Chapter 20 Grace #3
I shrug. It’s an easier question to tackle. “I’ll admit I grimace every time someone uses it, but it’s the name people associate with my work. I’m trying to build my portfolio, and it would have been too messy having to explain why my citations appear under a different name.”
“So, it’s not because you had designs on becoming a Moncrief as soon as you got here?”
My jaw drops. I can’t believe I’m offended by the woman who was blasé about killing me, and arranged poor Rory’s accident. “You think I’m a gold digger? Is that what this whole interview is about?”
Katarina sniffs. “Partly. Now do you see how you might have skewed the answers if I’d told you from the start?”
In spite of everything, I find myself smiling. I’m also on the verge of tears. “You wanted to make sure I’m good enough for Duke. You really do like him.”
“Tolerate,” she corrects.
“Whatever,” I say with a waft of my hand.
“And for your information, I didn’t know Duke was a Moncrief when I moved here.
But I did want to find him. We’d watched this film.
Serendipity? It’s a Romcom. The main characters meet, fall in love but decide to leave it to chance to meet again.
” Those damn tears clog my throat and it hurts when I swallow.
“Duke and I decided to do the same. I helped fate along by moving to Chicago, not realizing that Duke was ten steps ahead of me.”
My vision might be blurred, but I swear Katarina’s eyes shimmer too. “Until I set you both twenty steps back.”
My smile wobbles. “You’re not what I expected at all.
In fact, I suspect you’re a romantic at heart,” I say.
I think I’m drunk. I must be drunk to ignore the scowl she directs at me.
“Do you think you’ll ever get married? To someone you actually love, I mean, not someone your uncle sets you up with. ”
Katarina turns the cup in front of her. “The odds are not in our favor.”
I almost choke on a gasp. She said our. “Oh. My. God. There is someone.” I waggle a finger at her. “It’s dick-mold man.”
Katarina goes to snatch my finger, but I pull my hand away before she can break bones. “Don’t ever call him that again,” she warns. “It sounds gross.”
I bite down on my lower lip, but I have to ask. “Who is he?”
Katarina plays with a lock of her long, raven hair. “None of your business.”
“But I’ve just told you what happened with me and Duke,” I whine.
“Exactly. You’re too trusting.”
Reality hits and I pale. “Are you going to use the information against me?”
“No!” she says indignantly, then makes a sound of disgust that I quickly realize is directed at herself. “Maybe I am turning into a sucker for a good love story. At least one of us deserves to be happy.”
I’m dying to find out more about Katarina’s love interest, but I would literally be putting my life on the line. The ruthless Bratva princess would kill to keep a secret like that, and I already know more than I should. “So, what happens now?”
“Consider yourself recruited into my circle of trust,” she says. “Officially, I’m going to hire your services. You can organize my birthday party.”
“But I’m an interior designer,” I remind her. “Not an events planner.”
She shrugs. “You’re adaptable. Adapt. Duke will be more than happy to clear it with DeVere once he knows you’ll be spending more time together.”
My heart hammers in my chest. I don’t know if this is a blessing or a curse. We don’t have the best track record of keeping our hands off each other. I don’t trust me, so I’m surprised Katarina would. “You’re OK with me working with Duke?”
“Grace, darling, I don’t just want you working with him, I want you to fuck his brains out,” she says. “Duke’s too close to the ledge for my liking and you’re going to be the one to pull him back. Just don’t make too much noise while you’re doing it. You need to be discreet.”
My jaw slackens. I’d like to think I understand Katarina a little better, but I don’t know her. It has to be a trap.
She rolls her eyes to the heavens like she’s read my mind. “You don’t trust me?”
“I just…”
“It’s fine. I’m not offended,” she says.
“But I promise you, it’s no trick. It’s simply a calculated risk to keep our plan on track.
” She taps a fingernail on the tabletop.
“But, if you want to thank me, you could persuade Duke to hold my party at the Moncrief mansion. He’s insisting we use the Excelsior, but that’s where the wedding is supposed to be.
