaborate with my makeup, I'd done very well. I could almost pass as the wife of a rich man.
"Rosita, you look beautiful!" Celia exclaimed when she appeared at the door of my room, interrupting my happy dance. "Are you finished?"
"Thanks, Celia, yes I'm almost ready. I just need to put on my dress." I tied the belt of my robe. "Is Dimitri done hogging the bathroom?"
Celia chuckled. "Si, he's already waiting for you downstairs with Mister Ivan. He sent me to help you with this."
I looked at Celia and the garment bag she carried along with a tan shoebox.
"But I already had a dress, from the ones we bought a few days ago."
"So you're sure don't want this one?" She asked as she zipped the garment bag open.
HOLY. SHIT. Holy shit!
I stared at the dress as if a gold beacon of light was shining upon it. Call me crazy—CRAZY!—but the dress screamed me. It was beaded lace with black tulle on the bottom, offering a glimpse of my legs. I thought I hated lace because the style I'd always worn made me feel like a kid wearing grown-up clothes. Instead, the black lace with the nude elements from the tulle made me feel that this dress would look anything but grandmotherly. Sexy, even.
Celia helped me into the dress and I felt that at any given moment my cheeks would split from grinning too hard. I smiled at the reflection in the mirror—why was I doing that so much?—and spun around to look at the back. Wow.
"You're forgetting something." Celia passed me the box of shoes and I felt my knees get weak when I read the logo on the box. There in front of my very own eyes were the most gorgeous black velvet stilettos with the telltale red sole. Those shoes cost more than month's rent.
I pinched myself, was I sleeping? "Are these really mine?"
She smiled warmly. "Of course, but you need to hurry Mr. Belikov mentioned he didn't want to be late."
I sighed dreamily. I wanted to tell Belikov that he knew better than to rush a woman, especially when he gave her new shoes, but I decided against it and slipped the shoes on carefully.
The heels were way higher than anything I had ever worn in the past and not as comfortable. What I couldn't deny, was the fact that they tied the outfit together. Now I looked like I could rock the world, and anyone who would try and stop me, would die when I killed them with the power of my stilettos.
*.*.*.*.*
"You know I would do anything for our company, but how I wished we didn't have to these pretentious galas. They make me feel uneasy." Ivan complained to Dimitri while they sat down on the sofa.
"On any other occasion I would say the same, but this is for a good cause." Dimitri replied while taking a drink of an amber-colored liquid. Was he drinking whiskey? I didn't peg him as a drinker, but then again we'd only known each other for a week… it's not like he knew about my tattoo or would ever find out where it was…
Before I could continue having a conversation with myself, both men turned to look at my direction.
Ivan whistled. "You look stunning, Rose."
I smiled briefly, I didn't know why I expected the response from Dimitri, but he only stared at me like he always did. It was a strange look and I didn't know if I should learn to accept it as a compliment or not.
"I'm ready to go, bosses."
"Congratulations on that! Dimitri mentioned that you'd be working with me, which I am completely looking forward to. I could use an ally at the office against the She-Devil."
Dimitri cleared his throat. "We should get going, before we get stuck in traffic."
I frowned, no comment on my dress? Fine, I wasn't going to compliment him on how wonderfully he fit into his tux. Stop it.
Celia handed me a small clutch and a shawl in the same color scheme as my dress. After hugging her, I trailed after the guys going at a slower pace as a result of the heels. Just as I walked down the last couple steps of the front walkway, I almost lost my footing if it hadn't been for Dimitri holding out his arm to me.
Before I could become a pancake on our front lawn, Albert pulled up in the black Escalade we'd taken before. Ivan apparently was carpooling with us, taking his favorite seat—the passenger side—while Dimitri held open the door for me. Looking back and forth at my feet and how tall the damned car was, I leaned to down to remove the beautiful but impractical shoes.
"Do they not fit properly?" He asked, as he looked down at my bare feet.
I nodded. "They do, just too tall to be functional shoes. Too bad I didn't bring my crocs, those are functional and sturdy."
