“Price limit, no more than twenty-five thousand. As far as brand, I do not care, the one that meets her parameters is all that matters. Classic is what comes to mind when I consider Elise’s purchases over the years I have known her—nothing flashy. Take a picture before having it sent to her home, so I know what you purchased on my behalf.”
“You don’t want to sign a card for her?”
I shake my head. Tim’s voice comes through, asking if I’m available. I tell him to send it through and try to focus on it, not Christina’s round ass as she walks away.
***
Christina
As I walk into the exclusive jewelry store, I sigh. Shopping for a gift for another woman from Ivan has me wanting to stab him in the eye with a letter opener. It doesn’t matter that Elise Markhoff is madly in love with her husband, as Lydia had mentioned. I hate the idea of him buying any woman anything. And a twenty-five-thousand-dollar gift at that, I mean, come on. Did he really need to buy her something so expensive?
Then I cringe when I think of how much he spent on me today. Lydia had laughed when I expressed concern over how much things were adding up. She told me her limit was set for thirty thousand and he told her not to stop until she met it. Which is how she also talked me into bras and panties in more styles and color than I have ever had in my life. Before I left, she also tucked a card into my purse for a lingerie shop that she promised would bring Ivan to his knees.
She then giggled when she clarified the thirty thousand was for clothes, there was a further five thousand for shoes. I shudder as I consider what Abuelo will say when everything is delivered today. Yet I can’t dredge up any regret.
Lydia made the whole thing fun, something I never thought I would think of when it came to shopping. She was honest, without being mean and she gave sincere, sweet compliments freely. By the time it was over, I felt she was a friend.
A very bossy friend but a friend nonetheless, she reminded me of Anna when she ordered me through the shoe department. Of course I needed more than one color if I loved the shoes so much. I have never owned more than five pairs of shoes at one time in my life. Now I have five pairs of red flats alone. It was a relief when Lydia didn’t act as if me refusing to wear high heels was a big deal like other women did. All that mattered was I was comfortable in whatever I wore. I lost track of how many pairs of shoes I ended up with.
I was proud of myself when I got into the car. Ivan liked what he saw—he liked it a lot. I heard his breath catch when he noticed the slit in my skirt. Air was trapped in my lungs as he reached out and pulled the clip out of my hair. His eyes were glowing with appreciation as he watched my hair fall. Then the bastard went back to ignoring me.
After talking to Lydia, I’m resolute in my previously half-hearted plan. No maybes—I’m all in. And I’m making a trip to the lingerie store.
***
Ivan
Entering into the quiet back of the restaurant I find Dmitri waiting, with Elise beside him.
Elise offers her cheek. I brush my lips against the skin lightly, careful not to linger. Dmitri loathes another man touching his wife. As always, I respect his feeling and never do so without her invitation. She once admitted she gets touchy to make him jealous, as it turns him into an animal. Not often, she defended herself, just when they both need to be reminded not to get complacent.
“I love my watch, it’s gorgeous, thank you so much. Seriously, it’s perfect. We got here early so I could order a souffle. I ordered one for you as well. If you don’t want it, I’ll take it home for the nanny. Sit, sit. I need to hear more about this Christina.”
“Sweetheart, give the man five minutes to order his lunch. I ordered you a whiskey. Sorry, I didn’t warn you she was tagging along. She stopped by for lunch unaware I had scheduled you for today.”
I shrug. Elise here does not surpris
e me. The woman is clever, I am unsure if she learned it from her husband or if she was naturally so before she met him. A waitress appears. I give my order.
Before the woman walks away Elise is tapping the table. “Okay, spill it tall, dark, and mysterious.”
I exhale a small laugh. I am never sure how she manages to elicit laughter from me against my will.
“Dmitri, that was his first laugh. It counts. Come on, you’re killing me here.”
Shaking my head, I sip deep on my whiskey. “There is nothing to tell. She is an employee. I do not have relationships with employees. Especially not one as profitable as she is.”
Dmitri’s eyebrows go up. He and I are of the same thought: employees should always be off limits. Yet he fell for his wife and ensured her as his employee to keep her close. “An employee?”
“She was the assistant of one of my acquisition managers. Except she has been doing his job for the last few years. Her picks are brilliant. Her insight cannot be taught, her instincts are sharp. The woman is responsible for almost thirty percent of my income for the last three years. I will not endanger losing her as an employee for a few weeks of her in my bed. It would not be worth it.”
“Boo, you’re putting money before love?” Elise frowns.
I sigh as I finish my whiskey. I am going to require another. “Love.” I barely manage not to roll my eyes. “If there is such a thing, I do not do it. Sex is the only thing I am interested in.”
“Oh lord, not this again. You are going to be forty this year. Don’t you think it’s time to let go of the whole I’m-an-island-unto-myself thing? It’s okay to let people in. You might even like it.”
My eyes meet Dmitri’s, he reads the message. He steers the conversation away from Christina to their plans for a party for Elise’s birthday. As usual they extend an invitation. As usual I decline with an excuse they accept.