I don’t want formal. They have a huge estate, so if the Moncriefs are being precious about me using the house, we’ll put up a marquee.
I want open space where I can let my hair down. ”
“I’ll try,” I offer. There could be a good reason why Duke has refused, so I’m not going to overcommit. “Is there anything else I should be doing?”
“Yes,” she says, because of course she’s thought it all through. I’m the only one of us reeling in shock. “To avoid any suspicion, we have to establish that you and I are best friends. We need to convince my uncle’s spies that you’re organizing the party because you like me.”
I give her a look. “Do you think anyone would believe that?”
“Ha, ha.”
That vodka has a lot to answer for. I can’t believe I’m joking with Katarina, but my point is a valid one. “Maybe we should socialize a little to make it more believable.”
“With more reliable witnesses next time,” she says tipping her head to her bodyguards who are currently chatting up the waitress and not paying Katarina any attention.
“My uncle relies on Danyl’s opinion most of all, but he’s still recovering from yesterday.
And Andrey has an upset stomach for some unknown reason. ”
I suspect Katarina knows the reason but I don’t ask.
She checks her watch. “And while I’m off their leash, I’d like to make the most of my freedom. I have an appointment with my hairdresser.”
The sparkle in Katarina’s eyes lights up her face. There’s only one explanation. “Either you really like getting your hair styled, or you really like the hairdresser.”
“I thought we established I don’t like anyone,” she says with a good-natured snarl.
Or at least I hope it’s good-natured as I adjust to our blossoming ‘friendship.’ I slide my cup towards her, gesturing for a refill. I need just a little more fortification.
I take it as a good sign when Katarina pours me a shot without batting an eyelid. I knock back the vodka and feel the burn at the back of my throat as I slam my cup back down on the table.
“Katarina, as your friend, it’s my duty to point out that what you did to Rory was just awful,” I tell her. “No, it was worse than that. It was utterly and completely reprehensible.”
Katarina scowls. “As my friend, aren’t you supposed to be supportive and only say nice things about me?”
“You haven’t had many friends, have you?"
I say it as a joke, but it immediately backfires. “None that were allowed to survive.”
I’m unsure if it’s the friendships or the friends who weren’t allowed to survive, but what is clear is that Katarina hasn’t had many positive influences in her life.
I pull back my shoulders. “Friends are supportive, yes,” I agree.
“But good friends challenge you to do better and then support you to get there. I have a feeling your world is divided into two groups of people. The ones who use you, and those you use. But if that’s all you’re ever looking for, that’s all you’ll ever see. ”
“So tell me, Grace. What do you see in people?”
“There are the ones who offer their help for no better reward than to improve someone else’s life.”
“Like the Griffins?” she says, attempting to sound dismissive, but I think she means it.
For a moment, she puts me to shame. I hadn’t considered the Griffins, I don’t know them well enough. Hunter still scares me, and the other brothers sound just as intimidating, but maybe I should open my eyes a little more.
“I was thinking of people like Duke who quietly make sacrifices to protect others,” I reply. “Or people who might be flawed, but are still worth getting to know,” I say, shocked that Katarina is now included in that number. “People to share dreams with, or experiences…”
“Or bodily fluids,” she says, checking her watch again.
When she slides out of the booth, my heart sinks a little. I’m wondering if she heard anything I said, but as she straightens up, she considers her next words.
“I’m willing to accept that Rory’s accident was a mistake, but everyone’s overreacting.
It was just a little bump.” Her explanation doesn’t cut it and one look from me has her rolling her eyes.
“Fine, it was wrong. The Moncriefs have been generous and patient, and I saw that as a weakness and took advantage.” Her brow creases.
I know she’s not going to change her world view overnight, but she’s trying.
“I’ve been pushing Duke too hard. I am sorry for that. ”
“It’s a start,” I say, feeling like a kindergarten teacher asking a child to play nice.
Katarina must think so too because she tuts. “Goodbye, Grace.”
“Wait. What about me? What should I do?”
She glares at me like I’m stupid. “Go put that man out of his damn misery.”