Page 52 of Pretty Evil
CHAPTER26
ALEXEI
It took every ounce of willpower I possess not to pull Serena into my arms the minute I saw her. My eyes burned with lust when I saw her standing there in that red dress and heels. I am used to the weary traveler, but not the lady. Serena Vieri is every dream I ever had, sugar-coated in evil. There was something so powerful about the way she stared at me as I entered the room. She has a commanding presence, and I couldn’t tell what she was thinking. Nobody knows how well we are acquainted and apparently, she wants to keep it that way.
I was interested in meeting her mom. She is like Serena in a lot of ways, beautiful, poised, and elegant, but she lacks the same fire in her eyes.
Perhaps it’s years of being dismissed and belittled by Benito Vieri and then by Joseph Stoner. In that short introduction, I could tell she was downtrodden, and I am happy she will soon be free if Regina played her part in this.
As a precaution, I refrained from sipping my drink and made certain Serena heeded my warning. There is nothing I can do about her mother and just hope Regina was telling the truth.
Joseph Stoner is everything I hate in an associate and definitely a man and I hope the poison works its magic soon because I’m likely to end his life myself if he carries on bragging about how powerful he is. A powerful man is that way because of knowledge. When to speak and when to listen. Stoner hasn’t read the memo which reveals how little power he actually holds.
As we head into the dining room, he walks by my side spouting off about the exotic places he’s traveled to, completely ignoring his wife and Serena, who lag some way behind.
I am aware of every step Serena takes, every word she says and every movement she makes. My entire focus is on her and yet to anybody watching, I have disregarded her completely. Gleb was warned to act as if they are strangers, and he is playing his part perfectly and I’m relying on a different outcome for this evening from the one Stoner intended.
He ignored Gleb for the entire meeting, and it proves to me that I never want to do business with a man like that. I treat everyone with respect and expect the same in return, which is why I’m glad I made the decision to end Joseph Stoner’s miserable life.
I’m impatient for the results I was promised and feel a growing sense of anger that I have been double-crossed. Stoner appears perfectly well, and I am already plotting Regina’s demise.
We take our seats, and I am placed next to Stoner with Gleb on his other side. Serena is beside Gleb, and I have the pleasure of dining beside her mother. This way I can stare at Serena without drawing attention to it and I am already picturing all the depraved activities I have in mind for her when we are alone.
The starter arrives, shellfish in a Marie rose sauce and as I lift my cutlery, Stoner falls on his like a pig in a trough.
I catch Serena’s eyes and smile at the disgust she directs his way as she delicately holds her own fork to her mouth. Gleb is staring at Stoner with revulsion and then catches my eye with a slight shake of his head.
“Mr. Romanov.” Sarah distracts my attention and I smile. “Please, call me Alexei.”
“Thank you.” She smiles. “You have flown a long way. Are you staying locally?”
“Yes. I have a house in Sydney. It belongs to my family and is welcome when we travel here.”
“A home from home.”
She smiles sweetly. “The best kind there is.”
I notice her attention is distracted as she stares at her husband and my heart starts beating rapidly as I wonder if this is the moment I’ve been waiting for. Then she looks away and attempts to disguise the hatred in her eyes, and it makes me wonder about Serena’s mom. That wasn’t the look of love in her eyes, and I sense trouble in their marriage because of it.
Serena says loudly, “Mr. Romanov, are you staying in Australia for long?”
It gives me the excuse to stare at her directly, and I mask the lust in my eyes by smiling politely. “Sadly no. I will be returning to America on business in two days, before heading back to Russia at the beginning of next month. My father passed away, and it is customary to enjoy a family meal forty days after his death.”
“I’m so sorry to hear that, Mr. Romanov.” Mrs. Stoner says with sadness and Serena echoes her condolences. However, I am spared from more small talk when Joseph says suddenly, “Is it hot in here, or is it just me?”
We turn and see him wiping the sweat from his brow with the napkin and Sarah says in surprise, “I was thinking it’s a little chilly. Are you okay?”
“Do I look okay?” Stoner yells and Serena says icily, “Perhaps you should take a minute, Joe.”
He pulls the collar from his neck and says harshly, “I think there must be something wrong with the food.”
“It wouldn’t act that fast.” Sarah says with a hint of concern as she watches him gasp for air.
“Shut up woman, what are you, an expert now?”
Gleb shakes his head as Stoner stands and clutches the table. “I don’t feel too good. Call an ambulance, Sarah.”
To her credit, Sarah just nods and leaves the room and I say with pretend concern, “Perhaps you should sit down and take some water. It may help.”