And Jenna knew then that Dima was certain of his legal standing. Additionally, he was willing to use her own integrity against her, if it meant getting what he wanted. She’d signed that NDA in good faith, more than willing to promise to keep her friend’s secrets.
“So my brother and his company don’t matter?” Jenna asked, disillusioned in a way she had never been before.
Not even last night, when she’d thought he’d used sex as nothing more than a tool.
“We will determine if any harm has been done to his company and what can be done to mitigate it.” Dima said that like his promise was worth anything to her, and moreover that such a promise should be enough.
But how could she trust him to care about her brother’s company? Or her brother, for that matter, when it was so obvious he didn’t care about Jenna?
Jenna wanted to call Nataliya more than anything in that moment.
And knew it really was the last thing shecoulddo.
“Fine.” Jenna had no other words.
Her own sense of honor wouldn’t let her go forward with plans that might mean the world to her, but also violated a promise she’d made. Even if she hadn’t understood that promise to include a situation like this when she’d made it.
“Fine? Does that mean we are in agreement, then?” he asked.
“If you mean, do we agree that you have my hands tied? Yes.”
His jaw tautened, but he nodded. “Pressing charges would not have the all-encompassing benefit you seem to think.”
“Justice is not just a benefit.” It was something you either believed in, or you didn’t.
He obviously didn’t believe Jenna deserved it, or that the woman who had done her harm deserved to be served with it.
Dima frowned, but after a quick look at his watch, opened the door. “Shall we?”
“No.”
That stopped him. “You agreed.”
“You don’t need me in there to tell Skylar that she’s won and can go on to do exactly what she’s done to me to someone else.”
“That is not what is going to happen.”
But Jenna wasn’t listening. “Close the door on your way out.”
“Jenna—”
“We’re finished here. Now get out of my office, Your Highness.”
“I understand that you are upset—”
“Save it,” she interrupted again, absolutely done with this conversation.
The look on his face would have been funny if her heart wasn’t so sore. How had she left herself open to him and his family hurting her? Again?
Twice in twenty-four hours. Ignoring that would make her beyond foolish.
Being friends with a queen had its ups and downs, but for the first time, Jenna questioned whether staying in Nataliya’s life was worth it.
Instead of listening to her, Dima stepped back toward Jenna, like he was ready to talk this out.
Only she’d given him that kind of chance once already, and hours later he was betraying her again.
“No.” She shook her head, emphasizing her refusal to go there. “You have not only just told me that can I not seek justice for a terrible violation of my trust and privacy, but you have informed me that I cannot even tell my brother or other family about it. Not for his sake, not for mine.”