Avrora
Soft jazz music envelopes me as Anatoli and I walk into the foyer at Scarfoni Inc.
The fundraiser is being held in the grand hall but quite a few people have spilled out here, drinking from elegant long-stemmed glasses and talking in groups.
Everyone is dressed in their finest as usual for this year's event. Last year was the first time Dad allowed me to attend. This year I'm here with my husband, who owns the company.
It's interesting how times change, but some things remain the same. Last year, when I walked in with Mikhail, there were women casting glances at him.
Women are looking at Anatoli too, and because he has that obvious dangerous sexy edge, they look like they can't help themselves.
He's dressed like he's going to the Emmys in his Boss suit and cropped cut hair. I'm in a strapless fitted gown, but I'm tired from the migraine that kept me up all night.
It's still bothering me now, but I'm putting my best face forward. This is our first event as husband and wife and I know people are talking.
"We'll stay for an hour, then we're leaving," Anatoli whispers in my ear.
"You? Stay at work for only an hour? I don't believe you."
He smirks, dipping his hand lower down my back so he can squeeze my ass. "You in this fuck-me dress had better believe me."
Despite people watching, he kisses my neck as if we're alone. Then I remember he's the rebel. The pirate man who doesn't care what people think.
He pulls me closer and I'm about to say something when Zakh approaches us.
He's smiling, which I take as a good sign. I'd hoped Zakh and Malik would treat Anatoli better than Mikhail had. They were always more down to earth. I guessed Anatoli would take to Zakh first before anyone else, and it appears I was right.
Seeing Zakh always makes me think of Lorelai, though. Now that I've spoken to her and she's aware I know their secret, I feel even more compassionate toward them.
"Hey, welcome back." Zakh beams, giving Anatoli a one arm hug, which I take as another very good sign.
"Thanks."
Zakh turns to me and smiles. "Avrora. Welcome to the family."
"Thank you so much." I give him an actual hug because I've known him forever but when we part, he dips his head respectfully the way I've seen the Knights address the wife of another Knight.
"Would you mind if I steal your husband for a few minutes? I swear I won't take him away for too long."
I notice the shift in Anatoli's expression on hearing the request and he becomes more serious.
"That's fine. I'll leave you guys to talk."
"Don't go too far." Anatoli glances at me.
"I'll just be in the bathroom. I'll come right back."
"Okay."
While they head toward the stairs, I walk in the opposite direction to the bathroom I used when I came to visit Mikhail here.
As those are full, I take the stairs up to the next level.
There's no one on this floor usually because it leads to the archive department, so it doesn't surprise me that it's empty.
When I get to the bathroom, though, the door is ajar, and the clear sound of a woman's moans and bodies slapping together filter out into the hallway.
I've heard enough of those types of sounds at frat parties to know what they are so I turn around to leave, deciding to mind my own business.
But I stop in my tracks when the guy speaks, realizing I recognize his voice.
It's Mikhail.
At least I think so.
"Take what I give you like my good little slut." The guy says and I'm sure it's him. But talking like that? I've never heard him talk like that before.
Against my better judgment, I find myself moving back inside the bathroom.
Then I see him with his pants down, pounding into Megan, his secretary, who's naked and holding on to the sink as her hair flies everywhere.
I shouldn't be shocked. But I am to see him like this, and to see evidence of what Lorelai's told me. We're not together now, so this is none of my concern. It just shows me who he is.
"Fuck me harder than you did on your wedding day," Megan cries, her words shocking me further and freezing my mind.
Something shatters inside me as I process what she means.
Wedding day.
As there's only one wedding she could be talking about, there's no mistaking that it was ours.
"Greedy bitch, I'll destroy your pussy this time," Mikhail growls, giving added confirmation they were together on our wedding day.
Disappointment and anger roil in my stomach, keeping me rooted to the spot. The incidents Lorelai told me about happened when Mikhail and I weren't engaged, so while I was upset, I tried to deal with it. This is different, and I realize how foolish I've been.
I was the innocent, naïve fool whose father wrapped her in a ball of cotton to preserve her virginity for a man who couldn't even be true to her on their wedding day.
Mikhail pulls her closer to him and suddenly he sees my reflection in the mirror, watching them fucking.
Immediately he stops his furious pounding and stares back at me, horror tainting his face as he realizes I heard what they said too. And I'm here witnessing what they're doing.
"Fuck, Avrora. I'm..."
I don't wait for him to finish or pull out of Megan properly before I rush out the door. But in my clumsiness, I stumble and drop my purse, sending all my lipsticks, my phone, and keys rolling out.
Cursing myself, I bend down to pick them up, and have the misfortune of hearing Mikhail arguing with Megan.
"Are you kidding me? You're going to her? Didn't she just marry your brother?" Megan is practically shouting in that irritating squeaky voice I've always hated, so I'd be able to hear her even if I were on the other side of the globe. "We've been fucking nearly every day for the last five years, and you said we would never stop. What the hell is wrong with you?"
As more truth spews out of her mouth, I realize I'm an even bigger fool. Mikhail was never true to me.
Never. And he was never going to be, no matter what contract bound us together.
Acontract is exactly what I was. A person who was bred to be a wife and fulfill a business arrangement.
The tears that are never far away stream down my cheeks, and I curse myself again.
They aren't from seeing them together, but for the hurt I feel for believing so much in a man who was never going to love me.
I gather my things and run down the hall just before Mikhail steps out of the bathroom, but I'm not fast enough. I just manage to get down the stairs to the floor I was previously on when he grabs my arm.
"Avrora, wait."
"Let go of me, you cheating asshole." I try to wrench my arm free of his grasp, but he holds on tighter. And now we have the attention of people around us.
"She meant nothing. I wanted to be with you."
"That's bullshit. Let me go."
Instead of releasing me, he yanks me hard toward him and to my shock, crushes his lips to mine.