Chapter 7 #3
The ceremony begins, and as the priest speaks, I find myself barely able to take my eyes off Kazimir.
When it is time for the rings, Lev steps forward with the small velvet box.
Kazimir takes my wedding band and slides it onto my finger, it’s a perfect match for my engagement ring, with tiny diamonds that catch the sunlight as he settles it into place.
I take his ring next and slide it onto his finger, my hands trembling slightly. The priest looks between us with a smile. “By the authority vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
Before I can even process the words, Kazimir pulls me into his arms and his lips meet mine in a deep, passionate kiss that makes me forget everything except the man holding me. I wrap my arms around his neck as the sound of applause rises around us.
I hear Bea cheering and clapping, followed by Lev, but none of it matters as much as the feeling of Kazimir's arms around me. When we finally pull apart, I look into his eyes, still struggling to believe it. I’m finally married to the man I love.
After the ceremony, we head to one of Kazimir’s restaurants for lunch, a five-star restaurant I have always dreamed of visiting but could never get a reservation at because it is usually booked months in advance.
I had no idea it belonged to Kazimir, and the realization only adds to the growing list of things I am learning about the man I married. We celebrate over an extravagant lunch with Bea, Lev, and some of Kazimir’s men, before Kazimir takes me home.
When he told me I would be moving into his home, I had no idea what to expect, but the moment we pass through the massive estate gates, I realize I was nowhere near prepared for this. Two men stand on either side of it, dressed in black combat gear with guns strapped across their chests.
I look out the window taking in the sprawling grounds and the sheer size of the property as we drive deeper into the estate.
There are more men stationed around the property, all dressed similarly.
The property stretches farther than I can see, surrounded by perfectly maintained grounds and towering trees.
I turn to Kazimir. “You live here?”
He glances at me, clearly amused by my expression. “I do. And you do now.”
I look back at the house. “Wow.”
By the time we stop in front of the entrance, several workers are already outside waiting for us. They move forward to greet Kazimir as we step out of the car. Before we can even reach the front door, it swings open, and a woman who looks to be in her thirties stands there with a warm smile.
“Welcome home, sir.”
“Thank you, Sofiya.” Kazimir turns to me. “Chloe, this is Sofiya. She’s the housekeeper.”
Then he gestures toward me. “Sofiya, this is my wife.”
My heart still skips whenever he calls me that. Sofiya’s smile widens. “It’s so lovely to finally meet you. We’re very happy to have you here.”
“Thank you. It’s lovely to meet you too.”
Something about her immediately puts me at ease. Maybe it’s the warmth in her smile or the way she welcomes me without making me feel like an outsider. I have a feeling Sofiya and I are going to be good friends.
“Your things have already been brought over,” she tells me. “They’re in your bedroom.”
“Thank you.”
Before I can say anything else, Kazimir takes my hand and leads me upstairs. Our bedroom is even more impressive than I expected. It’s huge, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the estate.
“This place is beautiful. And grand.” I walk toward the windows, taking it all in.
He smiles and gestures toward another door. “That’s the bathroom.”
I walk over and push the door open, and my mouth falls open, the bathroom is enormous, with a his-and-her sinks set into a long marble vanity, a spacious glass-enclosed shower, and a large freestanding bathtub positioned near the windows.
“And that’s the closet,” Kazimir says, pointing toward another door.
I follow him inside, and my eyes widen all over again. It is a walk-in closet, but calling it a closet feels like an understatement, the space is large enough to rival an entire bedroom, with rows of shelves and hanging racks stretching along the walls.
“This is your section,” he says, leading me toward one side.
Everything from my old apartment has been moved here, but that is not all. There are rows of clothes I have never seen before, along with shoes, handbags, watches, and a separate section filled with jewelry.
I turn to Kazimir. “I didn't buy any of this.”
“They're yours.”
My eyes move back to the shelves, the handbags look familiar, but I know they are not mine. I walk closer, picking up one of them before looking at the label. “What did you do?”
Kazimir's mouth curves into a small smile. “There is no way my wife is going to walk around carrying knockoffs.”
For every knockoff I had, he has bought me the original. I look around the closet again, taking in the clothes, the shoes, the handbags, and the jewelry, and my chest tightens with emotion. He has taken the small collection I could afford and replaced it with things I never imagined I would own.
I walk straight into his arms and wrap mine around his neck. “Thank you,” I whisper before pressing my lips to his.
He holds me close. “You’re welcome baby.”