Wild Billionaire Romance - Chapter 25: Chapter 25

MARAT
Maybe envy wasn’t the right emotion in this instance.
I thought of all the trouble this little one would bring my brother, and I grinned. The Dark Wolf would be completely gray before she turned three.
Not that he was the wolf with either of his girls. Those two females of his had the power to turn him into a puppy.
Would wonders never cease?
And fuck, there he was again. That goddamn green motherfucker on my shoulder.
Still, I was glad I was Michaela’s uncle and not her father. I’d be terrible at parenthood. I was absolutely certain about that. But I could be a fun uncle to my niece and whatever other kids joined Adrik’s brood.
I already spoiled Michaela rotten to hear Sofia tell it. My pretty little niece knew just how to capture my attention, as well as everyone else’s. She was not a whiner, not a crier, but she could wrap me around her chubby little finger with barely a murmur.
Sweet little thing. Precious. Lucky, lucky Adrik to have such a beautiful family.
I would be there for her, for any of them, wherever, however, and whenever I could. I owed everything to Adrik. Protecting his family was the least I could do to repay him. And really, it was my pleasure.
But I knew nothing I did could ever be enough, and that knowledge cut me inside.
“Earth to Marat? I asked if you were staying over tonight. I could have Esmerelda freshen up your room.”
“Oh, no, I’m not staying. Thanks, though.”
“What’s up? Seriously, you look grumpy,” Sofia said, breaking my train of thought.
“Grumpy? Me? I think maybe you confused me with that growly beast you call husband.”
I turned my megawatt smile on her, the one I’d used to melt off more than one pair of panties in my lifetime, but my savvy sister-in-law was not fooled.
“Seriously, Marat. Is everything okay? Are you mad about the penthouse?”
“Why on earth would I be mad about Adrik giving me his penthouse?” I scoffed.
“I don’t know,” she replied.
Sofia shivered, and I moved to close the terrace doors to ward off the chilly April breeze blowing through the opening. I hated spring. It was the ugliest of all the seasons as far as I was concerned. Nothing but mud and bare branches, cold weather, and near constant rain.
Give me the greens and heat of summer or the reds and golds of fall. I even liked the stark white snow of winter. Maybe that was my Russian blood, I could not say. But springtime—blech.
Spring felt like a lie to me. The promise of rebirth and youth, but really, it was nothing like I wanted it to be. It was always too cold, too damp, too unwelcoming.
Harsh.
Springtime was raw. Muddy. Unfinished. Downright ugly. That was the reality of the season. But no one seemed to recognize it. It was supposed to represent youth, rebirth, but like most things, that was a mirage. Just like beauty.
Just like me.
Fuck, I was morose. I’d driven out that morning to the Long Island Sound to visit my brother and his family to cheer myself up. Also, I had to pick up some of my belongings from the mansion they now called their permanent home.
I did not mind that. Not one bit. I’d been drifting back and forth between cities, but since I was needed more at Volkov Industries these days, moving to the New York penthouse for good made sense.
I was humbled and proud that Adrik trusted me with the business, and I worked damn hard to prove myself. It was gratifying, in a way. No, we didn’t need more money, but I found the advances in technology, the creativity involved in what our company did simply fascinating.
Contrary to popular belief the face of Volkov Industries was actually good for more than entertainment. I had a brain though most likely believed it lived somewhere below my buckle. But I didn’t attend Princeton for nothing. And playboy or not, I was doing good work for the company and my family.
“Brother!” Adrik’s bellow reached my ears a moment before Michaela let out a squeal of delight at her father’s arrival. “Was traffic bad?” he asked as he nuzzled his daughter’s neck.
“Same as always,” I replied.
I rolled my eyes and tried not to watch as Adrik turned his head from his daughter’s chubby cheek to greet his wife with a passionate kiss, as if he hadn’t seen her fifteen minutes ago. I felt like a fucking voyeur whenever those two touched and it was all I could do not to grumble aloud like the fucking curmudgeon I was afraid I’d already become.
“I know you two have some business to discuss, but let’s have a bite to eat before all that. I had Rosa prepare something special for you, Marat.”
“Did you?” I asked, mildly curious. Like everything else, my appetite for food had dwindled lately.
“Don’t act like you couldn’t smell the pelmeni when you walked in,” she said, mentioning my favorite Russian dish.
Pelmeni were meat dumplings and could be prepared steamed, pan fried, or even served in soup. Sofia was right, of course. The mouthwatering scents of onions, herbs, and spices danced in the air in of the entryway when I’d arrived a little over half an hour ago.
I winked at my sister-in-law, earning me a glare from my still overly possessive brother. Even after all this time, the man was still unhealthily obsessed with his wife. Whatever. Who was I to judge? Besides, it appeared to be working for them.
“When are you driving back to the city?” Adrik asked.
“Before rush hour was my plan,” I replied, following them to the dining room.
