Richard sighed. “Kash will be considered family if he agrees to abide by the same rules that I’ve just laid out.”
“He will,” Maverik said confidently.
“See that he does,” Richard told him.
Why was the mysterious Kash considered family? Was it just because he was close with the guys, or was there another connection I didn’t know about?
Nina started talking about how disappointed she was in our behavior – pretending she actually cared. She put on quite a show, but I squirmed in my chair, anxious to get out of here. I needed a workout so badly that I was about to jump out of my skin. Pressure was building inside me, and I couldn’t hold it in much longer.
I raised my hand timidly. “Um, do I have time to get a quick workout in before we head back?”
Richard gave me a strange look, and Kingston looked over in confusion, but Maverik’s dark gaze pierced right through me as if he could see how messed up I was on the inside. The worst part was – I think he understood.
“No,” my mother snapped when no one else responded. “Richard has already wasted enough time on your nonsense. Get your things packed.”
“We didn’t bring anything,” Kingston said as he tossed a piece of popcorn into his mouth. “We figured we only had a few hours before security showed up to drag us back home.” He shot a grin at his father. “We weren’t expecting you to come out here the next day.”
“Dad already had a meeting with his New York team before he came to the hotel,” Maverik said coolly. “His business here is done.”
Richard sighed. “Katya, I’m sorry, but I need to head back right away.”
I shrugged as if it didn’t matter, but one glance from Maverik told me that he wasn’t fooled. Richard called his driver to pick us up, and I reluctantly went to my room to grab my backpack. This was going to be a painful trip back to Bedford.
Chapter 34
Katya
I tapped my foot while I waited in the lobby and gave my mother an irritated glance. She was currently fawning over Richard, and it grated on my nerves. Nina was as fake as fake could be, yet one of the most powerful businessmen in the world had fallen under her spell. How could he not see her for what she was?
Kingston was texting on his phone, a smug grin on his face. He was probably getting nudes from his next conquest. Maverik surreptitiously watched Nina and Richard interact together as if he was dissecting and cataloging every little word and gesture. Filing them away for future reference.
Hotel security had chased everyone else away from where we waited – yet another perk of being a billionaire, I guess. The sound of Nina’s voice grated on my nerves until I just couldn’t take it anymore.
“I’m going to the bathroom,” I announced.
No one responded, but I knew Maverik heard me. He heard everything.
I stomped around the corner and down the hall, looking for the ladies’ room that I’d spotted earlier. Maybe the rest of my ‘family’ would forget about me completely, and just leave me here.
I was just about to push through the door when an arm wrapped around my neck to cover my mouth. I kicked and threw my elbows at my assailant, but he must have been a pro, because he dodged every strike that I threw at him and expertly maneuvered me into a room across the hall.
I panicked when I saw who was waiting in the room for me. Sergei Mikalov was seated in a leather chair, a number of his goons hovering around the room. This was bad.
“Ekaterina,” Sergei said pleasantly. “Do I need to threaten you, or can we have a polite conversation?”
I stopped struggling in my captor’s arms, knowing I wasn’t getting out of this room alive unless Sergei wished it. Once I gave Sergei a nod, he motioned for his man to release me.
I kept my composure the best that I could, but my heart sunk when I looked around the room. It appeared to be a lounge for the wealthy, and we were its only occupants. The door shut firmly behind me, and there were no other exits or windows. I was completely trapped.
“The room is sound-proofed,” Sergei told me casually. “Against corporate espionage, among other things.”
I didn’t want to imagine what the ‘other’ things were. I was having flashbacks to mafia movies right now, but I wasn’t going to act like a helpless damsel in distress.
I lifted my chin confidently and smoothed down my shirt to hide my trembling hands. “I wasn’t aware you wanted to meet with me,” I said smoothly.
Sergei smiled, but it didn’t touch his eyes. “Your mother is proving to be difficult to get in touch with.”
“She’s right outside,” I said boldly. “I’d be happy to go fetch her for you.”
Sergei steepled his fingers. “I think you’re clever enough to understand the situation. Come sit next to me.”
Cold trickled down my spine. Had my mother become somehow involved in the family business? Why was Sergei here today? How did he even know that I was here in New York?
I obeyed Sergei’s request and perched on the chair opposite his. The hard leather was anything but comfortable, and I was ready to jump up at a moment’s notice.
“You don’t want Richard to know about your relationship with her,” I surmised. “But why grab me right from under his nose?”
Sergei raised an eyebrow. “Has anyone come looking for you yet?”
I flushed. Richard would notice if Nina stepped away, and he’d be waiting for her to come back. Me? Not so much. They wouldn’t come after me unless my absence prevented them from leaving.
