Marcus’s gaze darted down toward the floor, his brain clearly working through the figures. Two hundred thousand dollars was more than enough money for Marcus to vanish from sight. More than enough money for a new beginning in a city far beyond Nathan Keith’s reach.
"Are you suggesting kidnapping, Natasha?" Marcus asked hoarsely, his voice trembling with fear. "Even murder? Because if the authorities beco involved—"
"The authorities won’t beco involved since Nathan will never call them," Natasha interjected smoothly, her voice as soft as silk. "He’s got as many secrets as we do. And he can’t afford any unwanted attention right now. Not when all I’ll be asking for is my rightful due once he wakes up. All you need to do is stage the whole thing."
"I want half now dposited in an offshore account. Otherwise, I’m not moving a single finger."
Natasha smiled, a cold, triumphant curve of her lips. "Check your phone in five minutes. Consider it a down paynt on your new life."
"History has a way of repeating itself, doesn’t it, Nathan?" she murmured to the empty room.
#####
Back in the hotel room, where it was peaceful for once, Viktoria could only stare at Mateo as he slept. Her nerves weren’t settling down; rather, they were building up, causing a headache that throbbed behind her temples.
Her phone buzzed, it was a text from Nikolai.
"Hey honey, how was the eting? Are you all right?"
Her hands were on the keyboard, but she did not know what to say. She wanted to spill everything; that picture, that boy in the park, how Nathan looked at her son. But Nikolai was a protective Father and husband. He wouldn’t stop until he left for the States as soon as he heard her say she was "uncomfortable."
She sent the ssage back, forcing herself to write words that were not true. "It went well," she wrote. "Mr. Keith showed interest in the proposal. We are moving ahead."
The sound of the knock on the door of the hotel room ca unexpectedly , making her heart beat loudly inside her chest. She put the phone down and walked to the door, taking a look through the little hole.
It was a courier in a gray uniform with an elegant little box wrapped in a dark ribbon.
Viktoria slowly opened the door. "Yes?"
"Delivery for Miss Viktoria," the man said politely. "From the office of Mr. Keith."
Viktoria’s breath hitched. She took the box, and she closed the door. She sat back on the bed and pulled the ribbon. Inside was a small, high-end box of artisanal chocolates and a note written in a heavy, masculine hand.
For the little man. I realized I never did get him that candy.
— N.K.
Viktoria looked at the chocolates for what seed like forever, the gleaming gold foil flashing in the light from the hotel’s lamp.
Once again, her phone buzzed with a new ssage. This one was considerably longer than the last one, sent by Nikolai.
"Just hung up from my old friend Marcus, who’s organizing a charity gala tomorrow evening at one of the high-rise hotels," the text ssage said. "He made promise that you will be there, so take Mateo and go show them how to throw a party the way it should be thrown. Don’t even think about all the work and schedules for one day, moya lyubov. I will be there within two days, so co and enjoy yourself."
Viktoria let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding. Nikolai’s voice—even through a text—always had a way of making her feel grounded. He was right. She was spiraling over a photograph and a polite question about Mateo’s age. It was just a business trip.
She looked over at Mateo, who was now sprawled out across the bed, dreaming of candy and adventures.
"A gala," she whispered to herself.
It was the perfect distraction. A chance to step out of the shadow of Nathan’s office and breathe so fresh air. If Nikolai’s friend was the host, she would be safe. She wouldn’t have to look over her shoulder for mysterious boys in the park or wonder why Nathan Keith’s gaze felt like a searchlight.
She picked up the phone and typed back: "Okay. We’ll go. Mateo will love the lights. See you soon."
The following evening, Viktoria took an hour preparing Mateo. The boy seed to resemble a mini-gentleman, wearing a navy blazer suit, his hair neat and combed back, even though one strand would always keep falling across his forehead.
"Mummy, are we attending a party?" Mateo wondered as he tried to look at himself in the mirror.
