“Is that why you like me? Because I have no choice?”
“Not at all. I like you because you are fierce and independent. You make me think. And you challenge me.” He looked down at their hands intertwined. “What I’m trying to say it that I love you, Alia. You can come with me wherever I go. I just don’t think we’ll have to leave.”
A smile burst on to her lips. “You love me?”
Why was she so surprised? “Yes, I love you, Alia. I’ve never said that to anyone.”
She kissed him. “No one’s ever said that to me before.”
Then he held his breath. Was she going to say it back? He’d never felt so vulnerable in his life.
She stood and dragged him to his feet. “I love you, too, Viktor.”
She led him to the bedroom. Before he was down the hall, he scooped her into his arms. She giggled.
“Oh, Alia. What would I do without you?”
“Have blue balls.”
He laughed as he put her on the bed then climbed on top of her. He nuzzled her neck, then nipped and licked that spot that he knew drove her wild. She moaned. He loved the sound of her when they made love.
They tugged at each other’s clothing. Finally, she was naked underneath him. Writhing and making those sounds that made him hard. This never got old. He thought they could have sex three times a day and he’d never get bored with her.
He slid down to settle between her thighs. Her sweet pussy was already wet. He licked her folds and sucked as if his life depended on it. This woman was his. She came only moments later.
He liked how responsive she was. He could pitch a tent and stay here for days. But then her breasts were calling to him. They were large and her nipples were standing at attention, begging him to touch them.
So he sucked on one, while he played with the other. Alia started moaning again and he wanted to be inside of her. Now.
She handed him a condom as if she’d had the same thought. “Now, Viktor.”
She rolled it on for him, and then he was poised over her entrance. He thrust into her, her body meeting his. This woman would probably kill him with sex. What a way to go.
He set up a rhythm, but he varied the speed. This drove her wild and he wanted to rock her world.
“You’re evil,” she said, but the smile on her face said something else.
She enjoyed when he did this. Her eyes grew dark, she was on the edge. He waited, thinking about budgets. Anything not to come before her.
Her body stiffened, then her vagina clenched around him. He sailed into the abyss with her, his thrusts lacking finesse as he lost control of his limbs. He slumped onto her.
Her hands were gripping his arms. She let them loose. Her breath came out in pants.
“That gets better every time.”
He rolled off her and removed the condom. He dropped it in the trashcan next to the bed. He’d have agreed with her, but he wasn’t sure he could speak. Instead, he lay next to her and snugged her close to him. He kissed her ear.
“I love you.”
“Oh, Viktor, I love you, too.”
He didn’t want to be anywhere else at the moment. The club would be opening soon, but he didn’t care.
Chapter 15
Alia’s nerves were on high alert as Viktor’s driver took them to her audition. He was along as her manager. He may not know the music business, but Alia trusted him. Implicitly. He could navigate this new world with her. She wouldn’t need to do it alone.
She could sing. That she knew, and someone else thought she had a lot of talent. That part was easy. Alia never had a head for business. She got numbers. She understood balance sheets, but negotiating was not her forte.
That’s where Viktor came in. He could do that. She was going to take advantage of his expertise.
He squeezed her hand. “It’s going to be fine.”
“Is it obvious that I’m nervous?”
“You keep picking at your nails. You do it when you are nervous,” he said.
She looked down at her newly painted nails and realized that she had chipped off a little of it. Holding out her hands to Viktor, she said, “Hold them so I don’t.”
He took her hands into his, effusing her with warmth. And some confidence too. She thought all night about their declarations to each other. Was it too soon? Was it all nuts?
She had a price on her head. Both his mother and his brother didn’t like her. None of those things boded well for their future. What if this was all part of the stress of her being wanted by the Russian Mafia? If that was gone, would it take the thrill out of the relationship?
Would it all be boring if not for this Sword of Damocles over her head? Would she be less attractive to Viktor if he didn’t have to protect her?
She didn’t want to think about it, but his declaration of love should have made her feel more secure. Instead, it made her feel less so.
“Stop over thinking,” he said.
He let go to rub a spot between her brows. Her worries must have been written on her face. Viktor was attributing her worry to this audition. As nervous as she was, she knew that if she didn’t get it, her life would be no worse.
Not getting this job wouldn’t end her, because she’d never seen singing as a career move. If it never happened, it would not be that disappointing. If it did happen, she’d be ecstatic.
He thought she was worrying about this audition, when she was worrying about his feelings and their future. Not wanting to illuminate him, she just nodded.
“The anticipation is the worst.”
“Always is,” Viktor said. “Nothing is ever as bad as you imagine it.”
She laughed. “No, I guess not. Thank you for coming with me. I’d be worse without you.”
“Arkady would have calmed you down,” Viktor said.
“But it’s different when you want to, than when it’s your job.”
“True.”
The arrived at the high-rise building. Somewhere in that place was a recording studio and when they left it, Alia’s life would be different. She could be a little disappointed or very happy at the end of this meeting.
