I pull the pillow off my head and lie on it instead. I stare up at the ceiling and feel bad. I feel bad that I yelled at her while she was crying. I know I was just tired. I will have to make it up to her.

Chapter 10 - Penny

I don’t want anything to do with this asshole, but as the days go by, he lays down the law pretty thick.

First, it’s the meals. I have to eat most of my meals with him and present myself as his perfect fiance whenever anyone is around, regardless of who it is—staff or family.

He has started dropping hints about how I will behave around his mother. How I will be agreeable and how I will be pleasant. I don’t agree to any of this.

I’m sent out shopping with some guards and a designer to get new clothes. I won’t lie, I did enjoy this part. I get to go to the high-end boutiques that cater to curvier women, and I get some totally nice fitting clothes, and just to spite Kervyn, I spend as much as I can on clothes and things for my bedroom.

He insists I always wear my engagement ring. It’s beautifully designed, a white gold band with a leaf of diamonds on top. He says it doesn’t mean anything. It’s just for show, but I notice him eying it out now and then as though trying to accept that he’s engaged.

I don’t know why he chose me. I’ve seen some of the women at the club where he works, and they are drop-dead gorgeous. They could be or probably are high-end models. But he’s marrying me.

At meal times he plans the wedding with me. He says no cost is too great, and although I’m tempted to go over the top lavish and ridiculous with this, I have always wanted a beautiful wedding. If this is going to be my only opportunity to have one, then I am going to make it count.

I sometimes meet him at the club for lunch so he can show me off. It’s been officially announced amongst his men that I am his fiance, and I’m pregnant with his child. I have a security detail that goes with me everywhere except the toilet.

When we have lunch with his men or anyone from the family, I am to be seen and not heard. I’ve learned that the hard way.

When I’ve spoken out a few times about something to ask a question, the men laugh at me, and Kervyn tells me to mind my business. He’s quite cold with me when his men are around. You would swear this isn’t the same man who made such passionate love to me two months ago.

I’ve had another checkup on the baby, and Kervyn insisted on coming with me. He was disappointed that it was too early to tell the gender of the baby. That gave him the idea to have a gender reveal party, which is another thing I now have to sit and plan.

I’m eleven weeks pregnant, and my cravings are pretty bad. At the moment, pickles and mayo on brown toast are my thing. I make sure to wake Kervyn up with this craving most nights, and on nights he anticipates it, I indulge one of my others just to annoy him.

I plan on doing just that as I come downstairs when I notice a dark-haired stranger standing at the base of the stairs. He looks up at me, and his green eyes meet mine. I blush slightly.

I’m wearing an off-the-shoulder flower dress and sandals. My hair is loose in lots of little curls.

“Ah, you must be my cousin's fiance,” the man says with a thicker accent than Kervyn and his brothers have. “My name is Zakhar. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

He holds out his hand, and I take it. “I’m Penny.”

He lifts my hand to his lips and kisses it. “A simply beautiful name for a simply beautiful woman. My cousin doesn’t know how lucky he is.”

“Your cousin knows exactly how lucky he is.” We turn to see Kervyn come downstairs with a smile. “Zak, it’s a pleasure to have you visiting.”

I try to move past them as they speak and go to the breakfast nook. It’s the sunniest part of the house in the morning and perfect for breakfast.

Kervyn and Zakhar sit opposite me. I butter some toast as they speak in Russian, minding my own business again.

“Forgive me,” Zakhar says, suddenly looking at me. “We should speak English so Penny doesn’t feel excluded.”

Kervyn hesitates, then nods. “It’s fine.”

“You’re lucky you got Kervyn and not my cousin Luka. There would be women parading in and out this house through various windows at his whim.” He chuckles. “The man is a, what do you call it, player?”

Kervyn smiles and turns Zakhar's attention back to business.

Zakhar’s point does land home, though. Although Kervyn is cold to me in front of his men, he doesn’t bring other women into the house. I almost smile at that.

We finish breakfast, and I excuse myself, but as I reach the door, Kervyn calls out. “Penny, one moment.”

He gets up and comes over to me. “There is a Russian opera on tonight. We’re expected to be there. You will need a more formal dress. Please get one.”

“Do I have to go? I won’t understand a word.” I pout.

“Yes, please don’t argue today.” He looks at me pointedly, and then I tilt my head.

“I’ll go with you, but I then get to visit Asher.” I smile as he sighs and nods.

“Fine, you go tonight and be on your best fiance behavior, and you can see your friend,” He says quietly, as though he doesn’t want his cousin to hear.

“Then I’m going shopping,” I say with a smile.

Getting the dress is easy. Finding flats that fit and match the dress is a little more difficult. In the end, I find a beautiful emerald green velvet a-line dress with a square neck, off-the-shoulder sleeves and a gold trim.

My pumps are sequined with emerald green sequins.

I go home and spend the day pottering around before I get ready to go. I come out of my room and go to wait downstairs for the boys. Zakhar is already there, and as I come down the stairs, he jumps to attention and holds out a hand to help me down.

I smile. “You don’t have to be extra nice to me just because I’m Kervyn’s fiance.”

“I’m being nice to you because you’re a beautiful woman.” He chuckles. “And you seem like a nice person.”

I blush and look around. “Where is your cousin?”

“He will meet us there. He had some business to attend to. Come, I will escort you to the theatre. It would be my honor.” I almost want to trust Zakhar. He is kind, whereas Kervyn is cold. He compliments me where Kervyn no longer seems to bother.

I get in the car, and he goes around to get in beside me. As we drive together, he rolls up the window between the driver and ourselves and smiles. “You look like you could use some privacy.”

“I haven’t had any since I arrived at the mansion,” I say, smiling sadly.

“I’m afraid my cousin can be, what’s the word, demanding. He always has gotten what he wants, even if it’s unfair to others.” I raise an eyebrow.

“You’re not close?” I ask.

“We’re family, but I’m not like his brothers. I don’t think my cousin can just claim people for himself as though they’re objects.” It’s so refreshing to hear.

He smiles and takes my hand in his, squeezing it. “You don’t need to worry. I am happy to take care of you in the ways my cousin cannot.”

I blush and withdraw my hand. I don’t entirely trust him, but I also would like an ally rather than an enemy in the family. “Thank you, Zakhar.”

“Please call me Zak,” he insists.

“Zak.” I smile.