25 | All It Takes

"Excellent. Now take your top off..."

I COULD BARELY RAISE MY voice enough to say a breathless, "excuse me?"

Viktor didn't flinch. "Off," he repeated calmly, gesturing to the top half of my dress.

Even if for some crazy reason I wanted to comply—which I didn't—it would have been a near impossibility. Sure, my dress had a zipper at the back which meant it could be pulled down to my midriff, but there was no way in hell I'd be able to unfasten that myself.

As the air in the room seemed to still around me, I went through each potential explanation I could think of for such a bizarre request. The first thing that popped into my head was sex. Was this some sort of strange foreplay? Had Viktor brought me into his home for something other than business? My heart thumped anxiously at the thought. But the way he was looking at me, cold and clinical, like a science project, told me that pleasure was not on the agenda. Thank god.

Now my mind was coming up blank. I couldn't fathom any reason as to why I'd need to get undressed.

"Miss Perne." Viktor pushed away from the desk. Took a step closer. Too close. "I don't like to be kept waiting," he reminded.

"I...I don't understand," I admitted.

"I thought you were a clever girl, Grace."

"I don't understand why," I corrected harshly. This whole situation was utterly sick and utterly beyond my comprehension.

Viktor opened his mouth as if to reply but then he stopped abruptly as his eyes shifted behind me and his lips folded into a grim line.

I turned to see what had caught his attention and found Alexei throwing open the door. "Grace," he hissed urgently, gesturing for me to stand by his side.

I glanced nervously between both men.

"If I required your presence I'd have informed you," Viktor said to Alex dismissively.

But Alex didn't budge.

"Grace has dressed your wound," he pointed out. "She doesn't need to be here anymore."

"She isn't leaving until she's complied with my request."

Alex grabbed my hand and suddenly I felt heat rushing up my arm. "We're leaving," he spat as he pulled me towards the exit.

"You're making a mistake, Alexei, and you know it."

With his hand on the door handle Alex paused. Viktor had finally caught his attention, and I didn't like it one bit. Surely he wouldn't agree with his father's ludicrous  demand...and yet, at the mention of a mistake, he seemed paralysed. Of course I knew by now that Alex hated being wrong; admitting to his own mistakes was not an activity he often—or ever—engaged in. Yet despite all that, I couldn't imagine him stooping so low in order to impress his father.

Once Viktor had caught Alexei's attention he continued, "you let her walk and we'll never know. One mistake is all it takes, son. To bring our empire down."

"She's not working against us," he hissed.

"Then make her prove it."

I was completely lost, stuck on the outside of a conversation I didn't understand. Alex turned to me and I could see that he was torn. His brows were crinkled, eyes softened by the bright office lights to the point where they almost looked pleading. Although no words were exchanged between us, it felt like that glance alone conveyed a thousand of them.

Alex didn't look away from me as he said, "not here. Not in front of you."

"Then when? Where?"

"After dinner. Tonight."

"And if she is...?"

Finally Alex broke eye contact with me and I felt the loss pulse in my chest. He stared straight ahead and said flatly, "I will deal with it."

A shiver crawled down my spine as Viktor nodded.

"If she is one of them," he said, "you will destroy her."

Alex's eyes flashed dangerously and I saw him grind his teeth. He didn't meet my eyes as he led me out of Viktor's office, and I suddenly felt very alone in this big old house. Our footsteps echoed down the hall and my head hummed with unanswered questions. Somehow, though, I couldn't force a single one to leave my mouth.

I felt as though someone had stuffed me with cotton wool, as if it was pushed down my throat and against my teeth. Everything seemed muted, like my head had been shoved underwater and held there as I thrashed for air.

I so badly needed to understand. I thought that Viktor's aim had been to clarify things, to terrify me with understanding, but all he'd done was leave me with more questions than I had to begin with. The true nature of the Ivanov's company hadn't yet been revealed, and now the prospect of 'after dinner' hung over my head.

What exactly would Alexei be looking for? And had he meant that he'd deal with me...destroy me...if he didn't like what he found? I wasn't working for anyone else, yet an irrational fear still climbed up my body like a rising tide.

"Don't let them know that anything is wrong," Alexei instructed me as we reached the door into the dining room. His hand hovered by the small of my back for a second before he retracted it hastily. It almost seemed as though he was uncertain or nervous.

