Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
Audrey
A pounding headache and a ringing phone did not mix. It had been so long since I’d been this hungover. I patted along the side of my bed as I searched for the phone that just wouldn’t quit. What time was it anyway? Based on the blinking clock, it was 4 am.
When I finally located my phone and managed to click it to silent, I blinked down at Brian’s name. He hadn’t called me since I got here. I’d sent him selfies and pictures in front of major monuments and statues. His replies were generally short and when I asked him about it he said he was busy working and the time difference was throwing him off.
“Hello?” My voice came out in a very ugly croak and I inwardly groaned. I didn’t need him to know I was hungover. I would tell him if it came up, but I didn’t want to fight, especially with this pounding headache.
“Busy night?” He didn’t sound happy.
“Just a bit,” I said around a yawn and grabbed the bottle of water off of the nightstand.
“I didn’t think the nightlife was as wild as I read on the internet until I saw the video of you dancing and crawling across the bar.”
The water I was sipping on immediately went down the wrong pipe and I spewed it across the bed. “What?” I wasn’t quite sure the word even escaped my lips.
“Imagine my surprise when my mother calls me to tell me you’ve been up to some wild antics.”
“Your mother?”
Of course the book club had gotten ahold of this before I could.
“Who are you, Audrey? I swear I didn’t even recognize you crawling across the bar. I especially didn’t recognize your bright red panties.”
“As far as the panties go, you told me you didn’t like lingerie, that it was slutty,” I retorted.
“Then who are you wearing it for?” His voice was an angry whisper. It was bad. This was very bad, though I didn’t feel any kind of remorse besides the pounding headache I currently had.
“Myself,” I said as confidently as I could muster given the circumstances.
“It’s not for that Alexis, guy?”
“His name is Alexei, and no. I can wear what I want for myself. I wanted to feel good and look good.”
“Why would your underwear need to look good if you aren’t showing it off?”
My headache was reaching new heights. I couldn’t believe the insinuation. “Do you think I’m cheating on you?”
“No,” His voice fell flat.
“Then what the hell is wrong with you?”
“You aren’t being safe. It’s dangerous out there. You could get hurt and I’m on the other side of the world. I’ve never seen this side of you and it scares me. Are you sure you’re ready to settle down and have kids?”
His words would echo in my mind for weeks to come. I ran my fingers through my damp hair from the late-night shower I had when we got back. I’d been covered in sweat, alcohol, and at one point I remembered spraying myself and the crowd with soda water before Alexei yanked me off of the bar and carried me over his shoulder to the SUV. I would take the feelings it enticed within me to my grave. Carina was no help as she’d giggled all the way out in Ace’s arms. The rest of the Cristof brothers found company elsewhere for the night.
“Maybe this was a bad idea,” He let out a breath that blasted through the speaker.
“What?”
Was he going to call off the engagement? Over the phone?
“You shouldn’t be seeing the world without me. I should be there doing these things with you. I can’t believe I’ve been so stupid.”
I held the phone away from my face to check the name. Yep, surprisingly, I was still speaking to Brian. He continued through my silence.
“I want to go with you to New York next time.”
We all slept late, much to Emeline’s displeasure. Thankfully, she didn’t seem to care about us but was instead focused on her missing boys. It was lunchtime and we all wore sunglasses around the table to eat brunch while the housekeeper and Emeline went insane over seating charts and making sure everything was perfect.
I still couldn’t believe the conversation I had with Brian. It managed to sober me up quickly but it didn’t take away the aching behind my eyes.
Emeline took Carina’s sunglasses off of her face and let out a gasp. “Thank goodness the professional is here to work magic!”
And just like that Carina was swept out of the room and into capable hands to help her look like a princess again. I mean besides the dark circles, Carina looked amazing. It was almost impossible for her to not look incredible. Alexei was sipping on a champagne flute with orange juice but I had a feeling there was alcohol in it too. Probably more alcohol than juice. I almost wanted what he was having. Not a single one of us touched our food.
Ace leaned back in his chair. He was the only one not hungover and feeling like death. He sipped on his black coffee and watched the two of us. “Last night was fun.”
I groaned and rested my head in the crook of my elbow on the table. Alexei laughed and said something I couldn’t hear.
Unfortunately, Ace said something I could. “I’ve never seen that side of you, I guess you do live up to that name, eh.”
“No,” I groaned.
“I thought it was a good time, especially when I carried you out kicking and screaming.” Alexei chuckled again and I felt my face flame even further.
“I don’t remember that,” my voice was muffled by the table and my arm.
“Oh, it was entertaining, I didn’t know how good red looked on you until last night.” His voice had taken on a different tone and I whipped my head up to see that Ace had taken his leave.
I threw my head back and slipped down in my chair. “Has everyone seen my underwear?”
“Sadly, not everyone,” Griffin said as he slipped into the room and I decided it was my time to go find Carina and see if the professional could work her magic on me too.
Hours later, I felt a little more refreshed and I didn’t look hungover. Emeline wasn’t lying when she said the professional was the best of the best. She’d transformed the both of us and we looked like we’d gotten a full night’s rest and we weren’t dying inside. Because even with the magic she worked on the outside, she couldn’t get rid of the mess on the inside of us. My headache had somewhat subsided. I closed Carina’s door and leaned against it just as Alexei exited his room.
Alexei’s lips parted in surprise as I took him in. His black suit was made for him and his shoes shined as if they were brand new. He didn’t look like we’d had a wild night out either. He looked delicious and I hated myself for the thought.
I mean, he was attractive. Was it wrong to think that? I mean, I wasn’t acting on it. I closed my eyes briefly before I straightened up. My dress was a soft pink that fell just above my knees. My shoes were black and covered in pearls. They made my legs look incredible. But that wasn’t what caught Alexei’s attention. It was the plunging neckline. I’d insisted I didn’t need my tits on full display but Carina ordered the dress anyway. My boobs had never looked better. My hair was in thick waves down my back and my makeup was on the more natural side. I needed the soft look after the previous wild night.
“You look incredible, milaya. ”
I blinked at how pretty his Russian was. It took me by surprise each time and I found myself wondering what he was saying. “Thank you.” I cleared my throat. “Thank you for dragging me out of the bar last night too. It probably would have gotten worse if you hadn’t stepped in. Carina isn’t a good influence when I get like that.”
He took a step closer to me and stopped, his eyes dark. “Have you seen the video?”
I covered my face with my hands. “Oh Lord, no.”
“Do you want to see it?”
I uncovered my face in mortification. “You have it?”
His wicked grin made an appearance and I don’t know how I remained standing. “Of course I do. I wasn’t letting Carina’s drunk ass go to bed until I had a copy.”
“You’re horrible,”
He shrugged. “I never claimed to be a saint.”
“Don’t watch it.” I squeaked.
“Why do you think I saved it?” His long stride ate the space between us. “Who are you, Audrey Wilde?” He wrapped his pointer finger in a lock of my hair and tugged me closer. He released me before licking his bottom lip and I didn’t know how I was still breathing. “Try not to drink too much tonight.”