Page 56 of Weeping Roses
“Eat your breakfast to preserve your strength because you are definitely going to need that and we will face this together as a team.”
“A team.” Her brilliant smile could light up London and as she raises her fork, I smile to myself because it appears my English Rose is on the exact same page as me.
The morning is spent with Artem in the den, while Polly prepares for her lunch date with Marsha Steele. We work hard gathering all the information we can on the woman and as we near the time to leave, I wonder if we have enough.
Unknown to Polly, Artem installed a listening device inside her necklace. My job is to make sure she wears it and Artem will be by my side in a convenient location nearby. I am leaving nothing to chance because this is too important to mess things up and as I leave Artem to finalize the arrangements, I head off in search of Polly to apply the final touch.
She is in the dressing room deciding on a pair of shoes and her smile is bright when I walk inside.
“I love the clothes you randomly selected.” She rolls her eyes and I chuckle softly.
“Next time we will visit Bond Street. There are several designers worthy of your attention.”
Her eyes widen and the expression of horror on her face makes me grin.
“No, Valentin. I owe you for the rest of my life as it is. I can’t afford more.”
“Then accept them as my gift to you for–” I cock my brow. “Services rendered, as they say.”
Her gasp of incredulity feeds my inner devil and I can’t resist casting an appraising gaze over her body and saying darkly, “I will accept payment tonight as per our agreement.”
She opens her mouth to speak, but the lustful gaze she directs at me belies her words.
“I owe you nothing.”
She turns her attention back to the shoes with a sweet grin on her face that she fails to conceal and I watch her choose between them with a soft, “These will do.”
She slips on the designer shoes and at times like this, I’m glad she never saw the price tag. She would never wear them if she knew how much they cost and yet watching her get ready is a unique experience for me that I’m enjoying more than I thought I would.
There is an intimacy with Polly I never guessed would be so fulfilling, and as she casts her sweet smile in my direction, it scores a direct hit in my heart. I’m staggering on unfamiliar ground and certain to fall, which is the most surprising thing of all about this entire situation.
As soon as she is ready, I produce the necklace from my pocket set in a velvet box and her eyes widen when I hand it to her.
“What’s this?”
“A gift.”
“But it’s not my birthday.”
“If I’m in your life, every day will be your birthday, malyshka. Get used to it.”
“Idiot.” Her face blushes crimson when she accepts the box from my hand and I watch eagerly as she opens it and gasps at the gold pendant with a ruby set in the center.
“It’s beautiful, Valentin.”
Her eyes shine as she stares at in awe and I whisper, “It doesn’t compare to you, malyshka.”
I’m surprised when she flings her arms around my neck and kisses me with a passion I wasn’t expecting and as I wrap my arms around her and pull her in tight, unfamiliar emotion is clawing at my heart.
CHAPTER 32
POLLY
Iam so nervous. Despite the designer clothing providing me with a false sense of power, I am intimidated by my surroundings and definitely suffering from imposter syndrome. I can’t help fingering the pendant that Valentin secured around my neck, remembering the way his fingers trailed across it and his soft whisper of what he wanted to do to me tonight grazed like silk across my soul. I’m like a lovesick schoolgirl whenever he is around and as my phone rings, it breaks the spell with harsh reality.
“Polly, darling. I’ve secured us a table. The waiter will show you to where I’m sitting. Just tell him who you’re meeting.”
I whisper, “I won’t be long,” and place the phone inside the leather bag that Valentin added to the shopping haul. I don’t even want to consider how much it cost because I recognize the brand and would never be able to afford one if I saved for my entire life.