Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Lily
He didn’t come home at all throughout the weekend, and on Monday he didn’t show up at work, which wasn’t surprising because he didn’t usually come in every day.
I knew I should have been grateful for the break, but by Tuesday, I was so racked with nerves that I had bitten my nails down and ruined my manicure.
Letting myself into his mansion, I surveyed the damage and made a mental plan to call and make an appointment. It had nothing to do with wanting to look good for Daniil, I told myself. I needed to look professional for work. That was all.
These few days away from him had made me see things more clearly, or at least, I hoped it had.
I had to stop the sexual aspect of our relationship. We were both in relationships and—
“Good evening, Miss Ridgeway.” Daniil’s voice called out.
My heart skipped a beat. Butterflies took flight in my stomach, and my pussy gave the now familiar throb at the sound of his voice.
He was home. A smile spread across my face before I could stop myself, even though I had literally just been telling myself that I wasn’t that into him.
“Will you come in here, please?” he called out.
Turning my head, I saw him walking towards me, and my breath hitched in my throat.
He looked like a cover model, his dark hair artfully tousled, and the stubble dotting his cheeks and chin looked designer.
Even the way he had folded up his shirt sleeves made my mouth water.
My heart skipped a beat. “You’re home,” I whispered in a sigh.
A smile spread across his face. Reaching me, he pulled me into his arms and dipped me backwards. “You sound like you missed me, Miss Ridgeway.”
“I did.”
“Good.” Daniil’s lips slid over mine. One second, my body belonged to me, and the next, it was all his. It was like everything I had been feeling was a lie. My brain might be angry at him, but my body? My body was a traitor.
I could tell myself I wasn’t falling for him and that I was immune to all of his bossy charms, but it would be a lie. The kiss barely lasted five seconds, but by the time he pulled away I was breathless.
“Where have you been?” I asked, trying to keep my voice icy.
Daniil smiled, a very knowing smile. “Why, Miss Ridegway, anyone would think you missed me?“ He murmured against my ear.
“I haven’t.” I lied
“Don’t worry, I more than plan to make it up to you now.
Come and meet some people.” He held out a hand, and I let him lead me towards the dining room.
All the happiness I had been feeling evaporated the moment I saw who sat inside, the same beautiful blonde as before, and on her lap a little boy who had to be Daniil’s son. Both were smiling at me.
Guilt crawled up my spine. Why was she smiling like that when I was sleeping with her husband? Surely she had just heard us in the hallway.
“Hi,” I whispered, my voice cracking.
“Hi,” she gushed, her voice as sweet as her face was.
My frown and worry deepened. What the hell was Daniil playing at?
“Ive heard so much about you. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Ridgway.
” She held out a hand, the huge diamond on her ring finger glittered, and I had to tear my eye away from it. “Or can I call you Lily?”
I threw a glance at Daniil, who just looked amused by the whole situation.
Just what kind of sick situation did they have here? Probably the same kind I had. It wasn’t like I was single either, so I couldn’t really judge.
“You can call me Lily,” I said in a croaky voice. I couldn’t help it. My eyes kept darting down to the ring on her finger.
“That’s good. I’m Anya. I think we are going to be great friends, don’t you?”
Across from her, with a little boy squirming on his lap, Daniil said, “Don’t start, Anya.”
She giggled. “Ignore him. You should join us for dinner.
This time, when I looked at Daniil, the smile on his face was gone. He nodded his head once. “You heard Anya, sit down. We are having Timothy’s favorite tonight to welcome him home.”
Home? The little boy looked like an angel, but was he really coming to live here? At the same time I was here, and his father was, well, it just didn’t seem like a good environment for a kid.
“I don’t want to interrupt a family,” I began to say.
Daniil cut me off. “Join us,” he barked gruffly.
Nervously, I pulled out one of the mahogany chairs at the far end of the table, as far away from the little family group as possible, and settled into it.
The moment I did it was like I wasn’t there at all.
Daniil and Anya went about talking. Laughing and smiling at each other.
Mostly, the conversions were about the boy, but sometimes they reminisced about trips they had taken in the past and balls and parties they had gone to.
I had been forced to sit with them, but they excluded me completely. It was mesmerizing to watch the way Daniil softened around his family. There was a smile fixed permanently to his face and light dancing in his usually dark eyes. It was almost like he was a whole different person.
He loved them, I realized with a start. This wasn’t some sham arranged marriage. He actually adored them both. I could see it in the way he hung on every word. Jealousy rippled through me. What was I doing here? He had everything he clearly wanted. What did he need me for?
The dinner that was served was breaded chicken shaped like dinosaurs with fries. When it was placed in front of me, I stared at it for a full five seconds before smiling.
“I wanted beef Wellington,” Anya said from the other end of the table. “It’s my favorite. But Daniil” she playfully swatted his arm. “Always lets Timothy choose the first night, and it’s always the same. Do you like beef Wellington?”
“Yeah, sure,” I said quickly. “But I like this, too.” I added a smile towards the little boy who was watching me intently. In the entire time I had been sitting with them, he hadn’t said one word to me. He just stared. “I like your hair,” he said finally.
“Thank you.”
“Like fire,” he stated and went back to eating.
Daniil and Anya shared a startled look that I didn’t understand.
