***
Royal knew her role in this situation, even before she set foot in Prague. Along with maintaining her husband, the children and the house, she would also be responsible for maintaining the peace between the women in the house. The men of the house were busy trying to find and get Gabriel back, so their hands were full. And she expected with the weight of their responsibility they would be all but absent from the house as they strategized in Dmitry’s office, and he worked in the barn.
But for everything explosive that was happening outside of their family circle, there were still many complications within, specifically with Briggy and the mysterious woman being housed in Gabriel’s private quarters.
There was also the tenuous situation between Briggy and Renee over Anatoly, which had to be handled delicately because of Briggy’s pregnancy and Renee’s mental state.
To keep things calmer, she had decided on keeping Briggy on the other side of the house out of view of the family. It seemed the smartest move to keep her from coming into contact with Gabriel’s friend before he had the opportunity to address it, and in the case that Dmitry did emerge from his meetings, out of his crosshairs. He had expressed on the plane how irritated he was with the woman’s presence and how their sour relationship had in some ways caused Gabriel to make some bad business decisions lately. She couldn’t say that she didn’t completely disagree.
Still, in order for her to know exactly what she was dealing with, she needed to have some face-time with Valeriya. After all, the woman was in her home among her family, and if she was going to be staying here, she needed to know just what type of woman she was. Plus, there was an ounce of curiosity that had peaked since they arrived. From what she had heard from her little spying maids, Dmitry had already called a meeting with her. And if he had talked to her already, there was no way she was going to be left out. So, she sent for the woman to meet her in the solarium for a late lunch.
Waiting patiently among beautiful flowers and potted trees with a breathtaking view of the grounds in the back of the house, she poured tea for her and her guest and waited for Valeriya to arrive.
“Think she’ll be nice?” Renee asked, fixing a hefty plate of chicken salad.
“I don’t know,” Royal said, looking toward the door. “Let’s hope she’s at least cordial.”
“I just want to know how she looks,” Renee joked. “For Gabriel to risk his life for her, she has to be a bad woman.”
“Same thing I thought,” Royal said, looking over at Renee’s outfit. “I think we overdressed.”
Renee looked down at her taupe silk dress and the matching snake-skinned shoes and laughed. “Yeah, maybe just a little bit, but don’t we always?”
“Good point.” Royal looked down at the diamonds on her hands and around her neck and felt guilty. “She’s coming from a poor, war torn country and we’re dripping in diamonds. We should have been more thoughtful.”
“What did Nadei get for her to wear?” Renee asked. “Did he send for something from the boutique?”
“This is Nadei we are talking about. He probably gave her some of the maids’ scrubs.” Royal rolled her eyes. “I’ll send for something for her.”
Just then, the door opened and Nadei stepped in. “Are you ready for her?” he asked, avoiding eye contact with Royal.
“Sure…” Royal paused at his busted lip. There must have been trouble. “Send her in,” she said, standing up.
Valeriya stepped inside of the room and looked around in amazement. The large room had panoramic glass windows and tall vaulted ceilings with beautiful wooden beams and elaborate crown molding. She had never been in a solarium before, but it was nice, pleasant and extremely relaxing. Honestly, she was expecting something more pretentious.
Making eye contact with Royal and Renee, she walked over to the table that had been prepared for them and smiled. Offering her hand, she shook Royal’s hand first and then Renee’s.
“It’s nice to meet you both,” Valeriya said sincerely. “Thank you for inviting me to lunch.” Initial impression of both women was favorable. They were as beautiful as Gabriel had described them and very well dressed. She couldn’t help but notice all the jewelry and the fine clothes, evidently a signature part of being a Medlov.
Royal liked Valeriya’s accent. She had a few lady friends in Moscow, who had the same sexy Russian accent. “We’re happy that you accepted,” she said, motioning toward the empty chair. “Please have a seat.”
