Wild Billionaire Romance - Chapter 17: Chapter 17

He was so handsome, the woman didn’t seem to mind. Leaning closer, I heard her practically purring in his ear.
“Ah, the younger Volkov. Well, if I can’t have the wolf, the pup will do,” she said, wrapping her red-clawed hands around his neck.
“Another time, perhaps. I am afraid I must catch up with my brother,” Marat replied, removing her hands from his body, and stepping back.
I watched as emotions I didn’t think he had crossed Marat’s face. Anger and repugnance were the most prominent. I felt bad. It must have been hard being called a pup, and Adrik’s body vibrated with what I recognized was that humming growl he made when angered. I couldn't hear it because of the noise, but he was obviously upset. I pressed my hand to his chest and moved my body closer, wanting to comfort him.
“You okay?” I asked Marat, feeling Adrik’s eyes on me while I addressed his brother.
“Of course I am. Brother, I hope you don’t mind me saying, but you look beautiful tonight, Sofia,” Marat said, slipping his casual playboy mask back on.
“I don’t mind if you compliment her, as long as it’s in front of me. Besides, she does look beautiful,” Adrik agreed, lowering his gaze to my breasts, and squeezing my waist.
“Standing right here, guys,” I muttered, feeling my cheeks burn as they spoke about me like I wasn’t even there.
Marat smirked, and I rolled my eyes. The ass. I was starting to think of him as an annoyance, but I knew Adrik loved him so I supposed kicking him in the shin would be wrong. We stood together a little while, before I noticed Marat’s gaze sharpen on something or someone across the room.
“He’s here,” he said to Adrik.
“Fine,” he growled, turning to me. “I must talk to our host alone for a few minutes, but Marat will watch out for you while I am gone. Okay?”
“Sure, but I am okay alone,” I said, not wanting to stir up any lingering feelings he might have about me and his brother no matter how misguided.
I did not want Marat. Not in the slightest.
“Not tonight, Zaika. This deal has brought out some unsavory characters and I need you protected at all times. My brother will watch you.”
And that was that I supposed. He leaned down to kiss me, and it was the first time in my life a man did something like that in public. Tipping my head back, he captured me by the neck and face, laying claim to my mouth and completely ruining me for any other man ever. By the time he lifted his head, his obsidian eyes flashed, and he ran his thumb over my bottom lip, tugging it slightly.
“When I come back, we are leaving and I am going to fuck this mouth, make it mine. Say yes, Zaika,” he growled low enough for my ears only.
My body sizzled. I felt my nipples harden beneath the dress and my panties absolutely soaked by my sudden and heady arousal. I nodded my head, but Adrik would not be persuaded to let go of my lower lip until he heard me agree verbally, so I did.
“Yes,” I replied, heat filling my vision as I stared up at him.
His smoldering gaze was nearly my undoing, but somehow, I managed to stand there and not turn into a puddle of goo. He turned around quickly and walked across the room to where Matthew Castle stood with his sister, Missy. She was staring right at us, and the look that crossed her face was something I had never seen on the flighty woman before. She looked positively green with envy. That wasn’t a look I usually got from other women, especially not wealthy women like Missy.
Why would she be jealous of me? Oh, because of Adrik. Duh. Too bad she didn’t know he was only with me because of the fucked up arrangement we had. He wasn’t in love with me. He didn’t want me for keeps. And knowing that almost sent me to my knees every time I thought it.
“What has you so pensive, little Sofia?” Marat asked, snagging a flute of champagne from a passing server, and handing it to me.
“Oh, nothing. Just my ex-boss is glaring at me from over there,” I replied, motioning towards where Adrik was standing talking to Matthew.
“Missy? Yes, well, she’s had her eye on Adrik for a long time now,” Marat replied and shrugged.
“She has? I worked for her for months, and I never heard her mention him,” I said, stunned to hear the news.
“Yes, well, she made the mistake of thinking Adrik liked women who played hard to get. She simply did not understand he did not want her. Period.”
“Really?” I said, stunned.
Missy was spoiled, but she was beautiful. I’d never known her to play anything or anyone long-term. Like most of the elite, she thought life was a game with a running score. To Missy, it all depended on how many likes she had or comments to determine whether or not she’d won. Was it wrong I was glad she hadn’t won in this case? Maybe. But that was the selfish part of me that wanted to keep Adrik. The childish part that secretly believed it was possible for the ex-crime lord to love me.
Foolish little girl.