"Did she just say, what I think she did?" Ivan laughed from the front seat. "Your wife is priceless. Today we all wear Louie's, Rose." He said as he lifted his foot just so I could see the red sole.
"You too?" I gave Dimitri a pointed look.
"It was his idea," he said with a shrug.
I turned to look out the window of the car, Celia was right. Boys would always be boys.
*.*.*.*.*
It was like our wedding all over again.
The cameras flashing and people yelling from outside the car. I hadn't been married long enough to Dimitri to know I hated this aspect of being photographed. My heart felt like was it lodged in my throat, but as long as I didn't puke everything was good.
Albert stopped the car in front of a tall brick building with high windows. The venue it was lovely, except for the press all around the entrance.
"It's show time," Ivan said as he fixed his hair.
Dimitri turned to me. "The press are here, they're not always kind with their comments. You've only had one run in with them, so whatever you do just smile and hold on to me. Okay?"
I nodded, what else could I do? I had no training on how to deal with people with cameras blinding your vision.
As Albert opened the passenger door for Ivan and then for us, I grabbed onto Dimitri's arm like it was a lifesaver. At least until I remembered I had no shoes on. "Wait!"
"What's wrong?"
"I took off my shoes," I said looking under the tulle for the damned things.
"Here," Dimitri said as he placed both shoes carefully on my feet. Thump, thump. What the heck was happening to my heart?
"Thank you." I said breathlessly.
Instead of a reply, he winked. Winked! Before I could react he was helping me out of the car and it was too late to ask if it was a real wink or a muscle spasm.
Dimitri was right. The reporters yelled many things, mostly for us turn their way for a photo, and what not. Another had asked Dimitri what it meant for him be involved with the charity the gala was for, which he answered that it was something he was very passionate about. As I held on to Dimitri's arm I felt strange, to be associated with a man that had so much. It didn't happen very often, but I felt awkward. What the heck was the daughter of mobster doing with a man that earned his money earnestly? Or so he did until he met my father…
"Mrs. Belikov, how does it feel to be married to one of the most successful men in his field?" one of the reporters asked as he finally acknowledged my awkward-self standing next to Ivan and Dimitri.
What the heck was I supposed to answer to that? Dimitri squeezed my hand softly, giving the support I didn't know I needed.
"Well, you see," I cleared my throat. "I didn't marry the successful business man, I married a man that has many other qualities and annoying habits like the rest of us. So I don't feel special or anything else just because he's successful and the best in his field, to me he's my husband. The man that snores at night and hogs the bathroom. That's what makes me feel special, to be married to someone who is a good son, a good brother and very good friend."
"Thank you, Mrs. Belikov." The reporter shrugged as if I hadn't answered at all his question the way he wanted me to.
I dragged Dimitri and a laughing Ivan behind me. As soon as we entered the lobby of the venue, I let go of Dimitri's arm. I had gone momentarily insane.
"I'm sorry." I looked down at the grey mosaic tiles. "I should've just said, that I felt humbled that you'd chosen to marry me out of all the other options you had."
"Don't worry, Rose," Ivan grinned. "It was good answer, it keeps us all grounded that you don't see us as the moguls that we are."
"You shouldn't have to apologize, it wasn't your fault. Good job. Ivan why don't you keep Rose accompanied, while I find Tasha and make the damned opening speech." Dimitri said gruffly before walking away.
Ivan shook his head, grinning.
"Was it really okay for me to say what I did?" I asked.
"Yeah, don't worry about it. He doesn't know how to handle how he's feeling, but he'll learn." Ivan muttered the last part. "Come on, Mrs. Belikov, let's get some booze before we run into Tasha."
*.*.*.*.*
Hanging around Ivan was fun, except for the fact that every woman stared at me like they wanted to gauge my eyes out, didn't they know I was married lady?
I glanced around the elaborate ballroom. "Are these events always like this?"
"How?"
"Everyone here either wants to be you, kill you, or sleep with you. You can see it in their eyes, every time they look over here." I gestured to our table.
