“You don’t need to say anything.” After clearing his throat, he tapped the table top, signaling for Niles to proceed.
After the last document had been signed, initialed, and notarized, Niles returned his pen to the breast pocket of his jacket. “Thank you, madam.”
“Is that it?” At first, I’d thought the lack of a prenup had been due to Roman’s rush to tie the knot. His business acumen, however, was unparalleled. He wouldn’t leave himself open to any kind of financial breach—not even from his wife. None of this made sense.
“Yes,” Niles answered. “Unless you have questions?”
“Um, yes. I do. Could I speak with you for a moment?” I asked Roman. “In private?”
Roman leveled his gaze to mine, assessing. After a second, he jerked his chin toward the door. One nod from him had the men scrambling to their feet. They filed out of the room in silence. When the door shut behind them, he spoke in quiet concern. “What’s wrong? Isn’t it enough?”
My sharp laugh echoed around the empty room. “If anything, it’s way too much. I’m overwhelmed.” I’d never been a crier, but tears stung the backs of my eyelids. Get a grip, Rourke. After a deep, calming breath, I shifted in the chair. “You’ve obviously been planning this for some time. Why didn’t you have me sign a prenup?”
“Do I need one?” His tone sharpened.
“No, of course not.” My throat went dry. I took a sip of water from the glass beside my elbow.
“Then there’s no problem.”
“No.”
“Good, because there’s more.”
“More?” I wasn’t sure how much more I could handle. Before I could open my mouth to voice my concerns, the door opened again.
Ivan nodded in greeting. He moved silently across the room and took a seat on Roman’s right side. As always, his dark, imposing figure enveloped the room. “Good afternoon, Mrs. Menshikov.”
“Hi.” To cover my anxiety, I smiled and tucked my hair behind my ears. “How are you? How are Julie and the baby?”
His somber features softened. Julie, his wife and head of Human Resources at Sapphire, had recently given birth to a lovely baby boy. Their May-December romance had been an unexpected but pleasant surprise to Roman and me. “I’m good, thank you. Julie is great, and the baby has been sleeping through the night.” The pride in his voice renewed my admiration for him. “She sends you her regards.”
“I’m so happy for you. The three of you should join us for dinner as soon as you’re ready,” I said.
“It would be our pleasure.” Ivan bowed his head, his Russian accent thickening.
“If you two are finished.” Roman, always impatient in the boardroom, cocked an eyebrow. “I don’t have all day.”
Ivan ignored him and slid a black metal box across the table to me. “This is for you. Keys to all of Roman’s properties, security passcodes, an alternate passport, burner phone, and instructions in case of emergency.”
“Are we expecting an emergency?” I asked, eyeing my husband suspiciously. I flipped open the passport to find my picture next to a name I’d never heard before. “This isn’t me.”
“It’s good to be prepared,” Roman replied quietly. Something in his tone lifted the hair on the nape of my neck.
“You will also find the locations of three safehouses, should you find yourself in trouble,” Ivan said.
“Wait. What?” I straightened in my chair. “You need to explain. Right now. Are we in danger?”
Ivan cleared his throat and glanced at Roman for permission to speak. Even though he was older, Ivan always showed the utmost respect for his employer. Their deep bond for each other touched my heart. Roman nodded his assent. Ivan captured my gaze. The solemnity in his dark eyes made my fingers clench beneath the table. “It’s nothing to worry about. As we’ve discussed before, Mr. Menshikov’s past and vast wealth make him a target for unscrupulous people. His first concern, and mine, is your safety. The odds of anything bad happening are low, but we must be prepared for the worst.” His words turned my blood to ice. With an apologetic nod, he slid his chair back from the table and stood. “I can see the two of you need a moment of privacy. Please excuse me.”
When the door had shut behind him, I swallowed against the tightness in my throat and fought down rising panic. “You’ve blindsided me with this.” I swept a hand over the keys and cards inside the metal box. “I need some direction here, Roman. Help me out.”
The fabric of his suit rustled as he leaned across the table to take my hand in his. “You’re the love of my life. I want you to be well cared for if anything should happen to me.”
