Chapter 29
GABBY
“Smile,” Sasha says. “You’re the reason this is happening.”
The ballroom at the Raddison Royal gleams like nothing I’ve seen before—crystal chandeliers, black marble floors, a jazz trio playing something sultry. Even the air smells expensive.
We’re at a Bratva event dressed up as a corporate celebration. A cocktail party to honor the upcoming Orlov-Morozov merger, as the invitations had said.
So many months of hard work are finally paying off. I’m still in shock from Sasha informing me the other day that Johan had accepted the offer. Had my off-the-clock diplomacy with Angie paid off? Hard to say. But I’m still proud, all the same.
Yet, there’s a little ache behind the pride. Sasha still hasn’t apologized for the other night. It’s like we moved past it without actually moving through it. Seeing Peter the other day made me empathize with him a little more, made the danger he’s trying to protect me from more real.
Still, I want to hear the words. I want to hear him apologize for scaring me, for making me feel like I couldn’t trust him.
I don’t know whether he’s found out about my lunch with Angie or that Peter Morozov saw me. Just the thought of it makes the back of my neck prickle. If Sasha knows, he’s playing it close. If he doesn’t… God, I don’t even want to think about it.
But I can push all of that aside for one night, especially when the night is all about the biggest professional achievement of my career.
I glance at Sasha as he leads me in. “I ever tell you how nice you clean up? I wouldn’t even guess that you’re a crime lord.”
His mouth curves faintly as he picks up on the wry undertone of my comment. “For you, a pakhan becomes a gentleman.”
I laugh softly, the sound blending with the music and the room’s easy chatter.
He does look devastating tonight—charcoal suit, faint five o’clock shadow, his silver cuff links catching the low light of the space.
It’s moments like these when I consider how weird it is to think of him as my lover, the father of my children, and a man people whisper about in fear all rolled into one.
And me? I’m in an emerald satin cocktail dress, my hair up, my stomach still flat enough to hide the twins.
Sasha fetches us some drinks, and I take in the scene. It’s a big party, but small enough to feel intimate. The view from the tall, arched windows sweeps over the city. I still can’t believe this is my life, avoiding assassinations one day, celebrating epic corporate mergers the next.
Sasha may be a bit of a prick, but there’s never a dull moment with him.
He approaches a few moments later, a lovely looking red cocktail in one hand, scotch in the other. “Rosemary pomegranate mocktail,” he says. “It’s quite nice.”
I arch my eyebrows. “Does that mean you took a sip?”
“I couldn’t help myself. I have to say, mocktails have come quite a long way.” He stiffens a bit after he speaks. Something’s on his mind. “The twins. How are they?”
I glance down at my stomach. “In the same place as before. No kicking yet or anything, if that’s what you’re wondering.”
Is this it? Is he finally going to apologize? Moments tick by.
“Good. Your next doctor’s appointment is Friday, I believe. I’ll try to attend.”
I sigh internally. “Yeah? Great.”
Before the conversation can drag on any further, the doors open once more, and who steps in but Johan and Angie. Johan is all conquering-hero confidence, smiling and waving to the crowd. Angie’s beaming too, looking like something out of a dream in her updo and navy-blue cocktail dress.
My eye flicks down at the big rock on her finger. Even from this distance, I can tell it’s impressive.
The pair sees us right off the bat and walks in our direction.
“Wow, Gab,” Angie says, looking me up and down with wide eyes. “You look like a princess.” She throws her arms open and pulls me into a hug.
“And you’re not so bad yourself.”
Johan steps over, taking my hand in his and giving it a polite kiss. “Gabriella,” he says, “so nice to see you under happier circumstances. Much happier, in fact. You’re having twins, Angie and I are getting married.”
“And we’re about to make this merger official,” Sasha says. “Much to celebrate indeed.”
“Good to see you too, Johan,” I say. “And congrats to you both. Seriously. But you’d better take good care of her.” I flash him a playful glare.
He laughs. “I wouldn’t have proposed if I didn’t intend to take care of her. And I know you’ll make sure I do it right.”
Sasha throws back the rest of his drink, then flags one of the servers carrying champagne. Smoothly, he sets his empty on the tray and takes three flutes, passing two to Angie and Johan.