Adrik took Michaela from his wife and strapped the baby into her highchair, quick to add some fruity puff things to her tray before she could start climbing out. She was already an expert escape artist.
“I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind taking a quick trip to Vegas before you settled in the penthouse,” Adrik began, and I lifted my eyes to his.
“Vegas?” I asked, my mind immediately switching from lunch to business.
“Volkov Industries is being recognized by McNeil Corp for our humanitarian efforts in providing medical supplies and food to citizens of war torn countries in Africa and the Middle East. Quite the honor, brother.”
“Are we now? Interesting, those areas were where the Dark Wolf last appeared when our mines were being threatened. Don’t you think?”
“Indeed,” Adrik growled, his dark eyes flashing at me.
“Let’s not discuss that at the table, boys.”
“Anyway, it would be better for the company if one of the two co-chairs were there to represent us,” my brother continued.
“I take it Vegas is not somewhere you’d like to bring your wife and daughter.”
“Well, it’s not that Adrik did not want to take us, but I am a little nervous about such a long flight with Michaela,” Sofia spoke up, biting her lip.
“Of course, I will go, Sof,” I said immediately, wanting to put my sister-in-law at ease. “I was just needling my brother. Force of habit.”
“Good!” Adrik said, nodding his head.
Fucking Las Vegas.
Sure, it was fun ten years ago, when I was younger and carefree. But Sin City and I had parted ways, and I was no worse for wear. It wasn’t my ideal, but I would go for the company, and for Adrik.
“Are they still doing an auction with the award ceremony?” I asked, mentally preparing myself.
“I believe so. Auction, dinner, gala, the whole nine. You should bring a date otherwise Tessa McNeil might get the wrong impression,” he started.
“Who’s Tessa McNeil?” Sofia asked, eyes bright with curiosity.
“No one.”
“His ex.”
I answered at the same time as Adrik.
“Oh, I feel a story there,” Sofia said right before Rosa came in with lunch.
“Rosa, darling, save me from this boring conversation,” I implored the older woman who just chuckled and shushed me while she rolled a cart laden with platters of delicious smelling food onto the table.
Conversation stilted while the meal was served, and we ate in companionable silence for a few minutes. As always, time passed far too quickly when I was enjoying myself. Such a rarity these days, it was truly a pity.
“Are you sure you’re okay going to Vegas?” Adrik asked and walked me to the door some minutes later.
“Yeah. It’s fine.”
“I could try to convince Zaika⁠—”
“Adrik, I am fine. I’ve been to Vegas a million times.”
“I know, but you looked sort of off before,” he said, concern marring his face.
“Off? Me? I am the face of Volkov Industries. I never look off,” I said, trying for humor and failing miserably.
“Marat—”
“You had them fuel up the jet, yes?”
“Yes, it is done. Marat, if you need anything⁠—”
“Good, I’ll go right to the airport. And I’ll be in touch with Andres about meetings and such,” I said.
“Fine. I’ll have Josef meet you at the plane,” Adrik huffed, clearly annoyed at me for cutting him off so many times.
“I don’t need Josef—” I began.
“Nonnegotiable,” he grunted, returning the favor, and not allowing me to finish my sentence. “You are not just the face of the company anymore, Marat. You are the powerful co-chair. You have gained enemies, and you would do well not to forget,” he said before pulling me in for a goodbye hug.
“Fine.”
I nodded, trying not to grimace as my older brother patted me on the back hard enough to jostle my whole body. The fucker.
I wished I could have done something or said something to make him relax. But I had nothing, and I could only stand there as his heavy stare weighed down on me. He was right to be suspicious.
Lately, I’d felt off. Like something had shifted inside of me. I felt adrift most days. The realization there was nothing connecting me to the real world.
No ties. No anchors. And I was aware of my own goddamn hypocrisy. I mean, no strings was how I wanted things. It was what I demanded of my partners. The women I bedded knew the deal.
Relationships were for ordinary people, and I was not that. I never made promises or overtures. I just didn’t do drama. But lately, I’d been thinking I was wrong. One night stands with nameless beauties no longer held any appeal.
Fuck.
This sucked. I needed something to steady me. But what?
“Where to, sir?” the driver asked, and I gave him the name of one of the private airports we used.
I did not need to bother to pack since an email to Andres, the administrative assistant I shared with my brother, was all I needed to ensure my hotel suite would have what I required for my trip. The only thing I had to do was get there.
Last thing I wanted was to ponder just what the fuck I was doing with my life the entire fucking trip. I grabbed my phone and started shooting off emails. Besides, I knew what I was doing for the next few days.
I was the face of Volkov Industries and as such I’d be accepting an award in the entertainment capital of the world with millions of eyes on me. I needed to be on guard. That place was full of vipers in designer clothing. The time to indulge my sullen mood and wallow in morose fuckery was over.
It was time to roll the dice even though I knew they were loaded against me.
Las Vegas was waiting.