Valeriya pulled her chair up to the table and looked at the spread with a watering mouth. Several tiered cake stands were filled with delicious cupcakes, pastries and tarts atop lace doilies and a flower-checkered tablecloth. Several dishes of chicken and tuna salad were offered along with a host of cheeses, veggies and dips. In real Medlov style, Royal had also ordered up their best vodka and wine along with a steaming teapot of lavender tea and her best cutlery. All of it was set around fragrant bouquets of flowers.
Royal’s design for today was intentional. She wanted to show Valeriya that there was a softer side of who they were, and they weren’t afraid to show it.
“I hope you like American faire. We had the dishes made special just for you,” Royal said, winking at Valeriya. She hoped the woman knew that this was not another ambush.
“All of this for me?” Valeriya asked. She was speechless. It was a very kind gesture and completely unexpected from the likes of these two women.
Royal began to fix Valeriya’s plate. “Well, from what we’ve heard, you’ve been through a lot over the last few days.”
“Not as hard as Gabriel,” Valeriya said, feeling guilty for sitting here enjoying this while he was being held captive.
Royal looked over at Renee. It looked like she would need some help keeping the mood light.
“So, has your stay here been okay?” Renee asked. “Is everyone taking care of you?”
Valeriya took the plate from Royal and set it in front of herself. Putting the napkin on her lap, she eyed the vodka. “Under the circumstances, my stay here has been very nice. You put me in a lovely room. It’s…amazing.”
Royal grinned at her. “Nadei put you in Gabriel’s room.”
Valeriya’s mouth parted.
“You didn’t know?” Royal asked.
“No,” Valeriya said, voice low. “Do you mind if I have a glass of that?” she looked toward the bottle of vodka.
“Straight up or with a little something?” Renee asked, picking up the bottle.
“Straight up,” Valeriya said, offering a water glass instead of a shot glass.
“Are you sure?”
“I can handle the hard stuff,” Valeriya assured.
Pouring everyone a glass, Renee set the bottle down and sighed. Clasping her hands together, she looked over at Valeriya. “Okay, tell us everything.”
***
Briggy was used to staying in Gabriel’s room, but on this trip, it was made painfully clear that she had a new position in the family – outcast. Put on the guest wing of the house in a much smaller room, she was left alone to get settled in. The butler and staff had already brought up all of her Louis Vuitton luggage and lined it up against the wall, and now a maid that she had worked with many years ago, slowly went through them and put away her things in the bathroom, dressers and closet.
Trying not to seem phased by the new sleeping arrangements, she made a list of things she needed for the room while she sat at a small writing desk in the corner near the window.
“I need someone to run to town for a list of these things, and I need the rest from the stocking room.” Tearing the paper from the pad, she stretched out her hand for the maid to come fetch it.
Hiding her disdain for how rude and bitchy Briggy had become since her ascent up the Medlov latter, the quiet, heavyset maid quickly crossed the room and took the sheet of paper from Briggy’s hand.
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll give it to one of the runners right away,” the maid answered. Her eyes told on her when she took t
he paper and looked at Briggy. Just a few years ago, they were taking orders from Mistress Medlov together, but Briggy had gotten tired of cleaning and fetching and decided to use her back to get out of servitude, which would have been fine if she hadn’t acquired such an attitude.
Briggy rolled her eyes at the women’s veiled contempt. “And have the chef bring up lunch. I’m starving to death up here.”
“What would you like for lunch?” the maid asked, pulling a small pad and pen from her uniform pocket.
Briggy rubbed her stomach to draw attention to her pregnancy and smacked her lips. “I’m in the mood for a salad…Caesar…and roasted garlic potatoes smothered in onions and lamb, prepared well done for the baby.”
The maid wrote on her pad and slipped it back in the pocket of her black scrubs. “I’ll make sure that it’s brought up directly.” She walked to the door to leave but Briggy stopped her.
