She looks me over carefully. “A dream for you?”
“For some.” I keep my smile. “Being a woman in this world isn’t easy, but I’m sure you’ve heard that plenty. You give me hope.”
She blinks a few times. “Thank ... thank you?”
“Promise me something, stranger to stranger.” I lean over to her. “Don’t let those men change you or cage you. And perhaps, if you find you or your men could use a business partner – strictly business – consider a well-trained currently leashed woman.”
Valerie just watches me. I incline my head and my smile comes right back. “I appreciate your time. If you leave Hunter waiting for long, he might come and grab you.”
“Not might.” She laughs lightly. “Enjoy your night, Juliana.”
I nod and return to my table like a good girl. Dad gives me a subtle thumbs up. He loves to see me mingling. I sit in the chair and look around. “I made an appearance. I’m ready to go.”
“Don’t be like that, Juliana,” Gio says, leaning closer. “Don’t you want to have fun?”
I smirk and lean my head to the side. “What kind of fun do you have in mind?”
“We can dance, socialize, catch up. I missed you at dinner.” His eyes flick to Konstantin with a darkness there. Something like jealousy. “We haven’t gotten to talkalonesince college.”
I pout. “All you want to do is talk? Have I lost my charm?”
“Jul-”
I lean back towards Konstantin. “What about you, big man? Am I less appealing than I was at sixteen?”
He shakes his head.
“You didn’t even look.” I motion to my body and the dress I have as a second skin.
He takes a slow breath and peruses me slowly. When his eyes return to mine, there’s no blush, no hint of anything. “You are impeccable.”
I snort and sit up. “I’m going home. You can follow or-”
“My orders are to keep you here,” Konstantin reports.
“Shame. I was hoping you’d pull me into some dark room and make tonight memorable.”
“We’re here to support someone else, Juliana. To make friends with the right people. Don’t be so selfish,” Gio orders.
I snort. “You sound anymore like your father and I’m going to go from potentially fuckable to a nun.”
Gio’s eyes flit over me and I wait for him to say something. When he doesn’t, I feel my temper bubble. “You’ve been around my father for too long. It’s not selfish to want to go home when I’m barely looked at as more than Daddy’s precious little doll.”
I stand up just as Mr. Volkov Senior starts a speech. No one even glances at me. They’re all focused on the speech. They’re well-behaved. They’ve been brainwashed or learned their place in the world of old money. But that’s not me.
I don’t want to just float on the wealth I have, spend money, and smile when Dad finally chooses a man for me to marry. I want to make waves. I want to part oceans. I want to take control just like I did in college.
Dad gave me some freedom back then as long as I wasn’t by his side. Then Mom died and I suddenly can’t be trusted to make my own decisions, and choose good people to have in my life. I’m over it. I refuse to live like this.
Not when women like Valerie exist. Not when I know I’m capable of more. If that means splitting hairs or dealing with Dad’s temper. I will. I walk out of the mansion and note all the security guards. I know that Gio or Konstantin will be coming for me.
I don’t want them in trouble, but being assigned to me is a way for Dad to let out his frustration on someone. He knows he can’t keep me in time out forever and just wants an excuse to be a brute.
Gio makes it out first. He grabs my wrist. “You need to grow up, Juliana.”
“Let me and I will.” I try to jerk my arm back. “I shouldn’t have to tolerate this.”
“This life is dangerous, or do you need some reminding? You have money. Peoplewantmoney. Wasn’t that clear with the near mugging earlier?”