They rode up in the elevator together, Arkady a calm and looming presence behind them. He would stay out in the lobby of the studio while Alia and Viktor went inside.
The agent greeted her. “Nice to see you again, Alia. We’re all set up for your audition.”
“Thanks.”
“You need anything? Coffee? Water?” he asked.
“Water would be fine.”
“Viktor?”
“Nothing for me,” Viktor said. He leaned against the back wall of the sound area while the agent went to get Alia’s water.
A man with headphones resting around his neck played with what Alia assumed was a sound board. He finally looked up at her. He thrust out his hand. “I’m Jet.”
“Alia.”
They shook. He was a skinny guy. As if he hadn’t filled out with his grown up weight. Or he did drugs.
“I’m your sound man. This’ll be fine. Don’t be nervous, just sing.”
“Thanks,” Alia said.
Agent returned with water. “You go into the sound booth and put on head phones. I’ve selected a few songs and with your permission I’ll make a demo tape. If I decide to bring you on, we’ll do the paperwork today.” He glanced at Viktor. “I’m assuming that’s why you brought him?”
“Yes, he’s my business manager.”
“That’s fine. Shall we get started?”
Alia left them and stood in the sound booth just taking it all in. Now that she was here, she was excited. She sipped her water, and then put it down on the stool that held the headphones. Those went over her ears.
“You ready?” Agent asked.
She nodded and gave him a thumbs-up. For the next hour, she sang her heart out.
“Come on back in here, Alia.”
She took off the headphones, her throat a little tired. She couldn’t have been happier if she knew
she was given the job.
“Listen,” the agent said.
She heard her voice come out and it was better than she had hoped.
“Let’s go talk business,” he said.
Viktor put a hand on her back and ushered her out the door after the agent. They ended up in a nice office with floor to ceiling windows. She sat in a buttery leather chair next to Viktor.
“I’m all for hiring you. Here is how it works. All I do is get you gigs. The bars and venues pay me. You don’t, so you have nothing to lose. If you want, I can be your agent and get you other types of gigs.”
“Do you have a contract for me to read?”
“No formal contract for the one business arrangement, but I do have a contract you can peruse if you want me to be your agent,” he said.
Alia nodded as he handed both of them a copy of the contract. Hm. She didn’t want to make a decision right now.
“Can I think on this? Or can I have you set me up with some gigs and later choose you as my manager?”
***
Viktor was impressed with Alia’s business sense. She had more than she gave herself credit for having. Her last question was evidence of that.
“You can take your time, Alia. I’m not pressuring you into anything,” the agent said.
“It’s all a lot at once. I’ve never really thought about my singing as a career so I’d really like to talk this over with my manager and think on this.”
“Take the paperwork with you. You can fax me it back when you’ve made a decision.”
Viktor liked that this man wasn’t forcing Alia to make a decision right now. It gave him more credibility in Viktor’s eyes. No one should have to make such an important decision without thinking about it.
Besides, he wanted to discuss some things with Alia before she signed. Of course, he’d have Sacha look at the contract. Viktor himself would give it a look, but a legal mind needed to read it.
Sacha wouldn’t like it, but that was too bad. Viktor would insist.
They all shook hands and then Viktor escorted Alia back to where Arkady waited for them.
“Let’s go to lunch,” Viktor said.
Arkady nodded.
“I’m hungry. That was harder work than I thought it would be.”
He interlaced his fingers with hers. “You did great.”
“I’m glad I didn’t have to sign anything today.”
“Me too.”
They lunched at a fine restaurant in the same block as the studio. Arkady insisted on waiting outside. He didn’t see a threat in the restaurant.
Viktor assented and the hostess seated him and Alia at a quiet table in the back. No need to be on display.
Alia ordered a Caesar salad. Viktor, fish.
He had the contract on the table while they waited for their food.
“What do you think?” Alia said.
“So far so good, but I’ve only read the first page. It all seems above board, but I want Sacha to look at it.”
“Sacha? You think he will? He’s not my biggest fan.”
How did he explain Sacha to Alia? “Sacha has some Old World ideas about women and men. He hasn’t become as American as I have.”
“And he’s younger?”
“Yes. He’s more like my father. Even without the man’s influence, he is well on his way to becoming him.”
Alia laughed. “If you think you can get him to look at it, go ahead.”
“I do have him on retainer, so he has to,” Viktor pointed out.
“Okay.”
“I don’t see anything that jumps out at me. I think this guy is legit. If he’d pressured you into signing a contract right then I would have been worried.”
“Me, too. Even I’m not that naïve.”
“Let’s talk about long term,” he said.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, say you get some gigs and you end up with a record contract.”
“That’s a nice dream.”
“Let’s say, for argument’s sake that it happens. What if this murder has not been solved? Are you willing to risk becoming famous?”
“Wouldn’t that make it harder for them to find me? Or at least harder to get to me? I’d have an entourage, wouldn’t I?”