Ivan chuckled. "Yeah, but most of them don't realize how much work has been put into getting here. For them they think it's all about luck, but Dimitri and I built this company from scratch, and it had nothing to do with luck. It was hard work."
"I can imagine," I said as I taking a drink from my champagne glass. "From the presentation I finally figured out that the company's about cyber-security, how did you guys come up with the idea to get into that field?"
"You hadn't Googled us, at all?"
I shook my head. "I was a little busy finding out some other things." I didn't mean to sound sarcastic, but Ivan being Dimitri's best friend and best man at our wedding, would already know the truth about our marriage.
"Sorry. It was Dimitri's idea, actually. I don't remember us being good at other things in school like math and science, but computers always spoke to us." He said with a faraway smile.
"After barely making it through our high school graduation, we knew that we wouldn't make it in the small town we lived in. So we hauled our asses out of Russia and decided to try living the American dream. At first, we didn't understand much English and we'd almost thought about going back home, just because of the language barrier. But when the room we rented had gotten broken into, we pretty much lost all hope, as well as our money."
"What did you guys do?" I asked curiously.
"Well, after cursing the robbers to hell and back, Dimitri thought that if you could protect houses by using an alarm, you also protect online data the same way and that there would be people willing to protect important data enough, to pay someone to encrypt it. Then after some pg-13 scenes—with me kissing him and him punching me in the ribs—we began to investigate and to do some beta work. That was the beginning, with us taking odd jobs to save enough cash to fund what the company is today."
"That's amazing, especially when I know how hard it is to live worrying about making the ends meet."
"I'm not a snob, but from what I know, isn't your family loaded?"
I laughed. "To answer your question, they are—but I'm not. Now if you think you're going to get more than that without something stronger than champagne, you're mistaken."
"Cheers to that."
After a few more moments of camaraderie between Ivan and I, Dimitri appeared in the middle of the upraised stage looking all like the successful businessman people said he was. Why couldn't he give me any reasons to dislike him? At the very least, couldn't he be unpleasant to look at?
"Evening, ladies and gentlemen. I am very honored to have such wonderful guests this evening, not only for the purpose of drinking overpriced wine and donning expensive suits and gowns, but for the purpose of helping others.
"This is a subject that is very dear to me, the money that is raised this evening will be used to help single mothers and women that have suffered any form of domestic abuse. No woman, and absolutely no child, should have to live in such toxic environment and with this contribution, we wish for them to start new phases in their lives were there won't ever be a place for harsh words or actions, from people that are supposed to protect them."
I gasped. Celia's previous words danced around my head. A man that had to defend his mother and his sisters from an abusive father, as well as making sure they are taken care of for life, is no monster.
"I would also like to use this opportunity to welcome and thank Mr. Alarick Zelig for trusting us enough to be part of their family business and for joining us tonight all the way from Germany." The crowd clapped. "And with that out of the way, enjoy the rest of the evening, ladies and gentlemen."
When he finished his speech, he made his way to the table Ivan and I occupied.
"You're a pro at those speeches, Belikov." Ivan clapped him in the back.
Taking a seat next to me, Dimitri put his arm around my chair. "Thanks, next time I should have you do it, Co-Ceo."
"I don't think so, I couldn't handle being up there. You're the only one civil enough to handle snobby people. I like being the handsome programmer behind the scenes." Ivan answered him, looking away when a gorgeous blonde walked by. "As much as I've enjoyed keeping your wife company, I have to make sure other ladies aren't lonely, if you excuse me."
I grinned. "He really is a playboy, isn't he?"
"You've no idea, good luck to you being his assistant. His agenda is miles long." Dimitri smirked.
"What about yours?" I asked. "You said that you didn't do love, but somehow I can't believe you. You're a nice guy and not so hideous looking…unless you're batting for the other team?"
I felt my cheeks go up in flames, what the hell did I just say? Maybe the champagne wasn't as tame as I thought it was.
From Dimitri's shocked face I could see I'd caught him off guard too, but he recovered fast. "I believe we've kissed before, do you think if I kissed you like that again you would still think so?"
