Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 105775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
I’m so damn close to ending this game. Bennett confirmed that Leander Teszner owes him big money, money that he won’t be able to pay when the loan shark comes knocking. I’ve set up a meeting with Teszner and his lawyer under the name of one of my offshore companies with the ruse of being interested in investing. I’ll bankrupt Teszner before throwing him to the wolves. And then I’ll sit back and watch as he slowly rots away. But before that happens, Tatiana must become my wife.
Knowing I can’t trust my beautiful bride with the wedding arrangements, I left the organization to Penelope. Tatiana would rather sabotage the day than try to make it memorable. I’ve been particular about the details in my instructions to my assistant. I saw Tatiana’s scrapbook once. She didn’t mean for me to see it. The book just happened to lie open on her bed when I surprised her by climbing through her bedroom window via the fire escape at the back.
I’d gotten a glimpse of the wedding dress she’d glued to the page. It was a picture she’d torn from a bridal magazine. I’d snatched up the book and paged through her dream wedding while she blushed crimson and tried to pry the book from my hands.
Penelope just confirmed that the dress fitting is tomorrow. She made sure I understood how difficult that one was to pull off on such short notice. I’m walking through the house to locate Tatiana so I can tell her. After we’ve put Noah to bed, Sav called about business. While I was on the phone, Tatiana grabbed the opportunity to escape me, and now she’s hiding somewhere in the house.
Light falls from underneath the kitchen door. I make my way over and push it open. Jasper stands in front of the counter on the far side, wearing one of her new belly dancing costumes that comes complete with a coin girdle.
She spins around with her hand pressed on her heart, making the coins clink. “Jeez, you scared me.”
“What are you doing?”
“Practicing for an audition.”
I motion at the mess behind her on the counter. “I meant that.”
“Oh.” She places her body in front of the dried leaves and flowers. “I’m making an infusion to help me sleep. I haven’t gotten much of that since you kidnapped me.”
Ignoring the jibe, I cross the floor. “Does it work?”
She turns back to the counter and fills the teapot with water from the kettle. “It does for me.” Shooting a narrow-eyed look over her shoulder, she takes me in. “Maybe you should try some. You look like you need it.”
I’ve been working around the clock. Plus, at night, I go back to work at my desk in the study after fucking Tatiana, and I get up early so I have time to spend with Noah after work.
Jasper chucks a handful of thorny leaves and yellow flowers in the pot. “I assume you didn’t come in here looking for me.”
“Where’s Tatiana?”
She sneaks another look over her shoulder. “She’s working in one of the spare rooms.”
I go closer. “On what?”
Jasper stirs the concoction with a spoon and puts the lid on the teapot before facing me again. “She’s working on a more streamlined method of decluttering and spring cleaning.”
I frown. “Money isn’t an issue. She doesn’t have to work.”
Jasper crosses her arms. “Maybe she needs to.”
Arching a brow, I consider that. “Is she bored?”
“She needs a sense of purpose.”
“I told her she could go back to school.”
“With Noah? The time studying demands will be tough on both of them but mostly on Noah. Besides, I think she likes what she does. The job allows her to create something that’s been missing in her own life.”
“Order.”
“Exactly.” Jasper’s smile is wry. “She loves turning chaos into structure. And she’s damn good at it.” She nails me with a look. “You’re not going to tell her she’s not allowed to work, are you? Because then I may as well kill you now.”
Her threat makes me chuckle. “I told her she can do whatever she wants.” Except leave.
“Good.” Jasper drops her arms to her sides. “Working is her way of blowing off steam. I wouldn’t bother her now if I were you.”
I consider her for a moment. I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to speak to her alone since Tatiana told me Jasper delivered that stuffed toy to her. “You knew Tatiana was pregnant and what she was planning. You should’ve told me.”
“I only found out on the night her parents died. She was going to tell you, but after what happened, she didn’t want you to know. You can understand why. I wasn’t going to betray her too.”
As I had. Yes, I get her accusation loud and clear.
“Sorry, Dante. I don’t stab my friends in the back.”
I can respect that. “When did Milena give you the stuffed dinosaur for Tatiana?”