"We are going to attend a huge party, darling," Viktoria said as she smoothed her own dress, which was a floor-length gown made from erald green silk fabric, accentuating her beautiful eyes. "We shall get to see the light and music."
"Are there chocolates there?"
Viktoria chuckled, the first real laugh she had uttered since arriving in the town. "I am sure there will be."
As Viktoria and Mateo stepped into the black limousine sent to pick them up by the host, she felt a little excited. For once, she would be attending the party just as any other guest.
There was champagne in glasses, won dressed in silky gowns, and even an orchestra playing softly in the background. Even behind the lace of her costu, Viktoria felt the pressure of the atmosphere. But she held her son’s hand tightly, as he was captivated by the impressive ice statues, as well as the sparkling reflections of light from the chandeliers hanging above.
"Mommy, look at that! It’s a frozen swan!" the boy squeaked excitedly.
Viktoria smiled, fixing the strap of her green dress. "Isn’t it amazing, baby?"
But while searching for so waiter for a drink, she bumped into a high wall of black wool. Strong hands supported her elbows imdiately, holding her up firmly.
"Be careful," a deep voice rumbled.
Viktoria raised her head. It was a handso face, even with the gleaming black mask obscuring the top half of it, and with the sharpness of its eyes that were a clear silver gray. This was Nathan Keith.
A fluttering sensation ran through her chest. "Mr. Keith. I did not know you would be here."
He kept his hands on her elbows for just a little longer. He traced her throat with his eyes and then moved back to et hers. Even with his mask on and surrounded by other people, he looked at her with such an awful intimacy that she felt like she was bare and vulnerable to everyone’s gaze.
"It’s a charitable event, Viktoria," he stated in a deeper tone than usual. "Rarely do I miss an occasion to help out. But you, tonight, look...different."
"Mister Candy!" called Mateo’s voice.
Mateo released Viktoria’s hand and ran up to Nathan, who bead with sheer innocence. Before Viktoria could stop him, he embraced Nathan’s leg.
Viktoria gasped, her face flushing. "Mateo! Co here, honey, don’t bother the gentleman."
But Nathan didn’t seem troubled. Indeed, for the very first ti since eting him, that cool, calculating facade seed to lt away from his face. His eyes fell upon the little boy still clutching at his leg, and an expression of acute vulnerability washed over him.
Nathan carefully moved one hand towards the boy. Rather than ripping him off, he let it rest atop Mateo’s curly head, his fingers shaking ever so slightly.
"Hey there," Nathan managed to say, his voice cracking sowhat. He bent his knees until he was at eye level with the child. "Hi again, little guy. Did you enjoy the chocolate?"
"Yes! They had gold on them!" Mateo bead, leaning into Nathan as if they were old friends.
She could see it, this terrifying similarity she had been worrying about before. Their head tilts, their grins—it reminded her of how she sotis saw a photograph of soone and its reflection.
"I an, he—he is usually not that friendly with others," Viktoria tried to explain, her voice quivering.
Nathan turned his gaze to her. He stared at her under the mask, his eyes dark and mysterious. "But maybe I am not a stranger to him, Viktoria. Kids can detect these things."
Standing up, he did not let go of Mateo’s shoulder. "We are both here, so maybe you would allow to accompany you to the VIP lounge? It is more quiet there."
As Viktoria looked over at Nathan, and then down at the hyperactive Mateo, her entire body reacted. She knew instinctively that what she was doing was too intimate and too soon. However, the gravitational pull she felt from Nathan told her that turning away would an running from her true feelings forever.
"The lounge will work," Viktoria replied softly, her voice a re whisper. "The noise is a little more than Mateo can handle."
Nathan gave her a look that seed to strip twenty years off of his face. "Let’s go this way."
With that simple gesture, Nathan took hold of her and guided her across the crowd with his hand on the small of her back. It was a small gesture, yet it sent a shock wave through her. As they walked towards the elevators, Marcus watched from the zzanine and felt sick to his stomach. He pressed the button for the microphone on his radio.
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