Page 41 of Tangled Roses
She’s not even pretending, either. It’s as if I’m a stranger that seems familiar somehow. For a moment there, I thought she had guessed, but has obviously decided I am of no interest to her.
I am a mess of emotions. Fury, pain and disbelief mix with hatred and grief. I am meeting with my mother for the first time in over twenty years and she doesn’t even know who I am.
Somehow I manage to squeak, “Please. Follow me.”
I walk slightly in front of her because I can’t bear to look at her and I don’t want her to see me crumble. There is so much I want to say, but my instructions were clear. Listen, don’t speak.
Arman Romanov is a bastard. My fury turns to him because he planned this. Was the job offer just a way to engineer this meeting for his own enjoyment? Will I be fired by the end of the day when he has no further use for me?
Will my mother leave with the knowledge I am her daughter and will I kill them both the first opportunity I get? Luka would do it for me. That man would do it to pass the time. He is that sinister.
I can’t believe this is happening and as we make our way to the elevator, I am grateful for the surge of people who take the ride with us.
CHAPTER 24
ARMAN
Iwatch their interaction with interest. Luka has trained the security cameras on them and opened the microphone. We can hear everything they say, which isn’t much, and my heart breaks for Ellie. She is doing a good job of keeping her emotions under control, which I respect. However, I see the pain in her eyes as her mother completely blanks her.
“Interesting.” Luka whispers beside me as we both study the scene.
“The bitch doesn’t even know what her daughter looks like.” I add harshly, and he nods.
“So Gabrielle isn’t the reason she’s here.”
“It appears so.”
I breathe a sigh of relief because if Nikolai is here to meet Marsha, it’s doubtful his intended target is the woman who has somehow caught my attention.
“Will you tell her?” Luka asks casually and yet I can’t give him an answer to that. I haven’t worked it out yet and as they step into the elevator, I lean back and fix him with a blank stare.
“Any news on Nikolai?”
“He’s currently heading toward Roden’s club by foot.”
“Anyone else of interest in there?”
“No. The club is empty.”
“Keep me informed.”
Luka makes to leave and I say quickly, “Keep your eyes on Marsha when she leaves.”
He nods and as he leaves the room, I set my attitude accordingly.
A gentle knock on the door alerts me they are here and as the door opens, I see Ellie’s furious expression as she directs an extreme look of hatred my way but says pleasantly, “Miss Steele to see you, sir.”
I point to the chair I set by the wall and say dismissively, “You may wait over there.”
I swear if eyes were daggers they would be piercing my heart right now and yet I gaze past her coolly and stand, offering Marsha my hand.
“Thank you for agreeing to meet me, Miss Steele.”
“Arman. I was so sorry to learn of Andrei’s passing. He was such a close personal friend of mine and will be sadly missed.”
I shake her hand and gesture to the seat opposite my desk.
“Thank you for your condolences, Miss Steele. Please take a seat.”