“Timothy is shy. He doesn’t talk to many people,” Anya said softly. “He must like you.” She threw a glance at Daniil, who was staring at his plate like it was the most interesting thing in the world. “Do you see how much he likes her, Daniil?”
“I see,” he answered gruffly.
“Do you want children one day, Lily?” Daniil asked.
I did a double-take. “Um, yeah, maybe one day,” I muttered. “When I’m older and more settled. My schedule doesn’t allow much time for that right now.” I bit my lip. My cheeks were turning red.
Anya’s smile never faded. “Is Daniil keeping you extra busy?”
The light blush turned into a torrent of blood rushing into my face and turning it scarlet.
“I, uh, well it’s a—” shit why couldn’t I think of what to say.
If she knew the details of my arrangement with Daniil, and she clearly did, I didn’t want to make the situation worse.
Anya might have seemed sweet, but I didnt want to cross her.
“You shouldn’t work so hard, Lily. Although,” her eyes crinkled, “I think you look glowing, so you clearly enjoy it. Both of you,” she teased.
“Enough, Anya.” Daniil snapped.
She held up her hands in mock surrender. “I’m just saying. My dear,” she added sweetly. “That you seem to work well together, and Timothy likes her. So this is a win-win situation.”
Daniil glowered, his dark eyebrows shooting down over his suddenly hooded eyes. He remained silent for the space of a minute. And then he sighed. “Yes, it’s a good situation.” Suddenly, he lifted his eyes to me. “So you do want children in the future?”
Again, I nodded. “Yes, I don’t have much experience, but I think I would make a good mother.”
“Perfect.” For a second, his eyes softened. “I think you will be a great mother as well. We will soon see.”
I blinked in confusion.“What?”
“Having Timothy here will be the perfect time for you to gain some hands-on experience.”
Confused, I stared at him, blinking rapidly. “I’m sorry, I don’t understand.”
“He will, of course, have school and a nanny for when we are at work, but I think having a caring maternal figure is important. You know, for bedtime stories and such.” He went back to eating.
“But Anya?”
The blonde gave a tinkering laugh. “Oh, sweetie, I don’t live here. This place is all stairs. It is not suitable for my needs.”
I didn’t know what she meant by that, but I had too many other questions to ask. “I’m really confused right now.”
“It’s pretty simple, Lily. I want you to take care of my son when we’re home.”
My mouth flapped open and stayed that way as I stared at him. “Are you serious?”
His dark eyes fixed on mine, and I could tell he was. “Deadly. I don’t joke about the welfare of my son. Just think of it as a practice for when you have your own family.”
“But I’m not a child minder, Daniil. I have absolutely no experience. Don’t you think you would be better—”
Again, he cut me off. “It’s a great way to get experience. And Aya is right. He likes you.”
“But—” I tried again.
“There’s no point around him,” Anya said in her singing voice. “When Daniil gets an idea, he doesn’t stray from it. Might as well give in to it now. Daniil Popov always gets what he wants.”
I was beginning to see that. But none of it made sense. Why was she ok with all of this? First, sleeping with her husband, and now, me raising her child? What in the messed-up world was going on here?
Clearly sensing my discomfort, Anya smiled again, only this time it seemed really forced. “I know it’s a lot to take, and Daniil, as always, is being a brute, but it really would be good for everyone.”
Everyone but me, but they didn’t seem to want to listen to that. It was like my thoughts and feelings didn’t matter at all. Well, they mattered to me. “Looking after your son,” I hissed, “was not part of the deal.”
I said it so quietly that I was sure that no one had heard me, but at the last second, Daniil snapped his head towards me and glared. “It is now.”
“Mr, Popov, Daniil,” I tried again, forcing myself to keep my voice even. “You can’t ask me to do this.”
“I am not asking,” he snapped. “I am telling you. It’s just a little time and patience.” His eyes flickered to his son who was eating his food completely oblivious to what was being said. Or at least that’s how it looked. I had a sneaky suspicion that he was listening to every word.
How much could a child his age understand?
“But—” I placed my knife and fork on the plate. My appetite was gone.
“This is non-negotiable.”He took a bite and stared at me as he chewed. “If you want our arrangement to continue, then this is happening. Now if you are finished eating you are excused to spend the rest of the evening anyway you like.”
My eyes went between them, first to Anya who was staring down to her plate with a frown, “Danill.” she muttered under her breath. “We talked about going gently.”
He ignored her completely, and I was powerless to look away from him.
I let out a shaky, uneven breath. He was serious. “Thank you.” I scraped back my chair and paused. “It was a pleasure meeting you Anya and you as well Timothy.” I flashed them both a smile that didn’t meet my eyes. The beautiful woman smiled warmly in return. Her whole face lighting up.
How was it possible that she was ok with all of this? I wouldn’t be. If Daniil were my husband, I would never be ok with having an open relationship.
Only he would never be mine because he was hers I reminded myself, and I had to stop letting good sex cloud my judgment. I wasn’t falling for Daniil. I was just enjoying the sex, and it was making me crazy.
Finally turning my attention back to Daniil, I gave him a polite nod. “Thank you for dinner, Mr. Popov. I will give you my answer shortly.”
With that, I walked away.
“No need for an answer, Lily.” his voice followed me. “You are doing it.”