Chapter 23
LILIANA
I’ve never been the kind of girl to imagine myself in some potential Cinderella scenario, but as I gather the skirts of this silver dress and climb into the backseat an hour and a half after Anton showed up at the bakery, I can’t help feeling like I’ve fallen into an alternate universe.
He’s whisked me away from work, literally, and somehow arranged for me to come as his date to New York City’s biggest night of fundraising.
It’s not a party. It’s not a grand dinner.
This is the night that everyone in the upper one percent of elitist society talks about.
Celebrities will be here. Reporters will mill around hoping for an exclusive. And billions of dollars will be spent.
In just this one night.
Anton leans down to face me. “I’ll be just a minute.” He doesn’t wait for my reply. As I adjust my dress and settle against the cushion, he straightens and closes the door to speak to Viktor outside.
I heave out a nervous breath and slide my phone out of my coat pocket.
This man didn’t just get me a dress and shoes, he had Viktor find a matching coat, too.
I shake my head at the extravagance and check my phone. My parents are clueless about this, still away at the rehab place, but I like that Jenni knows where I am. Just like a woman should always tell her girlfriends when she’s out on a date, I’m relieved that someone who knows me knows where I am.
I see several missed texts from her.
I’m sorry.
I didn’t mean to push you into anything you didn’t want to do.
Please don’t hate me.
I know you don’t want to see him yet or face him.
But you need to.
I sigh, hating that she’s right. According to my checkup, I’m already over two months along.
I’m nearly at the end of the first trimester, and sooner than later, I’ll start showing.
In the back of my mind, I know that the longer I hide this from Anton, the more likely he’ll be upset with me for the secrecy.
It’s probably just better to get it over with. Tell him and not have that burden weighing me down.
I know. And you’re right, I respond.
So you’re going?
She must have been staring at her phone, waiting for me to reply, since she texted that back so fast.
Don’t you need to come home and get ready then? I have a dress you can borrow.
I smile, wondering if I’m a hypocrite for loving this gown I’m wearing.
Anton is the kind of man who plans ahead, apparently.
I take a selfie of the dress and send it.
OMG!!!!
That is gorgeous.
I bet I could sell it for a decent price too. After.
Ha.
I furrow my brow.
The way that man looks at you, I doubt he’ll let you.
I scowl, not liking her insinuation.
He looks at me like a man who lusts for a woman. That’s it. He’s not some Prince Charming who’s going to change my life.
I bite my lip. He already has changed my life. He’s made me a mother. And that’s not a bad thing. Bad timing, perhaps, but not a curse.
He looks at you like a man who realizes what love means.
I shake my head.
As much as I might wish that’s true, and that’s probably just the hormones talking, it’s not reality. He’s twice my age. He’s Roman’s father! And he’s an influential, wealthy man who won’t settle for someone like me.
Three dots appear to indicate she’s replying, but Anton gets in, and I slide my phone back into my pocket.
“Ready?” he asks once he’s next to me, his arm draped comfortably over my shoulders like it’s a pose we’ve practiced a hundred times until it felt natural.
“No.” There’s no point in lying about it.
“Why not?”
I blow out a big breath. “I’m wearing something worth more than I’d make in a year. I’m going to look like an amateur without my hair professionally styled. And I’m dreading how awkwardly I’ll stand out as someone you’d never be expected to bring to a thing like this.”
He smiles before leaning in to kiss me. It’s a tender one, but possessive nonetheless.
“You’ll be with me, and that’s all that matters.”
Somehow, his words seep into my soul and it clicks. He’s not bluffing. Just by having me with him, he gives me some of his confidence.
Yet it’s not that simple. “It’s not just that this is so far out of my comfort zone. It’s that I’m going to something with you.” I clear my throat.
“We’ve established that.”
“Your family will be there.” I bite my lip.
He sighs, tugging my lip free and watching my mouth like he wants to kiss me again. “That’s true.”
“Roman will be there.”