"There you are, Dimitri!" Tasha's lovely presence interrupted us. "I've been looking for you, Mr. Zelig, wanted to speak with you. Hey, there Rose." She said barely looking at me.
She looked like the she-devil Ivan said, dressed in a blood red fitted dress, even if I didn't want to admit it, she looked gorgeous. I wasn't going to comment on her rude nature, because she'd saved me from answering Dimitri.
When she began to take him by the arm, I took that as my chance to walk away.
"Oh no you don't, baby." Dimitri whispered in my ear, letting go of Tasha to grab onto my hand. "Come on, I want you to meet someone."
"Belikov, good speech. I am looking forward to working together." said an older man with a white mustache and a heavily accented voice.
"Thank you, Zelig. I appreciate it and I think you'll be very happy with us." Oh, so he was the man that had been impressed by the presentation. The Germans.
"Oh, I will be. Now enough about business, why don't you introduce me to your beautiful wife."
I shifted awkwardly for the second time that night. "Pleasure to meet you, sir, Rosemarie Belikov."
"Lovely to meet you, Mrs. Belikov. I am Alarick and this is my wife Zelma." The man smiled as he wrapped a loving arm around his wife. "I just heard you are newlyweds, so congratulations to both of you."
Mr. Zelig called over a waiter. "This deserves a toast. To our new business partners and their marriage, may you be as happy as my Zelma and I have been since the last twenty-five years we've been married."
Dimitri passed me a glass, and we clinked glasses with the wonderful marriage and a not-so-happy Tasha. I guessed she wasn't very pleased that she wasn't the center of attention like she was before I arrived. But maybe if it had been her in my place, she would've known what to answer to the press and not feel out of place as I did.
Tasha took my silence as an opportunity to make small talk with the marriage and tried to wedge herself in the conversation. I looked around the gorgeous ballroom and found that people were really enjoying themselves, as the most important people in the city were gathered.
*.*.*.*.*
After the amazing dinner was cleared, I understood the perks of dinning with high ranking members of society. The food was amazing, the meat so tender it melted in your mouth. I was becoming spoiled.
Seeing as dinner was finished, the live band decided to open up the dance floor, but not before making an announcement. "Mr. Belikov, we've heard that you've just gotten married, and we would love to interpret a song for the newlywed couple."
My stomach dropped. I looked at Dimitri, petrified. "I can't dance, not that I can't it's just that I don't know how."
Dimitri cursed. "I wish I could tell you we didn't have to do it, but people apparently love romance novels these days. Come on, one song shouldn't kill us."
Oh, it would kill us, seeing that I would make a fool of myself. Mr. Zelig and his wife cheered us on, while Tasha's face matched her dress.
Dimitri reached out for my hand, and guided me to the middle of the dance floor. Everyone clapped as the band began to play the Nat King Cole's, L-O-V-E. Dimitri's hand went to wrap around my waist as he took my hand in his. I wished I knew how to move my feet, instead of holding on to him for dear life.
"If I step on you, I am so sorry," I whispered. Trying to focus on him, rather than the other hundred pair of eyes on us.
"Don't worry about it, just follow my lead." He said as he moved his feet like a seasoned dancer.
"I wish I knew who thought of this idea so I can go and murder them."
"Well, I think you have your answer right there." When Dimitri spun me around I noticed Ivan recording us on his cellphone, his expression was very amused. Jackass. We continued to move around the dance floor, with me doing best not to step on him or trip on my feet.
Take my heart and please don't break it…
Love was made for me and you…
When the song finished, the crowd gave us a round of applause. But not before Ivan attacked once more, when he began to chant, "Kiss her!" and the rest of the crowd soon joined him.
I threw murderous eyes his way, and I saw that we would have no other choice but to kiss each other in front of strangers again.
Just as I turned to Dimitri, he cradled my face in his hands and sealed his lips to mine making me forget about the audience. I held on to the lapel of his tuxedo as the man literally and figuratively, kissed me senseless.
