10. Rose
ROSE
Life on the Belyaev Estate is calmer than I expected.
Before the wedding, Mathew would spend hours detailing how tyrannical and horrible Konstanin was and how he deserved everything that was coming to him.
Over and over again, he would lament about how he would take everything by force if he had the manpower to back it up, but because he doesn't, he's reduced to sneaky methods like trafficking me under the painful threat of losing my family.
I braced myself for horror.
But in the month I've been here, I haven't seen a single horrible thing from Konstantin or the people around him.
I'm not naive enough to think it's all lies—after all, reputations are always born from some form of truth—but Konstantin is… nice.
He's kind to me.
Great in bed.
Gives me more freedom than I've had in months and doesn't question what I'm up to or where I've been.
I'm sure Calvin reports it all back to him if he asks, but it's almost as if he trusts me.
He certainly trusts me enough to plan this party and I've thrown myself into the task over the past few weeks. It's easy to get lost in the excitement.
The party might be a ruse to try and get information out of his generals and slip bugs into their phones, but it's a party nonetheless.
I sit out on the patio with my phone in hand and scribble down the last of the flowers required for the ballroom.
The party I have in mind requires a very specific kind of atmosphere to get these people to open up, so I've chosen roses.
Roses are romantic at a glance, but even more so if every hired dancing girl keeps one between her teeth while approaching a target.
Those men won't be able to resist.
"Do you think a sculpture is too much?" I glance up at Calvin and squint against the sunlight. "It's too much, isn't it?"
"No, I don't think so," Calvin replies. "On one hand, you're throwing this party for a reason, correct?"
I nod. As per Kon's instructions, Ethan and Calvin are the other people entrusted with the reason behind the party.
"You also don't want them to think Kon is scrimping on the party either."
My eyes widen and I smile. "What I'm hearing is that we should also show off how rich Kon is?"
Calvin nods.
"How rich is he?" I tilt my head. "Is there even a number for how much money he has?"
"If there is, I don't know it," Calvin chuckles. "It's ironic how much these hardened criminals actually care about presentation. It almost makes no sense given how gritty this life is."
"The big house," I murmur. "The fancy cars, the gigantic gardens, and pretty wives." My teeth sink into my lower lip. "It's almost reality TV worthy."
Calvin lets out a snort. "Can you imagine? The Housewives of Organized Crime." He spreads his hands wide as if rolling out the title. "It would make millions within one episode."
"Billions," I laugh softly. "Okay so catering is ordered and sorted.
I've noted everyone's dietary requirements.
All the girls have been hired, including the dancers, the musicians, and the beautiful working girls.
I'll order the sculpture…" I pencil it in on the notepad in my lap and glance at my phone.
"Kon's suit is due from the tailor and he said he got me a dress.
" I squint back up at Calvin. "Do you know what it looks like? "
Calvin shakes his head. "No clue."
"Hm. He wouldn't make me look frumpy, would he?"
"You've seen how he dresses." Calvin leans against one of the stone pillars and tilts his head into the shade. "I doubt the word frumpy is even in his vocabulary."
I nod slowly and glance back at my pad, then meet Calvin's eyes. "Can I ask you something?"
"Anything." The ease with which he responds is almost alarming.
"Is he always so…" My lips purse as I search for the right word. "Nice?"
"Nice?" Calvin's cheek indents slightly. "I don't know anyone who would describe him as nice."
My stomach twists into a hot knot. "How would they describe him?"
"Competent. Loyal. Powerful. Restrained." Calvin reels off the words. "But those people, and even me, get a different version of him than you get. In my experience, Konstantin is very measured in what he shows people. So regretfully, the only person who would know the Kon you see is—"
"Lianna." I cut in softly. Kon's late wife. Her name slipped one evening while we were sharing dinner but rather than shy away from it, Kon admitted how hard her passing was and then quickly moved the conversation on.
He's a man who has loved and lost, and now I'm a snake in his garden trying to get pregnant so I can save my family from slaughter. Somehow, in this twisted criminal underworld, I'm the bad guy.
And I'm still not pregnant.
Matthew hasn't been back since the day he threatened me in the garden and he hasn't responded to any of my messages either.