He nods, not looking away from my mouth.
“Roman once thought he would be bringing me to this gala.”
He smiles, glancing up at my eyes. “He might have said that, but he wouldn’t have.”
“I agree. He never wanted to bring me to anything. No family events. Like I was some dirty little accessory to be tucked away out of sight.”
“His loss.” He strokes my shoulder with his thumb. “My gain.”
I can’t hide a slow smile. “I also agree. But it is strange that he recently sought me out and tried to insinuate that he’d already put my name down as his plus-one to this. And that he still expected me to go with him despite how I broke up with him.”
He grunts a wry laugh.
“He seems to think I’m some backup he can pull out whenever he wants. But then, he’s never handled not getting what he wants.”
“He’ll learn his lesson tonight.” He cups my face and kisses me. “Because you’re not a backup. You’re too good to be a second choice.”
My heart swells at his praise. It’s not just lust that he shows me, it’s something deeper. A deep appreciation I’ve never gotten from anyone before. Certainly not from Roman.
There’s no time left to fret and fuss about showing up, because in a matter of minutes, we’re there.
The car pulls up, and Anton guides me out and down the carpeted path to the entrance.
Flashes blink everywhere as the press snaps pictures, but I ignore all of it and focus on nothing but the feel of Anton’s hand on mine.
Then, later, once we’re inside amid the whirlwind of commotion, the brush of his arm against mine.
I try not to look bewildered, but he senses it anyway.
“You are here with me, Liliana,” he says, eyes on me. “And that’s all that matters.”
I smile and nod, deciding to trust him.
It’s a trust I’ll need to rely on, because as we turn and push deeper into the crowd, Roman’s furious face is hard to miss. He’s coming right for us, scowling with rage as he jerks his gaze from his father holding my hand to my face.
“What kind of a fucking joke is this?” he demands. “Liliana? What the fuck is going on?”
Anton steps forward. It’s nothing more than a half-step in front of me, but it reads like a defensive move.
I haven’t rehearsed what to say. Secretly, I’ve indulged in fantasies of telling him off. Of laughing in his face and hitting him with some sassy line about how far I’ve moved on.
Nothing comes to me though, because behind him is a woman who has to be his mother.
The infamous Elena that Roman’s always praised and talked so highly of. I’ve never met her, but by the furious stare she shoots my way, I know this is going to turn into a disaster.
Anton takes charge though.
“Do you really think it’s wise to use that tone on my date?” Anton asks. He doesn’t give Roman a chance to reply. Instead, he grips my chin gently, tips my face up, and plants a sweet but possessive kiss on my lips.
It’s a demonstration.
He’s claiming me.
Marking his territory.
And I can’t resist a smile. I should be pissed at him using me like this, but in my heart, I know that’s not it.
He didn’t bring me here as a trophy or as an example of anything.
With his hot lips against mine, his hand on my back, and his baby in my belly, I feel this connection that has morphed from instant attraction into something so much more.
His soft sigh as he pulls away proves it. The look of longing and smug satisfaction on his face reinforces it.
This is what Jenni was talking about.
Anton is like my prince charming. Only, he’s not a prince; not a fairytale. He’s a king. A real man who wants me.
“Anton. Darling—”
Viktor cuts off Elena as she sweeps up close. He blocks Roman’s mother from clinging to Anton’s arm. A laugh slips out of me as Anton pivots, ushering me away.
“Handy,” I quip as he takes my hand and leads me deeper into the room.
“What is?”
“Having an assistant as a roadblock.”
He smirks and glances at me. “It’s only effective for so long.”
“Is she always like that?”
“If you mean is she always acting like she still has any claim to me, yes.” He stops abruptly and spins me into an embrace. “But perhaps the more I do this”—he kisses me, clearly thawing out enough to keep up these public displays of affection—“she’ll finally get the hint.”
“Glad I can help.” I grin as I sling my arm around his neck and pull him back down for a longer kiss.
That’s how we spend the night. Together, no matter what.
