The dinner had already started when Anatoly arrived. He came in with bags of gifts for everyone and doggy treats for Anya's puppy. The family had all but begged him to fly in.
Since Sochi, he seemed very much removed from everyone, always working and never spending time with the family anymore. Dmitry knew that it was because of Victoria. Only, every time that he dared broach the topic, Anatoly only withdrew more. It took Anya calling to invite him to the party for him to come. He could never resist his little sister.
His blonde locks mirrored his fathers. They had both grown their hair back, only Anatoly had also grown a full beard. His tanned face was aged slightly, and he had a permanent scowl.
"Anatoly!" Anya screamed when she saw him. She ran across the foyer and jumped in his arms.
Dropping the bags, he quickly picked her up and swung her around, glad to see his favorite girl. "How are you, baby?" he asked, kissing her rosy cheeks. "I've missed you so much."
"We've missed you, too," she said as he put her down. "Where have you been?"
"Around," he said, rubbing through her hair. "I brought all these beautiful pink boxes just for you. They are full of gifts from around the globe, even from Disneyworld."
Her face lit up. "Oh, thank you. Thank you, Anatoly," she said, hugging him.
Royal rounded the corner slightly pudgy and glowing. She extended her arms and hugged him warmly. Rubbing his beard, she kissed his cheek and grabbed his hand.
"I was hoping that you would show," she said, guiding him to the dining hall. "Everyone is already here."
"I'm sure that no one came to see me," he said gruffly. "You look great. Big and pregnant."
"Shut up," she said laughing.
"No, the look fits you. You should stay knocked up."
They entered into the main dining hall to see all the staff from the house, the restaurant and the boutique along with acquaintances of Dmitry and Royal at the various tables eating, drinking and talking.
All eyes went to Anatoly as he walked through the door with Royal. As usual the women swooned and whispered about him. A month ago, he would have taken a mental note of each and everyone one, but tonight he simply made his way to his fathers table.
Dmitry stood and gave him a hug. They laughed and embraced each other, and then Dmitry offered him a seat.
"Good to see you, son. How's life?"
"Busy, papa. Good to see you, too."
Dmitry wiped his mouth with his napkin and gave a clever grin. He looked over at Royal and winked his eye.
"I have brought special wine from my last trip to Italy. Why don't you go into kitchen and grab it for me?"
"Wine? Papa, I'm boss now. Why do you send me to do these types of things?"
"Because it is from the new winery that I just purchased last week. I already have someone running it, but I'd like for you to sample it. Tell me if you like it."
"Alright," he sighed. "Where is it?"
"I left it on countertop."
"What it is called? I'm sure that there is more than one bottle in kitchen, old man." He was almost short with his father.
"It's called donna bella."
"Beautiful woman?"
"Yes, you like?" Dmitry's eyes were eager.
"That's not very original, papa" he said, standing up. "I'll be right back."
Anatoly made his way through the crowds of people, past the servers to the kitchen. He walked in and looked to the long island in front of the door and grabbed the bottle. Sure enough. A bottle of Donna Bella was sitting there waiting for him.
He picked it up and looked at the bottle. It was sort of a catchy name now that he thought about it, and the label was impressive with gold foil and crimson and green colors. Okay, maybe he was being too hard on the old man.
"What are you drinking?" a voice asked, behind him in the corner.
Anatoly looked up from the bottle but wouldn't turn around.
"Wine," he clenched his jaw.
He heard the click of heels behind him, moving towards him slowly. He could feel the sway of her hips even before he could see her.
"Chardonnay? What year?" the voice asked.
Anatoly turned slowly to find Victoria standing behind him in a pair of skinny jeans that showed her bow-legs and stilettos that made her even taller. Her long hair was pulled into a ponytail, and she sported large diamond studs. She gave a big smile and blushed slightly at the look on his face.
She took the bottle from him and grabbed the two glasses waiting beside it. Pouring him a glass, she handed it to him.
"I'm doing you the courtesy of not sneaking it to you like a fucking snake. Now drink it," she mocked.
Anatoly took the glass and drank all of the wine then pulled her into him. They looked at each other for a long while in the silence of the kitchen. She ran her hands through his curly locks and down through his scruffy beard, and he held her close clenching her waist and thighs.
"I thought you were dead," he confessed.
"Your father has a very long reach. The woman who worked for Dorian was paid off the day of the event by Dmitry to get me to Kerch."
"Kerch?"
"Yeah, I'd never been there before. Anyway, this woman pulls a gun on me, then escorts me out the back of the studio after the transaction had been made. The next day, I ended up in Kerch. I was there for weeks, and then I went to Yalta." She
