Chapter 10
Nikolai’s POV:
Okay, so maybe I had said something I shouldn’t have.
Obviously, I’m not used to cleaning, so yeah, I might suck at it. Tve never scrubbed a floor in my life, never done laundry either. But cooking? That’s different. Cooking is something I actually enjoy. Not that I had a habit of boasting about it.
It was just the way she looked at me, like I was some pampered, incompetent rich boy. And I knew I wasn’t. I’d worked for what I had. Maybe not from the bottom like some people, but I’d clawed my way to where I was, dragging the Vetrov name through fire to make it worth something other than scandal.
So why the hell was I trying so hard to prove myself to someone who was only going to be my wife for a year!
God, what was wrong with me.
I needed to shut this down. Compartmentalize. Focus.
This is a contract. A transaction. Nothing more.
She gave a small nod, her eyes flicking back to the contract. “Okay… cohabitating at my place until Mom’s better, then we can shift as needed”
Shit I couldn’t back out now. That would be going back on my word and that was one thing Nikolai Vetrov never did. “Alright,” I said, nodding. She kept reading, eyes scanning the upcoming pages. Then, she suddenly huffed a quiet laugh.
“I don’t think I have enough gowns to attend this many balls
Her sarcasm was dry, but the amusement in her eyes inade something twist in my chest.
“Don’t worry.” I said, smirking. “You’ll have more than enough to wear one every day of the year as my wife.
She blinked. Her mouth opened, then closed, and for once, she didn’t have a comeback.
It was… weirdly satisfying.
She sighed, brushing her hair behind her ear. The gesture was innocent, but the curve of her neck and the quiet vulnerability on her face hit me square in the gut. I looked away, swallowing tightly.
And then-
She signed it
Just like that.
A neat, elegant signature at the bottom of the page
She handed the pen back to me. Her hand brushed mine, and for a second, I didn’t move. Just stared at her. Her eyes, her posture, the slight tremble in her fingers.
She was trying so hard to stay composed. It was obvious.
“About the official ceremony..” she trailed off, a flicker of hesitation in her tone.
“You’re gonna have to give me a little time to get my mother to agree to come to the welding
“Would one week suffice?” I asked, trying to keep my voice neutral.
She blinked, surprised. Then she gave a slow nod, That’s okay. Yeah. That’ll be okay
Was she saying that to me or to herself!
We finished the wine. She stood up, stretching a little, and I gathered the signed file before locking it away in my office safe. When I turned around, she was standing by the window, arms crossed, the city lights flickering in her eyes,
I walked over.
“Now then, dear wife, I said smoothly, coming to a stop just a breath away. Her head turned, lips parting as she looked up at me. The light from the
Chapter 10
chandelier made her eyes look almost golden.
I could’ve kissed her.
God. I wanted to.
Instead, I leaned in slowly and pressed a kiss to her forehead. Her eyes widened. I smirked at the dumbfounded expression
“Shall we go and celebrate?”
She nodded wordlessly, still stunned,
Iled her out.
The evening was still young–barely past eight–and the air was cool as we exited the building Lunlocked the car, but this time, she didn’t try to open the door herself. Progress
She raised an eyebrow when she realized I was heading downtown. “Where are we going?”
“To get you a dress.”
I can just
home and change,” she said, looking mildly exasperated. “I haven’t showered in two days. I probably smell.
I leaned slightly closer, catching the warm notes of cinnamon and vanilla.
“You smell like antiseptic and stubbornness,” I said. “Not unpleasant.
She huffed a laugh, but didn’t argue further, I could see that she was uncomfortable and I had a hunch that she was worried about her mother.
I knew that worry was valid. However I also knew the doctor that had operated on her was the best amongst the best. And if he had said that Beatrix would recover, then she would.
Even though I wasn’t that good of a person. I wasn’t a complete asshole
I wanted to take her mind off of everything that she had just suffered in the past forty eight hours. It was strange…I had expected her to be constantly on the verge of tears when I had heard of her father’s untimely demise.
Especially when I learned that she was making her way to my office. Don’t get me wrong. I wasn’t stalking her or spying on her. Well..not at that time specifically. They were meant for my brother.
And when one of my men called to tell me about Elena walking in on Dori cheating on her. I had gotten just a bit uncomfortable.
I mean she was obviously in love with Dminti, why else would she have tolerated that idiot! So two heartbreaks in one day? Yeah, I was afraid that she might get into an accident. I had asked my men to follow her then, keep an eye on her and tell me if something happened.
I truly hadn’t expected the turn of events that would happen next. Her mother’s condition and the money to pay for it Even then, I hadn’t expected her to come to me. Not until I got the message that her destination was my office.
And I understood then.
We entered the luxury store where I knew Natalie–Dmitri’s mother, usually bought her clothes
However even as we walked inside, Elena didn’t gawk at the extravagance. Didn’t stop to run her hands over the silk or marvel at the prices. She simply walked behind me, arms crossed as she looked around..
Money didn’t faze her. It was obvious.
Her saying that she was marrying Dmitri for money was obviously a lie. I knew that kept track of his finances and she didn’t take even a penny for
him
I liked that. Not because I had some sort of aversion to gold diggers. I didn’t understand why people found that term degrading. Only mediocre men or impoverished ones would worry about their non–existent gold being dug. Women were expensive, obviously, men should be choosing one in their own price range. Not expect them to lower their standards.
The reason I liked that she hadn’t taken a penny from Dimitri was simple. Because that meant she wasn’t that comfortable with him. She loved him. But she clearly didn’t trust him. Something about that fact just made me feel…good?
I wandered through the aisles and selected three dresses
The first was a soft mossy green that would bring out the earthy tone in her eyes. Flowing, elegant, but understated,
The second-
2/3
|—a white, shimmering sheath that looked like it was stitched from moonlight and water. It would cling to her curves, catch the light like
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8:35 PM
Chapter 10
a second skin.
And the third–a simple beige linen dress. Clean lines. Comfortable. Nothing flashy.
Three options,
Three statements
I wanted to see which version of herself she’d choose to wear around me.
I turned and handed them to her.
“Pick one,” I said simply.
She raised an eyebrow, “Seriously?”
“Seriously
A store attendant appeared at her side like magic. “This way, miss
She followed him after taking the dresses from me, and I leaned back against the wall, arms folded.
This woman… she intrigued me in ways I wasn’t used to
Not because she was beautiful, though she was. Not because she was stubborn, though that helped. But because she didn’t want anything from me.
Not really.
She didn’t walk into this contract marriage for the money. But because she wan