"Was that enough to answer your question?" He whispered, close to my lips.
Before I could say anything else, the rest of the guests joined the dance floor as the band began to play some catchy tune. Returning to our seats, I excused myself needing some space.
In the ladies room, I dabbed my neck with cold water. I could still feel that tingling sensation on my lips. I shook my head, not this was not happening I wasn't attracted to him. LIAR! I growled in frustration, looking up at the mirror and found myself staring at a man behind me.
"Excuse me, sir." I said, trying to conceal my unease. "This is the ladies room. Please, leave before I call security."
I didn't know when the rest of the women in the restroom had left, but the only two people left were this man and I. It wasn't a good sign.
"Do think they'll come if they hear you scream?" The man smiled and it wasn't warm, it was filled with malice. "Do you think your husband will come and save you?"
I discreetly squeezed my arm. I wasn't hallucinating was I? No more alcohol for me ever. "I don't know what you're talking about, sir. But if you don't leave, something will happen. I just don't know if it will be my husband's fist in your face or mine. I dislike having to repeat myself. GET OUT."
The man laughed, reaching out to grip my arm. "What fiery temper you have, what a shame you belong to Dimitri now, I would've loved to have kept that tempter in check."
I felt the blood leave my face. "I have no idea what it is you're talking about, but I really do hate repeating myself!"
I took us both by surprise as my fist flew at his face. I swore I heard a crunch but I wasn't sure if it was his face or my hand, at least until a sharp pain radiated from my hand. Had I actually broken my hand because of this asshole? Instead of making me scared, it just angered me. Why did all men live to cause me pain?! Before giving him a chance recover from my punch, I kicked him in his precious jewels.
"Never think you can touch a woman and not have consequences!" I yelled. I needed to find Dimitri before finding out if this asshole had brought along another friend. Just as I was about to flee, I felt someone's arms close around me. I was right, he'd brought a friend.
Screw this, I wasn't going down without a fight. I tossed and turned around in the arms of my captor at least until I heard a familiar voice. Dimitri's.
"Shush, Rose, it's me." The rest of my fight fizzled out.
"Oh, thank god," I said wrapping my arms around him, wincing at the pain in my hand.
"Ivan take Rose away while I take care of this." Dimitri said icily. "Get her some ice for her hand."
"What? Don't kill him, Dimitri! Please!" I yelled, not recognizing the fear in my voice.
"Now, Ivan!" Dimitri yelled as Ivan rushed into action by putting me over his shoulder.
"Ivan please put me down! You can't let Dimitri become a murder! He's a good man."
"Rose, calm down! We don't murder people. But Dashkov needs a lesson, he had it coming."
"Dashkov? That's that asshole's name? Who is he?"
Ivan sighed, as he put me down inside a kitchen. "His name is Viktor Dashkov, he's the biggest competitor we have and because he's been around for a longer than us he thinks that our company is no competition. So he makes it his personal mission to fuck with us and he isn't very happy about Zelig wanting to work with us. He didn't think it through, though, messing with you was the last straw. "
As Ivan began to rummage through the kitchen, I pointed at the freezer "I think the ice is over there. Why would Dimitri care?"
"You really did some damage there, Mrs. Belikov." He said as he handed me the makeshift icepack. "You forget you're his wife. If it's one thing we Russians hold dear, it's our wives and our mothers."
I shook my head, I looking down at my throbbing hand. "It's the first time, I punch someone in the face. I took self-defense classes but I hadn't had the need to use what I'd learned maybe that's the reason I ended up banging out my hand worse than the damage I caused."
Dimitri's POV
It was the second time we kissed. And I wished I could continue to lie to myself and say it meant nothing. Especially when I could still taste her on my lips. It was good to see that I wasn't the only one affected as Rose had now excused herself from the table, but not before I could see that lovely shade of pink on her cheeks.
"Where are you off to, Belikov?" Ivan said as he appeared by my side.
"Fuck off, asshat. What the heck were you thinking?"
"You know instead of telling me off you, should be thanking me."
I flipped him off. "Help me find Rose."