Drink in hand, he taps the rim, the chime catching the attention of the room. The band quiets down, and all eyes are on him.
“First of all, I want to thank all of you for coming. This evening is one of the most important nights in both AngelCorp and Dandelion’s histories, and it means a great deal that you would all be here to celebrate with us.
” He pauses, letting his words settle over the room.
“Tonight has been the result of great effort and many late nights. We all played our roles in the process, but I want to take a moment to convey my special thanks to the most instrumental employee in the merger, Gabriella Resse.”
A tinge of embarrassment runs through me. Everyone’s looking at me. I feel good but overwhelmed all at the same time.
“Her brilliance created the merger proposal, making a case that Johan would have to be a fool to turn down.” Light laughs sound through the room, Johan gives a “he’s got me there” shrug.
Before he can continue, however, the doors open once more. The sound of heels on parquet echoes through the space, and all eyes go from me to whoever’s entering.
I somehow know who it is before I see her.
Ruth.
She saunters in like she owns the place, her slender figure clad in a gorgeous pink gown. A tall, almost-comically handsome man—total arm candy—is at her side. She pauses for a moment, taking in the scene.
“Well, I didn’t expect that kind of greeting.” She’s clearly pleased with both the attention and the interruption. “Please, continue, Sasha.”
She winks, heading over to the bar with her man. Ruth flicks her eyes at me, narrowing them just a bit, as if wanting to let me know she’s seen me.
Sasha clears his throat, bringing the attention back to him.
“This is a new day for all of us. Once the legal necessities are taken care of, AngelCorp and Dandelion will grow larger and stronger than ever before. And I couldn’t be prouder to have all of you along for the ride.
” He raises his glass. “To Gabriella, to all of you. Za zdorovye!”
All glasses are raised; applause sounds out. Sasha gestures to the band, which starts up again. I glance at Ruth, who’s clapping softly, touching her fingertips to the bottom of her palm.
Angie clears her throat and speaks. “So, guys, do you mind if I borrow Gabby for a bit? Need a little girl time.”
“By all means,” Johan says.
Sasha gestures to the balcony. “It’s heated out there, if you need a little privacy.”
Johan leans over and plants a quick kiss on Angie’s cheek.
Angie then takes my hand, and together we hurry out.
It’s peaceful out on the balcony, the space a long, narrow stretch along the side of the building.
Standing heaters wrap us in toasty warmth.
The city sprawls beneath us, lights flickering off into the horizon.
The door clicks behind us, muffling the music. For a moment, neither of us speaks—no noise but the sounds of traffic drifting upward from twenty stories below.
Angie exhales, shoulders softening. “Okay,” she says. “Before you say anything, I’m sorry. I should’ve told you.”
I arch a brow. “You mean about the engagement?”
“Of course, about the engagement. You’re not hurt, are you?”
I give the question a second to settle. “I mean, maybe a little. My best friend’s getting married, and I had no clue! I’m not mad, but you know…”
“I know, I know. I kept meaning to tell you, but everything’s been total chaos. And I don’t need to explain to you what I mean. Then Johan wanted to wait until things were more official and the merger was done and everything else.”
“Still, you could’ve told me.” I’m being ridiculous. But I can’t help it. I’ve missed her.
“You’re right, you’re right.” She raises a finger. “But to be fair, I seem to remember you keeping some secrets under wraps for a while. Two of them, in fact.” She flicks her eyes down to my belly and smiles.
“Fair point.” I can’t help but laugh.
“I guess we both got a little too good at keeping secrets,” she says. She steps beside me, putting her hand on my shoulder.
I glance out at the city, watching the twinkling lights for a moment.
“It’s not even about trust anymore, is it? It’s survival. You have to choose what feels safe to reveal. If the wrong secret gets out…”
She nods. “Yeah. That’s what this world we’re in does; makes you guard against even the good things.”
“Then maybe we stop letting it.”
She looks at me with something like resolve. “Deal. No more hiding. Not from each other.”
I smile. “Full disclosure. Even if it’s messy.”
We tap rims.
Then she pulls me into a hug. “I’m so, so, freaking happy for you.”
I smile in her hair. “Right back at you.”