Icy fear gripped my chest. Extra bodyguards, secret accounts, safe houses? “Is something wrong? Is that why you added more people to my security team?”
“No, of course not. I just want to be prepared.” The mask of impassivity slid over his face once more. “I’ve asked Ivan to double up security for Milada, as well. It’s a precautionary measure. I have delicate business dealings in the works. Things that’ll be of interest to the media. As my wife, you’re at greater risk than before. I won’t take chances with your well-being.”
Although his words seemed reasonable, doubt clouded my thoughts. He was hiding something from me, and the concept made my heart sink. Why didn’t he trust me? “I understand your motives, but I wish you would sit down and talk to me about stuff instead of being so high-handed.”
“Sometimes you need to trust that I’m doing what’s best for us.”
“I trust you, but—”
The tip of his index finger pressed against my lips, halting my words. “I apologize, baby.” He squeezed my hand, his blue eyes warming. “Believe me, my advisors threw a fit when I refused a prenup, but I trust you more than anyone in my life. Even if you leave me, you’ll never want for anything. I’ll make sure of it.”
At three o’clock on the dot, I ushered Lavender Cunningham into Roman’s office. Her arrival put an abrupt halt to my questions. We never seemed to have enough time to discuss important issues. The few hours we managed to spend together were precious and few. I tried to swallow down my resentment at our most recent intruder and gave the woman a polite nod. She handed her coat to me and rushed to Roman’s side. “Roman, darling, wonderful to see you.” The touch of her palms to his chest raised the hackles on the back of my neck. After placing air kisses on each of his cheeks, she beamed up at him. “How have you been?”
I stood stiffly by the door, holding her coat in front of me. Obviously, they were more than acquaintances. He’d never made a secret of his sex life before me, but I didn’t like seeing the evidence. Roman’s eyes met mine. He cleared his throat and stepped away from the tall, slender brunette. “I’m fine. Have you met Rourke, my wife?”
“Married? You?” Her eyebrows lifted as she glanced from Roman to me and back again. His gaze never left my face. “Seriously?” Roman said nothing. Her bright smile dimmed, but she quickly covered her consternation. “Congratulations—to both of you.”
I draped her coat over a chair and extended a hand in greeting. “We’ve spoken on the phone. It’s nice to meet you in person.”
“I’m so sorry. I thought you were his assistant.” A flush of dismay colored her flawless complexion. She took my hand and squeezed it lightly, but not before a quizzical glance at my husband. Uneasiness itched beneath my skin at the intimate way her gaze met his. The depths of her pretty eyes contained a mixture of shock and something deeper, like hurt.
“Rourke is going to handle the final details of the masquerade.” He glanced at his watch, stirring panic in my gut. The bastard was leaving me to deal with his ex-lover? We’d have words about this later, along with all the other crap he’d dumped on me today. “If you’ll excuse me, ladies, I have business to attend.” I bit my lower lip as his kiss brushed my temple, warring between the thrill of attraction and irritation. “I’ll see you at home. Dinner’s at eight. Don’t be late. I’ve got plans for you.” His navy eyes met mine,
leaving little doubt about the evening’s agenda. Even though I was annoyed, a prickle of lust traveled along the insides of my thighs.
Before I could blink, the door shut behind him. The rest of his statement hit home. Personal business? I handled his schedule. Why had I been left out of the loop? The questions kept piling up. Now there was a beautiful woman who called him “darling.” I’d never been a control freak, but in the space of twenty-four hours, life had spiraled out of my power.
Lavender rested a hip on the corner of Roman’s desk and shook her sleek, dark head. “Well, you certainly moved fast. Personal assistant to wife in less than, what—six months? That must be a record.” Her long-lashed gaze swept over me from head to foot. “I’m impressed.” The thinly veiled insult snapped me from a daze. “Quite a few women are going to be upset when they hear about you.” She picked up Roman’s chrome stapler and turned it over in her hands. “I hope you’re prepared for the storm that’s about to erupt.”
