VIKTORIYA

I gaze around this party, bored. Where are all the cute, rich, and powerful men? Half of them are old, which is just … ugh. And the other half are ignoring me and speaking in Russian.

I’ve lost sight of Mila. She wandered down the hallway, but the room is crowded with men, and I can’t see her. Sofiya is fine with Mikhail. I’m jealous. I’ll admit it. Why can’t I have a husband like Mikhail?

A man approaches me—he’s sort of cute in a lanky way.

“Andrei,” he says, extending his hand.

I stare down at his hand and then look back up at him. I don’t shake hands. “Viktoriya.”

“I know. You’re one of Sofiya’s sisters.”

Sofiya again. It’s always Sofiya. “Yes. I’m the older one. The better one.”

That makes Andrei laugh. “I’m sure you are.” He gazes around the room. “These parties can be so boring, can’t they?”

“They can.”

He leans in closer to me, and I lean back. “How about you and me get out of here?”

I almost laugh. He can’t be serious. Why would I, Viktoriya Morozova, go off with a man alone? I would ruin my stellar reputation. Besides, I can’t walk for long with my ankle still in its cast.

“How about not?” I respond, and Andrei frowns. “Who are you? You work for Mikhail?”

“I do. I’m his second in command.”

Only? That’s disappointing. I need a husband who’s more powerful than Mikhail. Not one who works for him. “Well, good for you, but I’m not interested. So, you can keep walking.” I waggle my fingers at him.

Andrei huffs. “I wouldn’t act so high and mighty. You’re not a princess.”

“No. I’m a queen.” I turn away from him. After a moment, I glance back and see him walking away in a huff. Good. That’s what he gets for thinking he can seduce me.

Another man approaches me. I’ll be honest—this one is a lot more handsome than Andrei. Wavy dark hair. Bright blue eyes. Broad shoulders. I’m not normally impressed by any man’s physique because most men can’t live up to me, but this man, well, he is the definition of tall, dark, and handsome.

“You have an ego on you, don’t you?” the man asks.

“I do.”

“You should watch it around these men. Before one of them tries hurting you.”

I try to keep my expression neutral, but his words shock me. “Why would they try to hurt me?”

He shakes his head with a small smile. “You’re naive. But if you want to survive in this world, don’t make the men angry.”

I stand up straighter. “I’ll get as angry as I want.”

“Then you won’t like the consequences.”

“Is that a threat?”

“No. It’s a warning. Be careful. Some of these men have anger issues. I’d hate to see a pretty face go to waste.” With those words, he walks away.

I look after him, my mouth gaping open. I turn to the closest man next to me. “Who’s he? That man?” I point after him.

“That’s Aleksander.”

Aleksander. Who does he think he is that he can speak to me that way? I bet he’s just a worker bee to Mikhail. Not worth my time.

Though, I find myself sneaking another glance at him before I look away.

The man next to me eyes me up and down. “What to get out of here?”

I gasp and hurry away. These men. I could slap them.

I just need to find Mila and get out of this penthouse.

SOFIYA

Mikhail is practically ignoring me as he speaks to his men in Russian. I thought this party was supposed to be a celebration of our marriage, but Mikhail is treating it more like a business meeting.

“I’m going to get a drink,” I tell him, nodding toward the kitchen.

He nods, barely glancing at me.

I sigh and walk off. Mary is in the kitchen when I enter, busy making enough food to feed all these people. “It’s crowded out there,” I say, leaning on the counter.

“So? You shouldn’t be in here. I’m cooking. You’ll get in my way.” She shoos me away.

“Can’t I stay in here? I mean, I’m married to Mikhail. Don’t I have free rein of the house?”

Mary stares at me for a moment before she starts laughing hysterically. I cross my arms. “You are the wife. You do not have free rein.”

“Did Natasha have free rein?”

“Natasha was different. Mr. Ivanov was young. They both were.”

“So, you were nicer to them back then?”

“Yes,” she states bluntly. Leave it to Mary to not sugarcoat anything.

“You can just say you don’t like me.”

“Fine.” She sets the bowl in her hands down on the counter. “I don’t like you. Happy? Now, get out of my kitchen.”

Without a word, I leave. When I enter the living room again, I don’t see Mikhail anywhere. He left me alone in a room full of men I don’t know other than Andrei, and frankly, Andrei weirds me out.

I sit on the couch, thinking I won’t get in the way of anyone that way, when Andrei approaches me.