Читать книгу Modern Romance Collection: January 2018 Books 1 -4 - Dani Collins - Страница 16

CHAPTER SEVEN

THE REMAINDER OF the week progressed without a hitch as Natalya dealt with work, meetings, together with Alexei’s seemingly incessant instructions. If, as she suspected, he sought to see her fall in a heap as he ramped up the pressure, she took satisfaction in being one step ahead of him by coping admirably...and then some.

The weekend loomed, with nothing planned other than her usual routine, and maybe a call to her close friend, Anja, suggesting they take in a movie currently gaining rave reviews.

Pleasant, low-key, enjoyable.

So why this sudden feeling of restlessness? As if there should be more to her life than a predictable pattern with little, if any variation.

She was happy with the status quo...wasn’t she?

Because it’s safe, a silent voice taunted.

A conscious choice, she determined. One with which she’d been perfectly content...until now.

The cause, she reluctantly admitted, was Alexei.

There. In her face. Invading her mind...her sleep, as a reminder of what they’d once shared together.

Like she wanted to be caught up in an emotional maelstrom? Alternately dismissing the secret yearning deep in her heart, and the need to rail against him for causing it.

The electric fire of his touch when their hands met on the door clasp of her car in the bowels of the basement car park, when for one wild unprincipled moment she hadn’t been able to think, let alone move.

Had he felt it, too?

For heaven’s sake, take a reality check.

Alexei’s sole motivation was revenge. Hadn’t he gone to exceptional lengths to ensure he’d covered every possible angle?

So why waste time trying to search for that elusive something that didn’t quite gel?

Worse, why was it she who was paying the price for her father’s indiscretions and financial misdeeds?

Enough already.

Except her weekend plans were felled in one swift stroke with a text message received at ten fifty-three Saturday morning from Alexei demanding she contact him asap.

A soft imprecation escaped from her lips, followed by, ‘Who the hell does he think he is?’

Natalya thrust the phone back into her bag and zipped the compartment.

He could wait.

She was hot, sweaty, in need of a shower and change of clothes following a vigorous hour of squash. There was a sense of satisfaction in taking her time, and she emerged into the reception area to find Aaron waiting for her.

‘Problem?’

‘Is it that obvious?’

‘Uh-huh. You have the look.’

Natalya rolled her eyes.

‘Alexei,’ he concluded. ‘What does he want?’

‘I have no idea.’

‘And you’re not exactly in a hurry to find out.’

She sent him a faint smile. ‘No.’

‘Careful, sweetheart. Don’t bite off more than you can chew.’

His concern was touching, and her expression softened. ‘I’m no longer the vulnerable young girl of five years ago.’

‘Nor is he the same man.’

Isn’t that the truth.

A faint shiver slid down her spine, only to be instantly dispelled as they exited the building and crossed to the adjoining car park.

‘Thanks for the game,’ Natalya voiced as they reached her BMW.

‘But not the advice.’

‘That, too.’

Aaron placed a hand on her shoulder. ‘Travel carefully.’

She deactivated the car’s locking system, and sent him a sunny smile as she slid in behind the wheel. ‘Always.’

Asap equated to urgency. Yet she waited an hour before making the call. Justifying the delay as a need to stop by the food mart for grocery supplies, unpacking and depositing same into her fridge and pantry.

‘Your smartphone was on charge; you failed to check for messages,’ Alexei pre-empted with undisguised dryness as he picked up on the second buzz. ‘Or was the delay merely sheer bloody-mindedness?’

‘Good morning to you, too,’ she offered with incredible politeness.

Strike one for Natalya.

‘Afternoon.’

She made a play of checking her watch. ‘By precisely three minutes,’ she agreed. ‘The nature of your call being?’

Was it possible for silence to be explosive? And why did the thought please her?

‘A meeting set up in Melbourne late this afternoon. My car will collect you at three-thirty. You’ll need an overnight bag.’

‘Need I remind you it’s the weekend? You expect me to drop everything at a moment’s notice?’

‘Yes.’

‘And if I decline?’

‘I suggest you reconsider.’ His cool, slightly acerbic response hit a hot button, and she tamped down her temper.

Of course. He held all the cards in this diabolical game, with not one in her favour.

Once, just once she’d kill to be able to upset the balance of power between them.

Not going to happen anytime soon...

‘Could we make it three forty-five?’ Fifteen minutes was a small concession, albeit a deliberate one.

‘No.’

Well, there you go. Nice try, even if it failed. With that, she slipped into smooth professional mode. ‘Any specific instructions?’

Alexei outlined them with succinct brevity and ended the call.

Hotel. Restaurant. Six for seven. Suitable attire.

Natalya extended the tip of her tongue in an unladylike gesture, then she swept into her bedroom to pack.