Charlie
My clothesfrom the day before have been washed and left in a neat pile on the dresser when I wake the next morning. Even the mustard stain is gone.
The bed is empty, and the other side is chilled when I stretch my arms out. I’m not sure what piece of heaven the Romanovs stole to make this bed, but I’m all for it. I’ve never had such a deep sleep before. Though that could also have been thanks to the exhaustion from waiting up for Nikolai. It was past one in the morning when I finally gave over to my heavy eyelids and drifted off.
If the other side of the bed wasn’t messed the way it is, I would have thought he hadn’t come to bed at all. But there’s also a moment that I recall. It was brief, and I was stuck in that limbo spot of sleep where I couldn’t open my eyes, but my brain was still aware. I’d felt a heavy arm drape over my stomach and was dragged inches across the bed. It was a source of warmth, and I’d snuggled into it then fell right back to sleep.
Digging around my purse, I find my elastic band and work my hair into a thick braid. It’s still early enough that I’ll be able to stop at my apartment to grab a shower before heading down to the sandwich shop. I run my hands down my shirt; it’s been pressed too. At least I’ll look somewhat put together for my walk of shame.
I hate that term.
What do I have to be ashamed of? So, I had sex with a mob boss to keep him from breaking my brother’s legs—or worse. At least it’s over and I can concentrate on getting the new ovens for the store, and maybe even starting an online order portal. We need to modernize to keep up with the chains that keep cropping up around us. There’s no time to get stuck in the past.
I quietly close the bedroom door when I step into the hallway. I’m not sure exactly who sleeps in all of these other bedrooms, but I don’t want to disturb anyone who might still be sleeping.
Viktor, my babysitter from last night, stands at the elevator with his hands folded in front of him, his eyes cast off into the distance. He’s a regular guard dog.
I flash a smile anyway, because why leave with such sour feelings. It’s awkward enough without making an argument of it.
“Where are you going?” Nikolai’s voice carries through the foyer from behind me.
Did Viktor’s lips just twitch?
“I’m going home,” I say while turning around to face him.
He’s fully dressed for the day in a black suit and tie. If I didn’t know who he was, I’d think he was heading to Wall Street for the day.
“You’re doing what?” His brow rises. The leather soles of his shoes click softly against the tiling as he finishes approaching me. “I must have heard you wrong.” He presses two fingers to the back of his ear, like he’s trying to hear me better.
“No, you heard right,” I grin. I’m not sure where my boldness has crept out of, maybe it’s from the deep sleep I had last night. “I’m going home. I’ll get a cab,” I say, just in case he thinks I’m getting in a car with Viktor.
“You’re wearing your uniform.” His gaze roams down over my body like a man who’s had one bite, but still wants the whole pie.
“Well, I wasn’t going home in your dress.”
“Your dress. It’s yours now,” he corrects with a finger up in the air. “What makes you think you can just come and go as you please?”
I blink a few times, not really sure how to process what he’s trying to say.
“Because I can,” I finally say, but the look on his face makes me second guess my statement.
“What was the offer you made yesterday?” He steps even closer to me, taking up the space that gave me a false sense of security. Now he can touch me. Now he can grab me. Now, if he just leaned down, he could kiss me.
“Last night—”
He presses his finger to my lips. “What was the exact offer? What did you say when I asked what you could offer?” He slides his finger down from my mouth.
I remember that moment. A second of insanity that had led to this moment of craziness.
“I said me.” I shrugged. “But, last night—”
He leans down, his aftershave wrapping me in its warm musk, to my ear. “As good as last night was, Charlotte, do you think it was enough to satisfy a quarter of a million dollar debt?”
A shiver runs down my spine and heat blasts across my face.
That’s exactly what I had thought.
One night for one debt.