Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 56280 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56280 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
“Pregnancy,” the billionaire said mildly, “has made you remarkably weird.”
Fredericka laughed.
“You still haven’t told me why you looked so sad.”
“It’s Alyx,” she said. “That’s all I can really say.”
Ah. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
She laid her head back on his chest. “If you ever end up falling for someone else—-”
“It will never happen,” he interrupted flatly.
“But if it does,” she insisted, “but you also think it’s just a passing thing, then...don’t tell me, okay? Just let it pass and then come back to me.”
“Is this about the Beasts article?”
She asked in a small voice, “You know about that?”
“It broke the Internet, pchelka,” the billionaire said dryly. “It would be impossible for me not to know it when the article’s considered more viral than a woman’s naked butt.”
“Are you still seeing Elsa Nilsson?” she blurted out.
“No.”
“What about Madeline Carter? Or any other woman that—-”
“If that’s a serious question,” he said easily, “then I just might strangle you.”
She laughed.
“Or I can just take that little box out—-”
She gasped.
“And make your heart jump in terror because if you see me go on bended knee, you know I’ll just make you swoon and I’ll have my family record every damn second—-”
She wrapped her arms around him, laughing harder even as her heart tried hammering a hole out of her chest. “Shut up.” Her voice was muffled against his neck. “I hate it, you know.” She hugged him more tightly. “I hate it that so many women know your body, and I hate it that they’re all prettier than I am.”
“They’re not.”
“Liar.”
“I’m not lying, pchelka.” His voice was matter-of-fact. “You are the only woman who turns me on. Does that not make you the only beautiful woman in my eyes as well?”
She pulled away, sniffing, “Oh, Sergei.”
He smiled at her. “Do you think I can propose to you now?”
She quickly hugged him again, hiding her expression from his gaze. “No.” He always asked this question every night, and it hurt that always had to turn him down. Swallowing, she added haltingly, “Or at least...not just yet.” Fredericka squeezed her eyes shut. Please God, please, please, please help me trust him.
Chapter Sixteen
It was half-past eight in the evening when a matte black chopper bearing the logo of Grachyov Enterprises landed on the helipad of the family’s corporate headquarters. The CEO and president of the company, Fyodor Grachyov, was the first one to step out, followed closely by his eldest son Sergei.
Seeing the executives lined up to greet them, Fyodor grinned, and the sight of it had everyone cheering. It meant that another multibillion-dollar-deal had been successfully closed, and as was tradition for the company, it also meant bonuses for everyone, all the way down to the rank and file.
When Sergei joined him, Fyodor said, “You’re doing it again.”
“What?” It was hard to hear his father over the deafening roar coming from the chopper, whose engine was still running.
This time, Fyodor waited until they made it to the elevator and were on their way down to the lobby. Turning to his son, he said, “You were doing it again: smiling without reason.”
“You must be mistaken.”
“Nyet.” A grin curling on his lips, Fyodor continued matter-of-factly. “I’ve instructed security to make sure they save the footage of every instance they see you doing it. It shall be my wedding gift for Fredericka, a scrapbook full of your candid photos.”
Sergei cursed, and his father laughed.
By the time the pair made it to the lobby, the two was arguing heatedly, with Sergei threatening to resign as vice president if Fyodor pushed on with his plans.
On their way out of the building, Sergei’s phone vibrated, and Fyodor saw his son’s face harden as he read his text.
“Is it Fredericka?” he asked abruptly.
“No,” Sergei said slowly. “But it is a matter that does require my immediate attention.” Looking up, he asked apologetically, “Can you let Fredericka know I will be a bit late?”
“It can’t be about work, can it?” Although he had been gradually increasing Sergei’s workload in preparation for his son’s eventual promotion to CEO, Fyodor still knew everything that went on with his company. Right now, he couldn’t think of anything related to work that would warrant such concern.
Knowing his father would keep on digging until he was given a satisfactory answer, Sergei lied, “I need to meet with Elsa Nilsson, and you must keep it from Fredericka.”
Fyodor’s face became grim. “Are you cheating on your fiancée?”
“No, but Elsa is threatening to make up stories about us, and I’m only meeting her to teach the woman a lesson.”
“Then there is no need to lie about it.”
He shook his head. “You know how Fredericka is, Papa. She still has issues, and until I have my ring on her finger, I’m not taking any risk that could cause her to bolt.”