Lifting my chin, I took the stapler from her grasp and returned it to the desk. “What other people think isn’t my concern, and it shouldn’t be yours either.” I circled the desk and sat in Roman’s chair, asserting my authority. “I find your comments to be unprofessional.” Evidently, she didn’t understand with whom she was dealing. I might be Roman’s employee, but I was also a smart, independent woman. “Is this going to be a problem for you? I’d hate to find someone else to finish the job at this late date, but I’m certain it can be done.”
The color drained from her face. “No. Of course not. You’re right. My apologies. My behavior was completely inexcusable. It’s just that you’ve caught me by surprise.” I had no idea what Roman was paying her, but it had to be a pretty penny. If word got out that she’d lost his account, she’d be ruined. With impressive speed, she claimed the chair across from me, hands folded in her lap, looking abashed. “Please don’t tell, Roman—er—Mr. Menshikov.”
Roman? Only his closest friends called him by his first name. Her misplaced familiarity added to my discomfort. I pushed aside the blow to my confidence and squared my shoulders. “I don’t see any reason to involve him in this. He has more important things to worry about.” A cloud moved over the sun, shifting the rays of sunlight into geometric patterns on the floor. I gave her a tight smile. “Now, let’s get through this, shall we? I’m eager to hammer out these details and get home to my husband.”
Although I erased all traces of emotion from my expression, her words stirred up new concerns. At some point, Roman needed to issue a statement to the press about our marriage. He’d been adamant about evading unwarranted media attention, but a man of his power and influence roused the curiosity of the masses. One entire floor of his high-rise office building was devoted to controlling publicity about him and his empire.
I gave Lavender an easy smile and led her to the conference table. For the next two hours, we discussed menus, seating arrangements, last-minute changes to floral designs, and tweaks to the entertainment. The complexity and amount of work involved in the event made my temples throb.
“I think we need to move these tables away from the terrace doors,” I said, noting the impediment of traffic between the dining room and the outdoor venue.
“Roman doesn’t like—”
I cut her off with a lifted eyebrow. “I’m quite aware of what my husband likes and dislikes.”
“I’m so sorry, Mrs. Menshikov. Of course, I’ll make whatever changes you see necessary. I don’t mean to overstep, it’s just that he and I have been doing this for a long time.” Her frown of displeasure shook my confidence. Exactly how long had they known each other? I fought to keep my expression neutral. “This will be our eighth one.” Pride flashed in her eyes. “Have you attended?”
“Yes. Last year.”
“I don’t remember seeing your name on the guest list.” Her frown returned. I bit the inside of my cheek, mentally chastising myself for the slip. She studied my face. “I have an excellent memory for names.”
At Everly’s insistence, I’d crashed the party without an invitation and risked Roman’s wrath. The incident had brought Roman into my life. Things Lavender didn’t need to know. I chose not to address her comment and turned the subject back to business. “Well, if there isn’t anything else, I need to get going.”
“One more thing.” With nude-polished fingertips, she brushed a lock of shiny hair behind her ear, revealing a sparkling diamond earring. Although her relationship with my husband irritated me, I admired her sense of style. “Roman always signs off on the guests who will have access to the Devil’s Playground UK. Will you be doing that?”
Upon hearing the name of Roman’s mysterious sex club, my blood heated. Flashes of the medieval castle, its rough stone walls, and the secret rooms raced through my memories. The fire in my cheeks increased. He’d taken me into one of the clandestine chambers. I closed my eyes and swallowed. We hadn’t discussed the place in months. I’d chosen to push it out of my mind. The burn of her curious stare brought me back to her question. “Yes. Of course.”
“Okay.” By the skeptical tilt of her eyebrows, she didn’t believe me. She slid a sheet of paper across the desk. The first name on the list belonged to a third world dictator. I choked on a gasp of surprise. Her eyebrow lifted higher. “Do you need some water?”
“No. Just a tickle in my throat.” My voice sounded rusty and unfamiliar. I coughed, stalling while I regained my composure. This was too much. “Could you email the list? I’ll go over it with Roman tonight and get back to you.”
“Sure.” With a tight smile, she returned the list to its folder.
