Chapter 28 Chapter 28
Normally, it made me feel safe. Tonight, it just made me want to open the door and jump out at sixty miles an hour.
He hadn't said a word since we left the house. He knew something was up. I could see him watching me in the reflection of the glass, his dark eyes tracking the line of my jaw, probably wondering why his star pupil was acting like a block of ice. Let him wonder. He wanted to play games with me, then fine.
"Natalie," he said, his voice a low, gravelly rasp that vibrated in the small space. I didn't turn, didn't blink. I just watched a raindrop race down the window.
The car slowed to a crawl as we hit the red carpet. The flashbulbs started popping, a rhythmic strobe light against the tinted glass. I felt the shift.
Then, the door handle clicked. In the second it took for the security guard to pull the door open, I transformed. The coldness in my eyes vanished, replaced by a soft, captivating shimmer. The scowl I’d been holding since I overheard him was buried under a layer of perfectly applied peach lipstick and a practiced, graceful smile.
I was Natalie De Luca now. And Natalie was a masterpiece.
Nikolai stepped out first, and this time, when he offered his hand, I took it. I let my lace-covered fingers rest lightly on his palm, feeling the heat of his skin. I gave him a look, eyes wide, lips parted just enough to look inviting, that would have made anyone think I was the luckiest woman in the world.
"Smile, Nikolai," I whispered, my voice like honey with a drop of poison at the bottom. "Everyone's watching."
He didn't say a word, but his grip on my hand tightened for a fraction of a second as he led me onto the carpet. The flashbulbs went off like a firing squad. I didn't flinch. I moved with grace; now I understand why Mrs. Gomes had me practice day and night to be elegant.
Inside, the gala was a sea of black ties and silk. The air was thick with the scent of lilies and the kind of perfume that costs more than a car.
"Nikolai! You actually showed up," a voice boomed.
A group of high-level VPs and shipping magnates drifted toward us. These were the men who ran the world’s logistics, and they looked at me like I was just another piece of jewelry on Nikolai’s arm.
Nikolai’s public face was perfect the man who could negotiate a billion-dollar deal as easily as he could break a man’s neck. "Gentlemen," he said, his hand settling possessively on the small of my back. "I’d like you to meet my business partner, Natalie De Luca. She’s the mind behind our new Mediterranean expansion." he said
Fergusson stepped forward and extended his hand, so I obliged, extending my lace-covered hand. "A pleasure, Mr. Ferguson. I’ve been reviewing your latest quarterly reports for the Mediterranean routes. Your logistics are impressive. We’ll have to talk about how Vanguard can help you optimize those margins."
The men around us blinked. They expected a trophy; they got a shark. I spent the next half-hour talking head-on about shipping lanes, tech-driven security, and market volatility. I was aggressive, sharp, and perfectly casual. I felt his hands tighten around my waist.
"You're quite the force, Miss De Luca," one of the VPs muttered, looking thoroughly intimidated.
"I just know what I want," I said, giving him a sweet smile. "And I usually get it."
I felt a presence before I saw him. A younger guy, dressed in a suit that was far too flashy, stepped into my path. I already read the file, Luca Moretti.
"So, the king finally found a queen," Luca sneered, his eyes wandering down the slit of my dress. He didn't know who I was. To him, I was just a shiny new toy.
"You're a long way from home, sweetheart. Why don't you ditch the old man and come see what a real family can do for you?" he said.
He reached out, his fingers aiming for my chin.
I didn't lose my smile. I didn't even move my head. I caught his wrist mid-air, my grip tightening until I felt the bone start to groan. I leaned in, my gold curls brushing his shoulder, and lowered my voice so only he could hear.
"Luca, isn't it? Here's a bit of business advice: don't touch things that don't belong to you. It tends to lead to... accidents." I gave his wrist one last, sharp squeeze before letting go.
"Now, be a good boy and go find a drink. The grown-ups are talking."
Luca went pale, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. He stumbled back, his eyes darting between Nikolai’s stony expression and the sharp, lethal smile I was still wearing. He didn't say another word; he just turned and scurried off into the crowd, nearly knocking over a waiter with a tray of champagne.
"You have a habit of making powerful enemies very quickly, Natalie," Nikolai said, stepping up behind me.
His voice wasn't angry, though. I could hear the low, dark vibration of pride in his chest. I felt his hand settle on the small of my back, his thumb grazing the velvet of my dress. He wasn't just my partner tonight; he was a creator watching his masterpiece move through the world.
"Only the ones who deserve it," I said, looking at him. His gaze searched mine, a ghost of a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Dangerous and efficient," he whispered.
"I’m exactly what I’ve always been, Mr. Ferro," I replied, my voice as cool as a winter morning.
I turned my head slightly, my curls brushing against the silk lapel of his tuxedo. Across the room, the Rhodes family was still holding court by the grand fountain. Alistair was laughing, his chest puffed out like he owned the building. Vivian was draped in diamonds, looking down her nose at everyone who passed.
And then there was Blair. She was dressed in a shimmering silver gown that clung to her like liquid moonlight. She looked healthy, glowing, and completely untouchable, but I knew better; in a few days her downward spiral and destruction would begin.
The gala was a symphony of vanity until it wasn't. I’d been watching Blair, tracking the way she sipped her champagne with that unearned confidence, but my skin was crawling. It was a sensation I’d learned from training, the feeling of eyes that didn't belong. I didn't look at Nikolai, but I could feel him beside me, a pillar of dark strength.
I saw the barrel of the suppressed pistol peek out from behind a floral arrangement near the west pillar. It was aimed squarely at the center of Nikolai’s back.
“Nikolai,” his name came out in a whisper, and he turned. I didn't even think or calculate. I just moved. I slammed my body into his, the impact of the bullet was a blunt, sickening force.