Chapter 11
Elena’s POVI
My mind kept echoing with Nikolai’s words from earlier.
My
One week.
I had one week to convince my mother to attend this… marriage. Fuck.
The thought tightened in my chest like a noose
Then my eyes shifted to the rack of dresses the employee had just hung on the dressing room hooks. His polite smile lingered before he asked, “Would like my assistance in anything else, mis?”
not
I returned his smile with a tight one of my own and shook my head. “No, thank you.“”
He nodded and exited the room, leaving me alone with the fabric and my spiraling thoughts.
Select one. Nikolai had said.
Was this a test? Some odd
assessment of
My style?
What was the point now! We had already signed the contract. He had already gotten what he wanted.
Hadn’t he!
1 bit my lower lip, chewing at the question rising inside me.
What did he mean by celebrating!
And why had he pulled away when he’d gotten so close so close to kissing me!
I stared at the dresses, the overhead lights making their soft colors glow in the reflection of the mirror. My gur twisted.
Let’s be real, this man–Nikolai Vetrov–was definitely in this for the sex. That much was clear. This contract, this night, all of it was a transaction
Which meant I was probably about to be taken to dinner, maybe a few more smiles and pleasantries, and then! Either a hotel or his penthouse. My stomach churned at the thought. Not because I was afraid–but because I wasn’t
That was somehow worse.
I let o
out a long breath and looked over the dresses again
Three choices.
The beige linen one was comfortable, sure. But it looked like loungewear. Something I’d hear to water the plants or drink tea on a Sunday morning
-not something for a billionaire’s version of celebration.
The white one was a fantasy. It was something a goddess would wear, shimmering and ethereal, designed to cling to every curve. I would probably look like I was drowning in tinsel. So that was a no
Which left me with the soft green chiffon dress.
It was elegant but not flashy. Feminine without tryi
trying too hard. It looked like something that could belong to someone like me.
Decision made, I reached behind me and began unzipping my black dress
The funeral dress
sun or exerted
The one I hadn’t taken off all day. I wrinkled my nose and gave myself a quick sniff. No body odor, thankfully. I hadn’t been in the sun or myself. Sull I felt like I was dragging a two–day–old version of myself around.
My stomach grumbled audibly.
the last fin
Time
TEM
Ah. That sandwich from the hospital cafeteria. The one Nikolai had wordlessly handed me while wo
we were waiting for the doctor.
I sighed as I zipped up the green dress, smoothing it down over my hips. The fabric was soft, flowy–light against my skin.
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8.35 PM
Chapter II
As I stepped out of the dressing room, the first thing I noticed was the way his eyes found me instantly.
Standing across the boutique, looking directly at me.
There was a flicker of something unreadable in his expression–something intense and dark and focused. The kind of look that made your spine straighten without realizing.
I felt my cheeks heal
I wasn’t the shy type. I didn’t flinch under male attention. Hell, I’d had a fiance who couldn’t keep his hands to himself. But with Nikolai. it wasn’t just attention.
It was scrutiny. Deep and unapologetic. Intense.
And
worse. It made me feel things
Things I didn’t want to feel
Especially not tonight.
I cleared my throat. “What’s wrong? Do you not like this dress?”
His gaze flicked down, then up again. “No. Actually, it’s perfect”
I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. “Yeah. The fabric’s soft,” I said, touching the skirt absently. “And I like the color
Green had always been my favorite color.
A fresh ache bloomed in my chest.
Dmitri knew that
No. Don’t go there.
But the memory crept in anyway. Our first date. The green gift box he had prepared for me–filled with green–themed snacks, chips, pastries, candies, even a lime soda. We had laughed through trying every single one. Some were terrible. Some were delicious. It was silly. Sweet Thoughtful
I had been one of the reasons I fell for him
Because on that day, he hadn’t tried to impress me with wealth. He hadn’t famed the Vetrov name. He had met me on my level–created something fun, meaningful
But that was a long time ago.
Before I learned that Dmitri had no idea how to love someone unless they were easy to lito.
I swallowed and looked away.
We paid and exited the store. Nikolai didn’t say much, and I was grateful for it.
By the time we reached the restaurant–a sleek, modern place with warm lighting and live piano music–I was already mentally checking the clock. Dinner. Then hotel. Then whatever came next
My stomach was too knotted to feel excited.
We ate. I don’t even remember what I ordered–something with sauce, something soft. He picked a wine that paired well with it, naturally.
Hu guze was steady the entire time, but not invasive.
Afterward, le uood, held my coat, and led me to the car.
We drove
We stopped.
A hotel
Right next to the hospital
Chapter 11
Convenient
My throat tightened as we stepped inside. The staff greeted Nikolai like they knew him. Maybe they did. Maybe this was one didn’t look at me as he checked us in didn’t ask for two brys, Just took one, slid it into his coat pocket, and turned.
one of his usul places. He
“Come on.”
I followed him silently.
The suite was large. Clean. Expensive. A bottle of wine rested on the table beside a tray of chocolate–dipped strawberries. The windows opened out to a wide city view.
He set his jacket on the back of a chair and began unbuttoning his cuffs
My heart thudded.
I knew what was next. This was part of the contract. This was what I agreed to.
He was being patient, giving me space–but the expectation hung in the air like electricity before a storm.
I moved toward the bathroom.
take a quick shower,” I said, not quite meeting his eyes
He nodded once. “Take your time.”
Inside the bathroom, I turned on the water and let it hear while I stared at my reflection
Was I really going to do this?
I wasn’t a virgin. I wasn’t innocent. But this wasn’t just sex. It was something else. Something transactional, Something I had agreed to with a pen and a clause.
But it didn’t feel forced.
It just felt surreal 1 was doing this with someone other than Dmitri. Dmitri who I have been with for over four years. It was hard. Even after his betrayal, I couldn’t just press a button inside of me and forget everything about us. Everything about him or what I felt for him.
So it felt dangerously close to betrayal. Which felt cruel to me. Why was I feeling this way! Why co
Why couldn’t I st
I showered quickly. My hair dripped onto the hotel’s plush towel as I wrapped it around myself
The hotel robe was thick, luxurious. I put it on, cinching the belt tightly at my waist.
And then I stepped out,
Nikolai turned his head.
And his eyes widened.
I stop feeling this way?
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