Getting through the Ivanov's family dinner was the most difficult thing I'd ever had to achieve. I tried to focus on the meandering conversation (which mainly covered Natalia's latest baby scan and Bethany and Leo's wedding plans) but it was difficult to focus, least of all contribute anything worthwhile.

Naturally, the only thing that peaked my attention was the mention of Alex.

"...so I've got the guest list down to one hundred and thirty one," Bethany announced proudly to the room.

My brows instantly raised in surprise but Kristina's expression met the declaration with cool indifference. "That few?" she asked, her tone indicating disapproval.

Bethany took a sip of wine before responding. "Well, Leo and I discussed this," she glanced to her fiancé hoping for support, "and we decided we want the ceremony to be intimate—more personal."

When Kristina raised a brow at her son his eyes shifted apologetically to Bethany who frowned in response.

"Didn't we, Leo?" she prompted.

"It's going to be intimate," he agreed hesitantly, "but we have to account for family..."

Kristina jumped in immediately. "Precisely. Who exactly were you planning on inviting?" Bethany opened her mouth but never had the chance to make a sound. "My sisters Dina, Lucya and Iskra of course, and their children, Leonid's cousins—Is would need advanced warning to travel from Saint Petersburg—then there are Viktor's more distant relatives...more cousins...half cousins...Alexei?"

When Alex's name was spoken the whole room stilled. It seemed that Kristina had somehow hit a nerve—one that only she would have the confidence to touch.

Alex looked uncomfortable as he said, "yes?"

Bethany and Leo exchanged a wide eyed glance and quickly went to diffuse the tension. "Alex doesn't have to come, we already made arrangements—"

Kristina's glare silenced the room. Her eyes moved slowly from Bethany to Alex, whose whole body seemed to have gone rigid. I could see his knuckles turning white as he gripped his fork.

"You will be attending your brother's wedding, will you not, Alexei?"

The question hung suspended in the air like a bullet as seconds ticked on.

"No."

I felt myself stir with surprise at Alex's resolute response. I couldn't fathom it—why on earth would he not want to attend the wedding? It wasn't even as though it concerned a distant family member; Leo was his brother.

"Alex," I whispered quietly so that nobody else could hear. I didn't know why I thought my disapproval would change anything, but I couldn't help it. Every time I thought of my mum I wished I'd spent more time with her, crammed in every second I could. Turning down such a monumental event would only lead to regret later.

I had the painful gift of hindsight, and I wanted to give it to Alex.

Almost unnoticeably, he shook his head. I felt his hand reaching for mine under the table. He found it pressed to my thigh, rested his fingers against mine for a second, cool and smooth, then withdrew. I knew he was saying enough. We'll talk later.

"Leave it, mother," Leo warned before any more ammunition could be fired. "Let's just be happy Alex is here today."

"Alex is in the room," Alexei reminded everyone, his voice half playful and half irritated.

"Which in itself is cause for celebration," Petrov interrupted, raising his glass for a toast. His ten thousand watt smirk was met by the rolling eyes of his brother, who lifted his glass anyway.

Once a toast had been made, I could tell that dinner was drawing to a close; conversation was becoming more relaxed, shared between partners rather than the whole table.

When Alex stood from the table my stomach knotted.

"Leaving so soon?" Kristina frowned. Her eyes flickered to Viktor's empty chair, probably trying to work out what had happened to cause his absence.

Alex shocked even me when he replied, "we're not leaving tonight."

If Kristina was surprised she didn't show it. "Your room as always is made up. Show Grace to one of the spares in the east wing."

"Um, I really should go home tonight..." I interjected timidly.

"It's late," Alex responded flatly.

"And dad will be wondering where I am." I folded my arms.

"I already informed your father you'd be staying with us tonight."

"You did what?"

Alex shrugged. "I told him you wouldn't be home."

"I heard what you said, I just can't believe it."

"He was fine with it, Grace. There really is no problem."

He grabbed my hand and tried to pull me away from the table but I dug my heels in. "No, Alex, you had no right to do that."

"You're making a scene," he sighed. "Why don't we take this somewhere more private while you calm down."

"Calm down?" I repeated through clenched teeth.

Alex let out a long, slow breath. I could see him struggling to maintain his composure. "Come with me and we can talk about this."

"Was that a request, or was it actually a demand?" I spat testily.

"The latter," he said flatly, "I was simply saving face. Come on."

