Chapter 10
CHAPTER 10
TATIANA
M y mind is all over the place. How did I get here? The room Titus showed me to is bigger than my entire apartment, if not two of them. It’s a suite of rooms I definitely wasn’t expecting and I gaze around me in stunned awe. Do people really live like this?
True to his word, he left me alone and while I took possibly the most pleasurable, relaxing, intoxicating bath of my life, his chef delivered a light supper to my room that I discovered on my return.
I could stay here forever because why leave? The world is a frightening place out there and yet here I’m in my own little bubble and I do indeed feel safe.
There is a lock on the door that I turn with a sigh of relief, noting that there are no other doors into this apartment. Then I make my way inside a connecting bathroom that is possibly the most luxurious one I have ever seen. It has marbled floors, full-length mirrors and several chandeliers. The tub is free standing and made of burnished copper and the shower is big enough for the entire ballet company.
Everything is here that I could ever want or need, from lotions, moisturizers, bath products and oils for the skin. Tooth care items and haircare, not to mention the most luxurious towels I have ever had the pleasure of using.
Next to that is a massive walk-in closet, big enough for a whole department store’s clothing department. Its white shelves and rails are empty and I can only imagine how magnificent it would be if it was full of expensive designer gowns and handmade shoes.
It’s every woman’s dream and I note the huge vanity unit that contains spaces for make-up and the drawers in a center console that open out to house jewelry, gloves and accessories.
The bedroom itself is warm, inviting and yet understated glamor, from the silk sheets and the fur throw to the sumptuous feather pillows that appear brand new. The white carpet that curls between my toes is luxury on a huge scale and I note the remote on the bedside table that, when pressed, reveals a hidden television that pops up at the end of the bed.
I have never even imagined luxury on this scale and as I wrap my glowing body in the warm soft robe, I sit on the bed and flick on the television as I wolf down the amazing food that is most welcome right now.
I rarely watch television—if at all. The set I have in my apartment isn’t reliable and I am always too tired from dancing and am usually asleep before I register what I’m watching. For some reason, I am wide awake tonight and as I turn onto an entertainment channel, I’m shocked when my image stares back at me.
Two women are talking in a relaxed setting and I recognize them from entertainment news channels. I listen to their conversation as if I’m eavesdropping.
“We are so excited about this latest relationship,” one of them says and the other nods enthusiastically.
“The beautiful Tatiana Pavlov is engaged to the enigmatic businessman Titus Romanov.”
They appear excited about that and one remarks, “This is a match made in heaven. I mean, look at them. Their DNA is crafted from the gods. Can you imagine their children?”
A picture of Titus flicks up on the screen and I must agree. He is devilishly handsome in his dark suit with his movie star good looks and my heart curls inside me with pleasure, which intrigues me. I suppose I’ve never really looked at him before. I’m too embarrassed to study him when we’re together because he unnerves me.
Now I can stare at him unashamedly, and it’s as if he is staring out from the screen as his eyes connect with mine. Those eyes hide a million secrets, even from here I realize that and I shift as I remember his touch and the way it slides across my skin like an electric storm. He affects me—I know that already, but this is business. That’s all it is; something I know nothing about.
“Imagine the wedding. It will be the event of the century.”
“I heard it was being held in the Kremlin.” The other woman says with excitement, and her colleague nods vigorously.
“It’s about time we had some glamor in our lives and this couple provides that in spades. It will be the wedding of the century and if you are lucky enough to get a ticket, I’m available as a plus one at short notice.”
The women laugh and another picture flashes up of me at a gala I attended last year. I can’t remember why, but I was there as an invited guest. Even I admit I look amazing, and it’s purely down to the beautiful dress I was loaned by Christian Dior. It tumbled to the floor in an array of sparkle, courtesy of the thousands of fake diamonds that were sewn on by hand. My long hair was piled on top of my head in a sleek up-do with a diamond comb holding it in place. Silver shoes sparkled from underneath the dress and one of the women sighs appreciatively.
“Our very own Ice Queen. Beautiful, poised, and elegant. The perfect example of all that is good about Russia. A woman who would shine on the world stage.”
The other woman laughs. “She has experience of that. Her dancing has earned her several awards, and I don’t believe we have ever had such a stunning ambassador for our country.”
“Our Russian Queen soon to be married to a Russian King.”
Once again, a photograph of Titus pops up and I swear I openly drool at the strong, powerful Adonis who is relaxing on a super-yacht. He is wearing mirrored shades and a smart polo shirt, his beige shorts revealing muscled legs as he relaxes like an advert for aftershave.
He enjoys a life I can only dream about because, as sure as every outfit of mine is on loan as a form of advertising, his are most definitely not. The caption at the bottom of the screen reads, The most eligible bachelor in Russia. Rich and powerful Titus Romanov, head of Romanov Industries.
I listen to the women talk and it’s as if they are speaking about somebody else. The pictures, the text and the conversation may as well be about another person entirely. Life doesn’t appear real any more. My life is dance and always has been and yet now I’m to be thrust onto a stage in a show I haven’t rehearsed for, with a leading man who, unlike Leo, is every dream I ever had.
I finish the program, enjoying the light conversation as a welcome distraction from what happened earlier and as I drift off to sleep, fear has been replaced by happiness as I allow the most comfortable bed I have ever slept in, to wrap me up and soothe away my troubles, drawing me into blissful ignorance as I dream about nothing at all.