Chapter 31
ALEXEI
As soon as we’re back home, I head to the security room.
I haven’t been able to stop thinking of Madame Keller and St. Monarch’s.
Taking a seat behind the security system, I make a couple of calls to government officials in Switzerland that are on my payroll. It takes me three hours and a substantial amount of money to sweep everything under the proverbial carpet.
Demitri looks at me when I let out a sigh. “This couldn’t wait?”
I shake my head as I dial Madame Keller’s number.
‘Mr. Koslov.’
“Thank you for leaving the premises,” I say, needing to get it out of the way.
‘You didn’t give me much choice in the matter,’ she replies, her voice tight.
“I’m calling to make a deal,” I get to the point.
Madame Keller lets out a burst of laughter. ‘For entertainment value, I’ll listen.’
“I’ve already covered things in Switzerland. I’ll rebuild St. Monarch’s and reimburse your losses while the doors are closed.”
There’s only one thing on this planet Madame Keller is interested in, and that’s money.
A chuckle sounds in my ear. ‘Add a one hundred percent fine, and we have a deal.’
I pull a pained face. “What amount are we looking at?”
‘How long will it take you to rebuild St. Monarch’s?’
Christ, probably a year at the quickest.
“A year?”
‘You don’t sound certain.’
“A year, Madame Keller,” I repeat.
‘I expect a payment of a hundred million for the loss of income and another hundred for the fine.’
I take a deep breath that makes my ribs ache and let it slowly. That’s one hell of a blow to my bank account. “Deal.” I glance at Demitri. “Transfer two hundred to St. Monarch’s.”
“Thousand?” Demitri asks.
“Million. Euros.”
Demitri gives me a look, silently asking if I’m crazy.
“Do it.”
He shrugs, then turns to the system, and after making the payment, he nods at me.
“Done. Is there anything else I can do to apologize?” I ask.
‘Hmm… a partnership, so something like this never happens again. You just bought a ten percent share in St. Monarch’s, Mr. Koslov. Congratulations.’
I let out a soft burst of laughter. “There’s always a plot twist when it comes to you.”
‘Of course, at my age, I have to get my kicks where I can.’
“So the war is over?” I ask to make sure.
‘It’s over. I trust you’ll make every effort to rebuild St. Monarch’s to its former glory.’
“I will.”
‘Will there be anything else, Mr. Koslov?’ Madame Keller asks.
“No. Thank you for your time and leniency,” I reply, and then she ends the call.
“Care to explain?” Demitri asks, leaning back in his chair.
I set the phone down on the desk. “I just bought ten percent’s shares in St. Monarch’s, and we have to rebuild the castle.”
“Doesn’t explain shit,” he mutters.
I lock eyes with him. “Madame Keller is old, Demitri. She’s making sure there’s someone who will take over St. Monarch’s once she’s gone.”
Demitri begins to laugh. “And that someone is you? Christ. God help everyone.”
I shake my head, and it has him saying, “I’m not fucking taking over St. Monarch’s.”
“Not you. Carson. He hates being an assassin, and he has a fondness for Switzerland.”
Demitri’s eyebrow pops up. “That’s actually a good idea.”
I give him a scowl. “Do I ever have bad ideas?”
Demitri starts to laugh. “You? Never.”
“Fucker.”
Climbing to my feet, an ache spreads through my chest.
“Where are you going?” Demitri asks.
“To look for sympathy from my fiancée,” I mutter as I walk out of the security room to go look for Isabella.
I find her in our bedroom, where she’s pulling clothes from the walk-in closet.
“What are you doing?” I ask as I gingerly sit down on the edge of the bed.
“I don’t need these,” she says, pointing to the bunch of dresses. “I only wore them to fool my mother.”
Tilting my head, I ask, “Why do you call Sonia your mother?”
Isabella glances at me. “Because she is… was.”
“Did she do anything to deserve the title?”
Isabella drops a dress on the pile. “You have a point.”
“Of course,” I smirk.
She walks toward me, and pressing her palm to my jaw, she leans down and kisses me, then she asks, “How do you feel?”
“Like I need tender, loving care,” I say as I scoot back on the bed. Lying down, I watch as Isabelle begins to pull off my boots.
You’d think it would be degrading to have her tend to me, but it’s not. I fucking love that she’s doting on me.
Isabella comes to sit on the side of the bed. “Is there anything I can get you?”
I shake my head. “Come lie down next to me.”
She gets up and moves around the bed, then lies down facing me.
We stare at each other for a moment, and then she asks, “When did you fall in love with me?”
A smile spreads over my face. “The moment I learned my party crasher was the goddess of mischief and chaos.”
Her lips curve up. “You really have a way with words.”
“Is that why you fell for me?” I ask.
“No.” Isabella scoots a little closer, careful not to jar my body. “I fell for you because you were my salvation.”
I give her a questioning look, and it has her explaining. “I wouldn’t have lasted long on my own. You might’ve taken me in the beginning, but in return, you gave me the freedom to be myself.”
“Which is a badass woman who doesn’t listen to me,” I mutter.
Isabella lets out a huff. “You’re back to that again? Winter needed my help.”
“I know, but as soon as I can move without feeling like I’m dying, I’m still going to spank you for giving me a heart attack.”
Grinning, she leans closer, pressing a kiss to my lips. “That’s if you can actually pin me down long enough to spank me.”
“Is that a dare?” I ask.
“No, I’m just giving you some motivation to get better faster.”