Finally losing patience, Alex's hand circled my wrist as he pulled me firmly towards the door. Any resistance would have been futile; his hold was too strong, and besides, we had already caused quite the scene. I could see Kristina watching us disapprovingly, her icy glare penetrating right through me. Bethany's sympathetic face was the last thing I saw before we were out of the room.

Neither of us spoke a word as we strode down hallway after hallway. Alex's silence was due to his seething anger; mine due to innate stubbornness.

I was irritated not that Alex had asked my father, but that he had failed to consult me first. I'd thought he was on my side—wanted to protect me from all of this—yet now he seemed only to be dragging me deeper.

Throwing open a door at the furthest end of the left wing of the house, Alex's fingers didn't leave my wrist until we were both inside and the door was closed.

"What the hell was that?" I spat when Alex said nothing. He'd always been more comfortable with silence than me.

Rather than answer he loosened his tie, seemingly as though he hadn't heard me at all.

"I thought you wanted to keep me away from all of this," I continued angrily, "now you want me to stay here?"

"It would be easier," Alex said, hanging his tie neatly inside the large wardrobe at the back of the room, "if you were to stay until morning. I've had a drink, as have you—neither of us should be driving anywhere."

I rolled my eyes. "As if you give a shit about breaking the law."

"I don't," he agreed, "but you do."

"Don't turn this around on me!" I threw my hands up. "You know how I feel about leaving dad—especially after last time!"

After my embarrassingly intoxicated antics at Alex's club, I'd been forced to rush home only to find my father's chair upturned in the kitchen. I'd never felt such crushing guilt as I did that morning.

"Your father is a grown man, and you are a grown woman. You are allowed to do things for yourself, Grace." Alex sighed and glanced out of the window. "You don't have to be so selfless all the time."

I scoffed. "This is about me! I do not want to stay here! I want to go home!"

I was practically screaming now, frustration melting through into a thousand intense emotions. I could feel my eyes watering but I refused to cry. I always cried when I was angry, but Alex wouldn't understand that.

"Grace," he sighed, sounding defeated. "Please stop making this difficult."

"Why should I?"

"You think I want you to be here?" Alex scoffed. "I told you from the beginning I wanted to keep you away, then you went and accepted an invitation to dinner!"

"So this is my fault?" I folded my arms.

"I'm not saying that." He ran a frustrated hand through his hair, tugging at the dark curls there. "Now that you're here, you have to stay—you need to."

"Why? So you can destroy me? So Viktor can get rid of me for good?"

"Nobody is going to destroy you."

"Well it certainly didn't sound like that earlier..."

For the first time tonight real fear had crept into my voice. Alex must have noticed; he dropped his defensive stance and took a step closer. If he wanted, he could reach out and touch me. He could grab my hands. I imagined how it would feel—his skin against mine, like it had been earlier in Viktor's office. He seemed to have the same thought. I saw his eyes trail down my arms, lingering at my hands before returning to my face.

Neither of us moved.

"My father was trying to scare you," Alex said.

"It worked," I admitted.

"I know—" His hand reached out and brushed against the back of mine. His knuckles grazed my fingers lightly. "I'm sorry, Grace, for what he said."

"It's fine." I looked away.

"No." His index finger caught my chin and tilted my head up. "I didn't want you here, I didn't want you near any of this. I should have known better than to give you a job."

"Then why did you?"

I couldn't help but lean closer to his warmth as I waited for an answer. Alex looked down at me and he seemed torn. "Because I'm selfish," he said.

"You wanted me to work for you?"

"I wanted you." His fingertip traced my jawline. "Damn it all to hell, I wanted you."

"Why?" I whispered.

He chuckled then, a pleasant, throaty sound. "The first woman to help me..." His finger grazed my bottom lip. "You saved me that day. In the hospital. You saved me."

I could barely manage a coherent thought. "So this is all just gratitude...?"

Alex shook his head. "This isn't just anything."

When he breathed I felt warmth wash over my face. Alex's musky scent was everywhere; it seemed to have filled my whole body. I was practically in a trance at his words, desperate to hear more of them. More desperate to lean closer and close the space between our lips.

I closed my eyes and waited, trembling, anticipating his touch.

Nothing happened.

When after seconds passed I opened my eyes, Alex was still watching me intensely, curiously, yet he hadn't moved an inch more.

Realisation dawned on me as though my blood was slowly turning to ice.

"You still have to check I'm not a rat, don't you?" I sighed.

Alex's mouth pulled into a grim line as he nodded.

He was going to have to check me for a wire.

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