The silence is deafening and the uncertainty about the condition of my family is smothering.
I do my best to hide it.
Taking a deep breath, I scroll through my phone to the keypad and type in the number of the sculpture shop. It connects straight away and within ten minutes, a sculpture of several birds of prey is set to be delivered on the morning of the party.
"I kind of like having this much monetary freedom," I say with a smile as Calvin suddenly stiffens slightly.
"Should I be concerned?" comes Kon's voice from behind me. He steps through the patio doors and his brow dips against the bright sunlight. "Will I be weeping when I see the bill for all of this?"
I swivel in my seat and flash him a smirk. "Can you really put a price on the truth?"
"No," he replies smoothly. "I suppose you cannot." He stops an inch away from me and his large shadow drapes over me like a blanket. "Have you completed the guest list?"
I nod and glance down at several scattered books and notes across the picnic table. "I did, did you not get it? I thought I sent it, I'm sorry."
"No apology needed," Kon replies. "I did receive it but I saw your brother and your father are not on the list."
My heart tightens ever so slightly in my chest as I glance up at him. "Is that… a problem?"
"Do you not want to invite your family?" he asks and his voice remains soft. "Indeed, we have an agenda at this party, but it is still a party nonetheless."
"Oh." Oddly, inviting them never crossed my mind. Only Mathew would come, and it's hard enough pretending he's my brother without playing hostess with him breathing down my neck. "I didn't think I could."
"You never have to ask," Kon says and his hand rests warmly on my shoulder.
"You should invite them." As he speaks, he leans down and presses a tender kiss to my forehead.
"I did not get to speak to your father at the wedding, so it would be nice to meet him properly.
You should invite all of your family, even the ones who did not attend. "
A glimmer of hope rushes through me so fast that goosebumps spring down my bare arms. I catch Kon's wrist as his hand leaves my shoulder, and squeeze.
"Thank you."
"Of course." His lips twitch into a brief, short smile, then his attention is stolen by his phone. "I have to leave, but I will be back before dinner. Calvin, take care of her."
“Yes, boss," Calvin replies, and we both watch Kon head back inside where he's greeted by Ethan and they both melt into the darkness of the house.
Phone in hand, I dial Mathew's number and set the phone down on the table. As soon as he answers, I put him on speakerphone.
"What?" Mathew demands sharply.
"Brother! You're on speaker," I say sweetly. "I have an invitation for you. Rather, a request from Konstantin that you really don't want to turn down. Isn't that right, Calvin?" I look at Calvin, hoping the sound of his voice will force Mathew to play nice.
"Turning down a request from Konstantin is never a good look," Calvin agrees.
Mathew lets out a soft, choked sound and then clears his throat. "Of course, my dear sister. What do you need from me?"
"We're throwing a party. Just a fancy get-together for a bunch of people, and Kosntantin wants you to come.
In fact, he wants the whole family to come, including people he hasn't met!
And I thought—what a fantastic idea. It's been so long since the whole family has been together, and they really need to meet my husband, so what do you say? "
There's a soft sound, like fabric being dragged over the speaker and a low hum, followed by Mathew clearing his throat again. "This is short notice, Rose."
"It's not tonight," I clarify quickly. "It's next week. So you have plenty of time."
"That's not an issue, is it?" Calvin interjects. "We can send people to pick you up if travel is a concern."
"No, not at all," Mathew replies hastily. "We'll make it work. I know everyone misses you, Rose, and it's been too long since I've seen you. Tell me when and where and I'll be there."
"And you'll bring everyone, right?" My heart begins to pound, fearing he has an excuse ready for why my mother or sister can't make it.
"Konstantin wants to meet everyone, so I will bring everyone," Mathew replies through somewhat gritted teeth. "Don't you worry."
"Excellent!" I can't keep the beaming smile from my face. "I'll send you the details!"
Mathew abruptly hangs up while I grin at Calvin and clap my hands together, then I gasp. "Wait, I'll need to call catering and add four more people. And add an extra table, and extra party favors!"
Worth it, though.
If I can get my father alone on the night of the party, then maybe we can finally talk and I can find a different way out of this mess that will save everyone, myself included.