“One more thing before you go. I have some items in Gabriel’s room. Run down there and look through the closet and bring me back my silk robes. I want to get out of these clothes and into something a little more comfortable.”
The maid literally had to make herself not smile as she turned from the door to Briggy. There were a few pleasures in life and knocking someone off their high horse was one of them. “I’m not allowed in Master Gabriel’s room as it is occupied, ma’am.”
Briggy sat up in her chair. “Occupied? By whom?”
“A woman,” the maid answered, shrugging. “I don’t know who she is. She has been assigned his wait staff for the duration of her visit, and she is not to be disturbed.” By you, the woman finished her sentence in her head.
Briggy stood up from the chair. “Who gave you those orders?”
“Master Anatoly Medlov,” the maid answered, knowing that his word far exceeded any of Briggy’s wishes.
Briggy drew in a breath and shook her head. “That bastard!” Brushing past the maid, she opened the door. “Where is Royal?” Her informal use of the lady of the house’s name made the nice little maid cringe. Such insolence. Such disregard.
“I believe that she is in the solarium,” she said, following behind Briggy. “Should I let her know that you would like to see her?”
Bursting out of the door, Briggy headed down the hallway. “The only thing you can do for me is fetch my food and get my things,” she said, stomping away. “Now go away.”
***
By the time that Valeriya finished telling her story of how she and Gabriel met, fell in love and finally ended up separated, all three women were drunk and teary-eyed. They had been eating and talking for over an hour and a half and the gloves were off. Freely, they shared their struggles and what it was like to be in love with a Medlov man. They were also impressed with Valeriya’s previous career as a ballerina and her decision to sacrifice everything to come back and help her family.
It was time to finish their lunch and move on to other things, like her conference call with her team back in Memphis about her business, Magna Carta. “I wish that I could offer more to you, Valeriya,” Royal said sincerely as she wiped a tear from her eye. “I can’t promise you anything, but what I can say is that we will be here for you while you are here. Feel free to come and talk to us or tell us if you need anything.”
Renee offered Royal a napkin. All of them were a bit tipsy now, but it was needed considering the stress level. Maybe this lunch was just what they needed to get through this. “We’re normally not emotional women. I mean, shit, we’ve been through hell and back, but I think that’s why we identify with you so much.”
“One thing is for sure, if anyone can bring Gabriel back, Dmitry can,” Royal said with confidence and a little slur in her voice from drinking vodka straight.
Valeriya appreciated their kindness more than they knew. “I have no intention of leaving it up to just Dmitry and Anatoly to get Gabriel back. It is my hope to convince them to let me go with them.”
Royal sobered up. “Go with them? Back there?”
Valeriya could see the concern in their faces, but she could not lie about her true intentions. “Yes. It’s my country. I know it better than either of them. Plus, I may be a woman, a dancer, and even a lover, but I’m a freedom fighter first. I don’t want to just sit around and wait for someone else to fight my battles for me. Gabriel would not even be there right now, if it were not for me. I have to go back and I have to get him myself.”
Renee raised both brows. This woman was the real deal, but she evidently didn’t understand the type of men she was now subject to until this all was cleared up. “Our husbands are open-minded, but I don’t know if they are that open.”
Royal agreed with a nod. “That’s going to be a hard sale, Val. Dmitry really isn’t into co-ed ops.” She put down her napkin. “Renee is right. They are not that…”
Valeriya cut them off. “Would you just sit around and wait for someone to save the men you love? No, I already know the answer. And neither will I. I just have to convince them that I am an asset, and I am an asset. I have fought plenty of battles, put my life on the line more times than I care to count and I’m not afraid to die for what I believe in. Lunch was great. Talking to you was very good and very needed, but what I need is an advocate to get me back to my country where I can rally my people and help get him back.”
Royal nodded. “We will do what we can,” she said, twisting up her lips. “But, no promises.”
“Your word that you’ll try is enough,” Valeriya assured.