We mingle, where I don’t offer much to these strangers he associates with. But I’m there, with him, as he holds my hand and introduces me like I’m his equal.
We eat, where I think up all the ways I could use some kind of ice-breaker to let him know that I’m pregnant. But too many people interrupt to make small talk with him.
We dance, slowly and stubbornly addicted to each other. It’s a slow tease of how I want to feel all of him again, tonight.
It is a magical night. At no point do I get over the sensation of feeling like I’ll never belong in this world. But I’m also spared the worry of whether I measure up.
“He never brought her to anything.”
I glance up when I’m in the restroom, checking my reflection in the mirror. Elena’s voice comes from a stall, and I tense at her critique of me. She can only be talking about me. Because each time I caught a glimpse of her throughout the night, she was glaring at me with hatred.
“Roman never brought that fat little slut to anything because she wasn’t worthy of his attention. Anton’s only using her as a way to make me try harder. That’s all it is. She can’t mean anything to him. He’s just teasing me. Challenging me to work harder at getting his attention back.”
I furrow my brow and leave before she can realize I’ve been eavesdropping.
Her interpretation is pathetic, and as I enter the ballroom again and seek out Anton, who’s actually still waiting for me at the side of the large room, I figure it can’t matter what she thinks.
She can hate me. I’m still in over my head spending any time with Anton like this. It can’t last forever.
Right?
I sigh as I join Anton again. Smiling up at him as he takes my hand, I notice Viktor at his side. “Excuse me,” Viktor says dryly, with a touch of exasperation. He steps away to intercept Roman before he can reach us, the way he’s been doing all night.
“I can’t wait to get out of here,” Anton says as a waiter comes by to present flutes of champagne.
“Oh? You have plans for the rest of the night?” I tease.
He takes two flutes and hands me one as he rakes his gaze up and down me. Slowly. With wicked hunger darkening his eyes.
“Plans I intend to carry out all night long,” he replies. “Just as soon as this toast is over.”
I hold my flute and know I can’t have it. I don’t even want to bring it to my lips and pretend to drink it. The smell of the sweetness will nauseate me.
“What a lovely night,” Elena says as she sidles up to us. “Don’t you think so, young lady?” She smirks at me, hoisting her flute up as she stands with us while an emcee speaks on the stage across the room.
Young lady.
How original.
“I’m more interested in the after party,” I admit, licking my lower lip as I look at Anton while I answer her.
He chuckles, leaning in to kiss me.
“Oh, but isn’t it a school night for you?” she taunts.
I don’t cave and react. I refuse to give her the satisfaction of getting a rise out of me.
She glares at me as the emcee wraps up his toast, something about the charity they’re raising money for. Anton lifts his glass. Elena and I do the same. Both of them sip, but I keep mine aside, holding it with no intention of bringing it to my lips.
Anton doesn’t notice.
But Elena does.
Narrowing her eyes and pointing at me, she snarls. “She’s not even old enough to drink?”
Anton frowns at her.
“You’re really desperate to make it look like you’re replacing me, hmm?” She laughs crudely and sips her drink again.
“I have replaced you.” He states it matter-of-fact.
“With some girl half your age?”
Anton glances at me, then at the flute I haven’t touched, not even for the toast.
Elena gasps, her eyes widening. “Oh, my God.” Another gasp as she points at me again. “She’s either too young to drink or you’ve already knocked her up!”
Shit.
I tense up, praying I don’t blush with her catching me on this truth I’ve been hiding from the world. From him.
Anton scowls, turning from her to face me. It’s a quick pivot, but as he faces me and his dark eyes meet mine, I can almost feel the instant the connection clicks into place.
It’s a wild guess on her part.
But since it just so happens to be the truth, I can’t do anything more than freeze.
I’ve never had a good poker face.
It’s Anton’s expression that I need to read though.
He watches me with suspicion, frowning slightly, and that’s all I need to panic and let my nerves get the best of me.