The clientele of the Devil’s Playground was a closely guarded secret, one that Roman had yet to share with me. Membership belonged to the richest and most famous men and women, chosen after a careful screening process and a seven-figure application fee. Nicky managed a handful of locations around the world except for the one on Roman’s private England estate. They never spoke of the club in my presence. I shifted restlessly in Roman’s plush chair, unnerved by Lavender’s secretive smirk. “Are you a member?”
“Oh, yes. Platinum status.” Her sly wink made my stomach turn. “Roman paid for my membership a few years ago.” The fabric of her silk skirt rustled as she stood. “I won’t keep you any longer. Thank you for your time. I’ll wait to hear back from you on the guest list, and I’ll verify all the changes once they’ve been completed.”
I watched the door close behind her and remained in Roman’s chair to absorb what had transpired. My husband had gifted a membership to this woman? To a sex club? How had a lowly party planner made the cut? Apprehension turned the contents of my stomach upside down. Roman needed to answer the questions, but I had a feeling, I wouldn’t like the answers.
4
Roman
After leaving Rourke, I made a quick stop at the Devil’s Playground NYC to check on business. A thrill of accomplishment squared my shoulders as we approached the nondescript warehouse. The Devil’s Playground franchise had started out as a one-time party and grown into a profitable business. With seven worldwide locations and an A-list clientele, I no longer had the time or inclination to oversee the management. Once Rourke had entered my life, Nicky had assumed far more responsibility than prudent. Although he did a phenomenal job, I liked to drop in unexpectedly now and then to keep him honest.
Jose opened the car door at the employee entrance and waited patiently while I donned a simple black leather mask. I pressed a thumb onto the finger scanner, opened the heavy steel door, and stepped into the cool darkness. Silence filled the narrow corridor. I hesitated, waiting for my eyes to adjust to the dimness.
A twinge of sexual awareness tightened low in my belly. Behind the anonymity of a mask, I’d acted out my dirtiest fantasies in this building. No paparazzi. No judgement. No strings attached. Just sex. In the beginning, the noncommittal hookups had been exciting and satisfying. Work kept me too busy to deal with relationships, and the club had offered
the perfect release for my physical needs. If a woman got too attached, I simply moved on to someone else without the messiness of hurt feelings. Then Rourke came along. God. She changed everything in the best ways. I still had the same raging sex drive, but now it was for her and only her.
My phone buzzed inside the breast pocket of my suit. Nicky’s name flashed across the caller ID. One of the security people had already alerted him of my presence. “Checking up on me?” he asked, his tone laced with amusement.
“Always.” I halted at a bookcase and pressed my thumb on the small scanner hidden behind a leather-bound edition of The Great Gatsby. The door swung open on silent hinges into our shared office.
“You should have called. I could have given you a personal update and saved you the trouble. Unless, you’re visit is for pleasure? I knew you wouldn’t be able to control that itch for long. You aren’t cut out for monogamy.”
“This is strictly business, I assure you.” The underhanded jibe caught me squarely in the ribs. “Unlike you, I can be faithful.” Twin desks sat in opposing corners. An unfamiliar oil portrait of two naked women wearing feathered masks hung above the fireplace mantle. I stopped to study it. “In case you’ve forgotten, I don’t need a reason to be here. I’m the controlling partner, and I like to know how my money is being spent. I never know what you might be up to. Like this painting.”
“Are you insulting my taste in art? I’ll have you know that thing is priceless. Hollywood’s biggest producer offered that in lieu of a membership fee. I thought you’d be impressed.”
“Did you have it appraised?”
He chuckled. “You don’t trust me?”
“About as far as I can throw you.” I loosened my tie and sat down behind his desk, knowing how much he hated the intrusion into his personal space. “Your desk is a mess. How do you find anything in here?”
“Keep your fingers off my stuff.” His warning reminded me of our childhood, drawing invisible lines in our bedroom to designate our personal boundaries. “Your confidence in me is underwhelming. Do I need to remind you that I’ve doubled the profit in less than a year?”
The Exiled Prince Trilogy Page 23