“You know,” Marat started, looking pensive as he leaned down to talk to me. “I have been digging into Matthew Castle. Both Adrik and I, but we can’t find a single reason why he is withholding the sale of CoreTech. He needs the money. Castle Corps is practically drowning in debt,” he said, and I wondered why he was talking to me about it.
I knew nothing of that kind of business or finance or any of it. So, I shrugged and replied with the one connection he might have been trying to make.
“I don’t know,” I said, nibbling my lip. “My job was handling Missy’s social calendar. I did not have any direct contact with Matthew except for meetings, and the man gave me the creeps.”
“What meetings?” Marat asked.
“Castle Corps meetings and events. Matthew hosts a lot of parties and Missy always attends. Sometimes she required me to go with her. Like the party where I met Adrik,” I explained as he led me to a corner away from the dance floor.
“Ah, yes. We’ve been bombarded with invites lately to parties and dinners. I’d wondered why the infamous Volkov brothers were suddenly on everyone’s must have lists,” he murmured.
“Well, you are both powerful, wealthy, and handsome men. Of course, everyone wants you at their parties,” I said, rolling my eyes at him.
“Yes, but not like this. I mean, everyone wants Adrik on their guest list, and I don’t have to tell you, he hates parties. Usually they are content to have me,” he replied and smirked, pointing to himself as if to say duh.
“So you think society’s sudden increased interest in Adrik has to do with CoreTech?” I asked.
“I admit, Sof, I really didn’t. At least, not until right now. You know, you’re really smart,” he said, and I shoved him a little. Jerk. Of course, I was smart.
“W-what do you think she wants from Adrik?” I asked, my heart pounding.
“The usual,” Marat said, shrugging. “Marriage. Most socialites want to marry a wealthy man so they can continue to live their lavish lifestyles.”
I was shocked. Missy never mentioned marriage, but she was always working an angle. When I worked for her, she was extremely meticulous about organizing her social calendar. It was why she wanted an assistant.
“She wants to marry him. She wants to marry the head of Volkov Industries. It would be perfect. Like a fairytale, the Castle princess and the Volkov wolf,” I whispered. The idea that the two of them made much more sense than me and him had me stifling a sob. “Would he do that? Marry her to get CoreTech?” I asked before I could stop myself.
Marat’s perfectly sculpted brows furrowed, and he shrugged. He was wearing a tailor cut suit, similar to Adrik’s. He had all the right looks and was charming and attractive, and so many women stared at him as they passed, it was ridiculous, but I was not moved by any of that. Marat seemed to know it too, and he no longer bothered flirting with me, which was a relief.
“I honestly don’t know, Sofia. Adrik was always the one who would do anything to get what he wanted. And I don’t say that to upset you. He’s told you about our past, yes? Where we came from?” Marat asked, arms crossed as he leaned against the wall.
“A little,” I replied.
“Then you understand my brother is ruthless. He will do anything to protect what is his. One moment, I’m sorry, but Josef is calling me. Stay here,” Marat said, putting his phone up to his ear.
Marat turned his back towards me, and I stepped back a few feet, needing some space. If Missy wanted Adrik, it was only a matter of time. I’d seen her go after men before. She was beautiful and rich, and she understood these circles much more than I did. I was fooling myself before when I thought Adrik and I were a match, dreaming when I imagined we fit so well together.
Two weeks left, but I didn’t think I could go through with it. I couldn’t just sit there and pretend I was fine while she made a play for him. Not her. Not him. I groaned as nausea hit me square in the stomach. Marat caught my attention, he was still on the phone.
Are you okay? He mouthed, and I shook my head, pointing towards the ladies’ room. He nodded, and I walked off determined to have a quiet minute.
“Where are you running off to, lovey?” someone said in my ear as a wiry arm wrapped around my waist. “I’ve been looking for you.”
A hand clamped over my face before I could respond, and before I knew it, I was being dragged out of the room. It was only a few feet from the corridor, and no one seemed to notice I was being taken somewhere against my will.
My mind immediately went to Adrik, and I tried not to hyperventilate as I was pulled into a dark room. The lights were turned on suddenly, and I blinked hard against the stark brightness.
“Thank you, Charles. Please, sit down, Sofia. I am so glad you could make it,” Matthew Castle smirked at me as I was forcibly tossed into a chair by some asshole named Charles.
“W-what are you doing? What do you want?”
“That’s easy. I want to know what you told Adrik about me and my sister,” he said.