He mulled that over. “It might be harder to get to you, being in the spotlight so much. I’m not sure they might just try harder.”
She seemed to mull that over. “I guess they might, but right now I’m living my life in fear. If I get this chance, I have to take it, despite them.”
She had a determined look on her face and Viktor knew he’d never talk her out of it. He could see why. She was a girl from the ghetto. How could she turn down making good money? To finally be comfortable? He couldn’t blame her.
And to have a career thrust on her that she’d never thought of? That must be amazing in some ways. He’d always known what he’d wanted to do. His rise had been no surprise to him.
What the agent was offering Alia could be big. Really big. As long as she knew the potential consequences, he would support her.
“I understand. This is huge and unexpected.”
She reached across the table to hold his hand. “I’m glad I’m with you, Viktor. I think it would all be pretty overwhelming without your support.”
“I just hope you are sure about this.”
“I’m as sure as I can be. I don’t know what this opportunity will bring me. I could be doing but singing at some other nightclubs.”
“That’s one of my issues. They will have to be okay with Arkady being with you. I’m not compromising on that. Until those people are in jail, I’m not letting you go anywhere alone.”
“You’ve made that clear.”
“You signing this contract does not change that. I’m still protecting you.”
“I wish the cops would get a break in this case. How can two men kill someone and no one but me noticed?”
“Maybe someone noticed, but they didn’t see that person. You just happen to be the one they saw,” Viktor said.
He’d hoped this would be all over soon. Now that he’d told Alia how he felt, she had no need to leave him. She could stay with him and they could see where their future led.
“I guess. Lucky me.”
The waitress brought their food. Alia ate some, then looked at Viktor. “There is a silver lining in all of this.”
“Yeah?”
“I never would have met you if this hadn’t happened.”
“I’m grateful you did meet me. I’m grateful that I met you, Alia. No matter what happens, remember that I support you. I want to see you succeed.”
“I appreciate that.”
He’d never had someone that he wanted to be happy for, as much as he wanted to be happy for Alia. Odd. It took him until he was in his thirties to find her. She’d been worth the wait.
Now he just had to figure out what he could do to hurry along this investigation so Alia was free.
*
Alia had dismissed Chef for the night. She was going to cook Viktor dinner on his day off. He’d gone out to a meeting and would be back soon. She had a cookbook open on the counter.
She could feed herself, but had never tried anything remotely gourmet. She, of course, didn’t have a stocked kitchen like this in her apartment. Should be easier to make a meal with all these good tools.
Chef had even offered to stay, but Alia had insisted that she could do this.
A knock on the door startled her. She glanced around, and then walked to the door. Through the peephole, she eyed Sacha. Not always a confidence builder. She would have loved to pretend she wasn’t here. He must know she was alone.
Had he come to harass her? Yet again.
She opened the door. “Sacha.”
He didn’t move to come inside, but he took in her appearance. She must look a sight, but she wasn’t here to please Sacha. Viktor was the only one who needed to be impressed.
“Alia.”
He ha
nded her a sheaf of papers. Her contract.
“You want to come in?”
He looked her up and down again. Instead of it feeling sexual, it was far more judgmental. She didn’t let her gaze waver. She would not be cowed by Sacha.
“You look like you’re in the middle of something.”
“I’m cooking for Viktor, but I can listen to what you have to say if you’re willing to tell me.”
He shrugged, then brushed past her. He sat at the counter as if he owned the place. She had to remember that was just Sacha. No need to take it personally. At least that’s what Viktor had said.
“Can I get you something to drink?”
“I’m fine.” He surveyed the kitchen. “Have you ever cooked before?”
She glared it him over the counter. “I have, just not anything complicated. Tell me about the contract.”
“There’s nothing to tell. It’s pretty straightforward. There are escape clauses for both of you.”
“What’s an escape clause?”
“It’s a clause that says you can get out of the contract under certain conditions. None of them are unreasonable. They can’t just drop you. They have to notify you thirty days before they want to void the contract. You have to do the same.”
“I wouldn’t have to give them a reason to void it?”
“No, actually not. Just notify them and wait thirty days. They can’t sue you. You can’t sue them if they do that.”
She pounded chicken breast for her meal. Sacha watched her. Why was he being so nice? Alia didn’t trust it. “Sounds reasonable. Why would they make such a great contract? Seems to me, they’d want to make one in their favor.”
“Yes. I suspect the lawyer wasn’t very good or this agent downloaded a template off the Internet.” “I see.”
“What are you making?”
“Chicken piccata. I hope.”
“You hope?”
“I’m following the recipe. That’s all I know. I’ve never eaten it before.”
“You’re making Viktor a meal that you’ve never tasted. Shouldn’t you have tried something you knew?”
She looked him over. There seemed to be no rancor in his words. What was going on? Had Viktor said something to him?
“Probably, but I didn’t think Viktor would eat Southern Fried Chicken and Biscuits.”
Viktor, Her Russian Billionaire: A BWWM Billionaire Romance Page 15