Chapter 207: His to own

There were restrooms around the corner from the top of stairs leading to the ballroom. No one was around as we made our way to the doors. The corridor was dimly lit, quiet except for the soft hum of music bleeding through the walls. Andrey Volkov’s presence beside me was magnetic, his scent, something dark, musky, and wild wrapped around me like invisible smoke.

"Is pink at least my color?" I asked when Elena reached for the door handle. I rubbed my chin and pursed my lips for her.

"You know I think it looks better on you. I will let you borrow it sometime."

Her laughter brought a smile on my face and I gave her one last kiss before letting her slip in the bathroom.

I never would have made a joke like that before, but there was something about Elena that brought out another side of me. It was dangerous, but with a taste of her on my lips, I didn't really care. Beneath the tailored suit, I felt the slow ripple of something primal move through me, a quiet growl I swallowed down before it escaped.

ELENA'S POV

There was still a smile on my face as I cleaned up under the low lights in the bathroom. My body was buzzing and I felt high on Andrey. Even now, his scent clung to my skin, earthy, warm, a faint trace of smoke and something untamed. The clamps were now tucked away inside my small clutch bag and I kept giggling over how things had escalated. I couldn't control myself any longer.

I knew I wanted Andrey, and in that moment, my need for him was intoxicating and overwhelming. It called to me like a siren song and I was willing to crash on the rocks of what my relationship with Andrey was. It was dangerous, I knew it in my heart. We were together all because of the contract and I kept reminding myself that...

As I finished cleaning up my smudged mascara, I heard the door to the bathroom open but I ignored whoever came in. My focus was on the darkening mark on my chest just over the line of my dress. Andrey bit me on the chest, now I didn't know what to do to cover it. Despite shaking my head at the thought of him, there was still a smile on my face.

Andrey was so wicked!! Now I had his initial sitting on my neck. Even as I covered his bite mark with foundation, my eyes were drawn to the white-gold A sitting at the base of my throat. It was a sign of his ownership and I didn't mind it. In fact, I quite liked wearing it. Although I wouldn't tell him that.

I couldn't tell him anything.

Staring at my reflection, I looked into my eyes and took a good hard look at myself. My skin was glowing and there was something in my eyes that seemed different, brighter, more alive. My pulse was faster than normal, like it was echoing to an unseen rhythm, one that seemed to respond to his nearness even when he wasn’t around.

And I knew why.

I had feelings for Andrey. God, did I have feelings for him?! They were dangerous and it would be painful. Our relationship wasn't real. So, I couldn't tell him. My heart skipped a beat at the realization.

I took one step back from the mirror, suddenly not recognizing myself any longer. However, just as I was still staring at myself, a door all of the sudden slammed behind me and it startled me out of the stare down I was having with my reflection.

There was a brunette in a dark blue dress glaring at me. The sneer on her face was shocking and my pulse quickened at the bad vibes coming off her in waves. Her stare had that feral sharpness, and for some reason, a chill went down my spine as though some primal instinct in me whispered danger.

"Um, excuse me." Not sure of what I did to piss the stranger off, I went to step around her and leave the restroom.

"Are you Elena?" she all of the sudden snapped. My name on her lips caught my attention and I turned slowly to look back at her. "Yes," I straightened up to look straight into her eyes. "I'm sorry. Do I know you?"

When I asked, she rushed at me, getting in my space while breathing hard. Her pupils dilated strangely, almost unnaturally wide. "No, but I know you!"

"Alright, sorry, but you need to back up." I lifted up my hands to put a barrier between us.

"You need to back off," she shouted.

"Why are you shouting at me? Jesus! I don't even know who you are!" I took another step towards the door. This was escalating quickly and I didn't want to wind up backed into a corner with this obviously crazy woman.

"I'm the one who should be here with Andrey!" Her words were like a slap across my face.

I stopped in my tracks and lifted a brow at her. "Um, okay?" I moved one foot back, trying to get closer to the door again.

"After everything I have done for him, he ended up bringing one of his whores around," she spat on the floor at my feet. There was something unnatural in the way her chest rose and fell like a suppressed snarl beneath her breath. "I have worked my ass off for him for two years. Do you know how many times I have sucked him off under his desk?"

I nearly choked on the air when I heard that. Goosebumps spread over my skin and my blood turned to ice in my veins. "It sounds to me like you're just another one of the whores," I shot back, but my mouth was moving on autopilot. The woman reeled back and snarled at me literally snarled and for a brief moment, I could’ve sworn I heard a low growl vibrate in her chest.

"I'm his goddamn assistant. I do more for him than you ever could!"

Her words made me freeze more.

Had Andrey been sleeping with his assistant while I was staying with him?! I knew he had a known past as a womanizer but some part of me had hoped that I was the only one during our contract.

But here was his assistant, telling me that she sucked his cock right here in this building. In his office while he worked.

Even with the contract, I wasn't enough for him.

"Do you think I care?" A frigid mask fell over my face. I schooled my features and remembered all the years of cat fighting at the ballet school.

I didn't become the Prima ballerina for nothing. I do hold myself with dignity.

"You should." Her eyes watered and her body trembled as she continued to back me to the door. Her voice had that roughness, like a growl pushing through her throat.

"You in my way," she shouted.

"Look." I stepped back up to her and pushed my finger into her chest, stopping her. It was so sudden, she paused and gaped at me.

"Listen, do you know who I am?" I asked in a voice that showed that I did give myself respect.

The air between us was tense and charged, almost electric. The woman’s nostrils flared as though she was scenting me, like she was breathing me in. Her reaction made no sense, but the feeling that slithered down my spine was unmistakable raw, primal fear.

Fighting because of a man wasn't needed.

Outside the bathroom door, somewhere beyond the walls, a faint rumble echoed , something deep, almost like a growl carried through the floor. I told myself it was just the music from the ballroom, but the air itself felt thicker. Heavy. Watchful.

And I suddenly couldn’t shake the sense that the man I’d just left behind wasn’t entirely what he seemed.