Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 78511 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78511 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
“How do you always get ready so quickly?” she complains as she rushes to her bedroom.
I follow her and sit down on the edge of her bed.
Abbie continues with her makeup, and before brushing on her mascara, she meets my gaze in the mirror, asking, “How are you holding up?”
I shrug. “It’s confusing and heartbreaking. I’d much rather crawl into bed than go to dinner.”
Continuing with her makeup, she says, “Later tonight, we can order comfort food and lie in bed talking so you can get it all off your chest.”
“I think it’s going to take more than one night,” I whisper.
I’ve built him up in my mind and heart so much it might take another two years to break all the dreams down.
“Take all the time you need.” Abbie applies her ruby red lipstick, then she turns to look at me. “But I think you should give him hell. Flirt with him, and the harder he fights, the harder you make it for him.” She wags her eyebrows. “Pun intended.”
“Yeah, I don’t know about that. I can’t flirt with the man if he kills me,” I reply sardonically, resting my chin on my palm.
“That’s the beauty of being at St. Monarch’s,” Abbie says with a mischievous grin. “He can’t kill you.”
“Oh wow, I feel so lucky,” I mutter. “Besides, you’re the one with all the flirting skills. I’m the one who suffers from secondhand embarrassment.” Wanting to change the subject, I say, “That come-on line you used on Nikolai Vetrov was downright cringy.”
“Ugh, I know.” She gets up from the stool and hands her black diamond choker to me to help fasten around her neck. “It’s all I could come up with. The man is unnervingly attractive.”
“Oooh… Is it possible Abigail Sartori has met her match?” I tease as I click the choker’s latch into place.
She turns around to face me, excitement shining from her soft brown eyes. “I have a dare for you.”
“No-no-no,” I say, letting out a chuckle.
“Come on, it will be fun.” As we leave the bedroom, she says, “I’ll try to win Nikolai over, and you do the same with Misha. Whoever gets her man first gets one wish from the other.”
“I wish you wouldn’t come up with these dares,” I mutter. “The last time I lost, you had me jumping out of a plane.”
Leaving the suite, Abbie laughs at the memory. “That was fun.” She takes hold of my hand. “Do it just to show the asshole you’re a mafia princess who doesn’t fear him. Do it for yourself.”
“How will flirting with him show him I’m a mafia princess? I think I’ll only come across as desperate,” I voice my opinion.
“You’ll show him you don’t back down, and you’re not afraid of anything.” She tugs me to a stop at the top of the stairs. “I’m never wrong when it comes to men, and I’m one hundred and one percent certain the man is attracted to you. The spark between the two of you was hot enough to make me overheat.”
Abbie’s words give me a flicker of hope. In the past, she’s always been right about guys.
“Think about it.”
“Okay,” I give in.
We head down the stairs, and as we reach the bottom, I glance toward the front doors. My eyes connect with Misha’s as he blows out a cloud of smoke while handing a cigarette over to Alek.
Like earlier, his intense gaze sweeps over me, from my heels to my hair, then his eyes flick away from me, and he says something in Russian to his friends, which makes them laugh.
I’m too far away to make out the exact words, but from how they’re laughing, I’m guessing it’s about me.
“Come, Ra-Ra,” Abbie murmurs, pulling me toward the dining hall.
When we step into the room, I glance over the tables where other guests are already enjoying dinner. Some look our way, and most of the men take a moment to admire Abbie’s beauty.
I don’t recognize anyone except Director Koslov and Nikolai.
“Lucky me. I get to talk to my Romeo,” Abbie sings, dragging me over to their table.
“Just don’t kill yourself for him like Juliet did,” I mutter.
“Ladies,” Director Koslov greets us with a nod of his head. He gestures to his wife, who looks the total opposite of what I expected.
Hell, I’m not sure what I expected, but it wasn’t a friendly-looking, gorgeous woman. I hope when I’m her age, I’ll look half as good as her.
“This is my wife, Hailey Koslov.” Then he gestures at Nikolai.
“We met earlier,” Abbie says, an alluring smile aimed right at Nikolai. “It was a pleasure.”
“I’m sure,” Nikolai mutters.
We all take a seat, and I end up between Hailey and Abbie, who’s beaming because she’s sitting next to Nikolai.
“Think of your father’s health,” I whisper so only she will hear.