***
In a determined stride, Briggy rounded the corner and made her way down the long hallway illuminated by a wall of windows resolute on speaking with Royal. But to her surprise, as she approached, she saw Nadei standing outside of the solarium door guarding it. The sun was in his face, highlighting his spiked blonde hair and the bruises on the sharp corners of his stoic face.
With a scowl, he turned and eyed her suspiciously and then turned away. At first, she started to turn around and address the issue later, but the anger boiling inside of her for how she was being treated pushed her to keep walking toward her guard dog, even though she was certain that he might very well bite.
On cue, Nadei stepped out from the door and looked down at Briggy’s stomach as she tried to move past him to get inside. “Where do you think you’re going?” he asked with a snarl.
Briggy frowned at his insolence. “Who are you to ask me where I am going?”
Nadei repeated himself. “Where?”
She popped her mouth. “I need to see Royal. I need to talk to her about that woman who is staying in Gabriel’s room. Who put her in there?”
“I put her in there,” he said, eyes still on her stomach. His fiery stare finally landed on her face. “Boss Anatoly doesn’t want her disturbed, especially by you.”
“Get out of my way,” she demanded, trying to push past him.
He stepped in front of her again and grabbed her wrist, clenching it tight.
Curling his lips, he hissed. “You know, if Mistress Medlov says that she doesn’t want to be disturbed, she means just that. If you keep making trouble, I will have to do something about it.” All he needed was a reason. He begged for her to give him one.
Briggy snatched away and stepped back, knowing she had gone as far as she could. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
Satisfaction washed over his face. “Not in the least,” he said, with a chuckle. He stood back in position and crossed his arms across his chest. “You need to go rest, take care of baby.”
Briggy lowered her voice and pointed at him as if her finger carried the power of a lightning bolt. “Don’t you ever mention my child again,” she warned, glaring up at him as though she was actually capable of hurting the giant man.
Nadei jutted out his jaw and looked ahead instead of directly at the insolent woman. “We talk later, da, when you’re not so you.”
The door behind him swung open, and Valeriya emerged, coming face-to-face with Briggy. From behind N
adei, who stepped slightly out of the way so that Valeriya could pass, Briggy could see Royal and Renee smiling and talking to each other. Just as she thought, they were all in collusion with each other!
All of them were plotting against her, laughing at her!
Valeriya paused behind Nadei when she made eye contact with a blonde woman who clearly was upset about something. Closing the door shut, her smile disappeared when she realized that she was clearly interrupting.
But something was off. There was tension in the air thick enough to cut with a knife, and the woman’s gaze had moved from Nadei to her.
As she lowered her eyes to the woman’s small bulge, she knew without introduction who the woman was. Briggy. The infamous siren who had ensnared her prey and shipwrecked him on the proverbial lover’s bay.
Great. As if her day couldn’t get any longer, now she had to confront this shit? Valeriya knew what she needed to do. Walk away. The vodka had gotten the best of her already, and the last thing she wanted to do was make a scene in Royal’s home when she had been so kind to her.
“Excuse me,” she whispered to Nadei as she tried to walk away. Today, she would be the bigger woman. There was no point in getting involved in this too. There were other more important things to focus on like getting Gabriel back in one piece. She took a deep breath and kept her eyes ahead of her.
This is not my fight, she told herself. Just go back to your room.
At the sight of the tall, statuesque woman standing in her unassuming jeans and t-shirt, Briggy immediately began to bristle. Gabriel had left her for that? It was preposterous and unfathomable. What in the hell did he even see in her? She was so basic. So very bland.
Heart pounding nearly out of her chest, Briggy could barely form words, she was so beside herself with acrimonious fury. Gawking at Valeriya, she balled up her tiny fists until her acrylic nails dug into her delicate skin. Betrayer! Slut! Whore! How dare that bitch come here to make a mockery of her!
Gabriel's Regret: Book Two (The Medlov Men 3) Page 6