"Why you want seconds?" The idiot grinned, but he lost it when I gave him a murdering look. "I saw her go into the ladies room, when I busy with another little lady."
When we reached the restroom, there was a loud noise, as if a body had fallen. I opened the door I found Rose kicking a man. A man I knew way too well—Viktor Dashkov. What the fuck?
I tried calling her name but she wouldn't listen, at least until I wrapped my arms around her.
"Shush, Rose, it's me." My little spitfire was ready to go down fighting.
"Oh, thank god," she whispered as she turned around and hugged me back not before I noticed that she winced. Her hand was starting to get swollen.
"Ivan take Rose away while I take care of this" I said trying to reign over my temper. "Get her some ice for her hand."
"What? Don't kill him, Dimitri! Please!" She yelled.
She needed to leave before I lost my temper. No one ever hurt my people. And we whether she knew it or not, she was now part of my family and under my protection. "Now, Ivan!"
Rose's voice could still be heard outside. I looked down at Viktor's mocking face. "She has some spirit, I'll give her that. I was just telling her what a pity her father chose you over myself. I think I could've put an end to that unruly temper."
"Fuck off, Dashkov," I said while my fist connected to his jaw. "If you ever get close to her again or anyone else with the Belikov name, I'll end you myself if I have to." I said leaving his crumpled form in the ladies room.
"Trust me you won't ever have to use your knowledge in self-defense," I said as I signaled Ivan to leave us alone. He nodded. "How's your hand?"
"I think it could be broken, but I'm not sure." She said testing out the movement of her wrist. Letting out a small whimper.
"Here, let me see." I said taking her wrist in mine. The skin over her knuckles was broken and how I wished I'd punched Dashkov harder. "I don't think it's broken, I think it's just sprained."
"I hope so, but it still hurts like hell." She winced.
"Come one, we're going home. Too much action for one night."
"We just got here, you can't disappear. What about the rest of the event?"
I was amazed that even after hurting herself, she still worried about me. About the event, idiot, not you.
"You just said it, Mrs. Belikov, I'm the boss. I can go as I please and right now I'm not in the mood to have to deal with anyone. Ivan and Tasha will take care of the rest. So what will it be, to go home or to stay and dance some more?"
"You're giving me a choice?"
"Should we go out and dance some more?" I teased.
"Home." She answered.
Home… It was definitely felt more like it these days, than just a house.
*.*.*.*.*.*
Rose's POV
Celia almost had fit when I didn't let het keep fussing over my hand. "I'm okay, Celia, really. I think with the pain killers and the salve will be enough. I just need to get some sleep."
"She's right Celia," Dimitri said as he put the bandage carefully over my bum hand. "Don't worry, I'll take care of her."
With a reluctant sigh, she left us alone in our room.
"I'm sorry," we said in unison.
I laughed. "What are you sorry for? I was the one throwing punches, not your fault."
"I should've made sure you never met him. It was my fault for not taking care of security the way I should've." He looked down at my now bandaged hand.
"It would've happened either way, from what Ivan told me about that man. What I didn't understand was why did he imply there was a possibility I could've married him?" I shuddered.
That was a piece of information that rolled around in my thoughts as soon as that horrible man had mentioned it. Did he know my father? I felt sick.
Dimitri held my chin. "Don't. Dashkov is despicable human being and he would do and say anything to get under your skin, it's not personal. He just meant it as a way of fucking with me."
I looked at his face, hoping honest to goodness that Abe and that man had no connection. Before I could dwell more on the situation, I looked at Dimitri's feet resting on atop of the comforter.
He was wearing the crocs.
When he noticed me staring, he shrugged. "They're really comfortable. Hideous still, but comfortable."
We stayed in silence some more, until Dimitri picked up a book from his nightstand. "You should get some sleep, I'll keep watch."
I cracked a smile looking at the tittle of the book The Log of a Cowboy. But he was right, I was getting sleepy from the medication. "You know what, Dimitri for our first event as a married couple, it didn't turn out so bad. You really know how to show a girl a good time."