As they were seated, Sarah watched as Vitaly engaged with everyone throughout dinner. Taking his cue, she answered questions and posed many of her own as she kept the conversation moving. Before dinner was over, it was obvious to everyone else at the table that Sarah was indeed qualified for the job. After dinner, Vitaly suggested that they move up to the fourth floor to continue their discussions. The union reps excused themselves and left with their spouses, but both Steve and Nico agreed.
As they settled upstairs, Sarah looked around. The fourth floor was a loft-like setting designed to provide semi-private seating for small parties while still open to the nightclub one floor down. Walking to the rail, she looked down at the dance floor and an oversized DJ booth. A bar lined one entire wall and there was ample seating that wrapped around the dance floor. The same industrial motif of open ironwork and exposed ductwork that was in the restaurant was used in the nightclub and the raised ceiling with cleverly placed acoustical modifiers kept the noise from the nightclub down so that fourth floor patrons could speak in normal tones.
As she turned around, she caught Vitaly looking at her. He was surprised at how well she handled herself at dinner and that she kept up with the conversation. He didn’t realize how versed she was on his expansion plans and he was pleased at how well she conducted herself. She looked gorgeous in that dress and she knew it, as he caught her flirting with the other men at dinner. He kept telling himself that he wasn’t jealous, but she managed to pay attention to everyone except him.
As she tilted her head to smile at him, she walked back over to the couches. The Louboutins looked fantastic on her and the heels were just high enough that her hips swayed seductively as she walked.
All eyes were on Sarah as she sat down next to Nico. Reaching for the cigar cutter, Sarah deftly clipped the end of his cigar before flicking the lighter so he could light his cigar.
As the server dropped off their drinks, Nico asked, “And where did one as young as you learn to prep a cigar?”
Smiling coyly, Sarah reached for her brandy. Sniffing lightly, she took a small sip as she savored its sweetness. “My mother died when I was young and I was raised around men. If I wasn’t dodging spit from chew, I was lighting tobacco.”
“And where was this?” asked Steve.
“Cattle ranch in central California.”
“So, you ride horses?”
As Sarah leaned across Nico, she lit Steve’s cigar. “Why yes, sir,” Sarah drawled. “Been riding bareback since I was big enough to mount a horse on my own.” Vitaly choked on his brandy as he narrowed his gaze at Sarah who turned to look at him. “Everything okay, Mr. Chekov?”
“Fine,” he managed to ground out as he stared at her.
Turning her gaze from his, she continued to banter with both men as they asked her questions about life on the ranch and why she chose her degree. As the evening drew to a close, Sarah excused herself briefly. Once she was gone, both men leaned forward to ask about her availability.
Vitaly had been boiling slowly with anger as he watched Sarah flirt with both men and ignore him. From the way she behaved, it was clear that she was far more experienced than he first thought, but he would be damned if he would allow either man to have her. Declining their requests, he informed them that she was already taken.
When Sarah returned, the men had already finished and were moving toward the elevator. As she joined them, Vitaly possessively placed his hand on her lower back. Stepping forward and away from his touch, Sarah thanked both men for a wonderful evening and wished them well.
Chapter 7
They rode back to the apartment in silence as Vitaly continued to seethe. Inwardly, Sarah couldn’t help feeling smug that she had dished out what Vitaly deserved, but she had wondered if she went too far given that his anger was palpable. Continuing to ignore him, she did her best to appear unaffected but the tension in the elevator was thick. Once inside the apartment, she turned to wish him a good night, but before she could say anything, he was on her.
Pushing her to the wall, he pressed up behind her. Grabbing her hair, he pulled her head back as he whispered into her ear. “Did you really think that you could treat me that way and get away with it?”
Sarah’s hands were pressed to the wall as she attempted to push him off her, but he continued to lean heavily against her. Kissing her neck, Sarah shivered against him as she found herself becoming turned on. “Mr. Chekov, I don’t know what you are talking about.”
“Liar.” Turning her around, he pulled her arms over her head and kept her pinned to the wall. Kissing her savagely, Sarah’s legs almost gave out from under her at the sudden onslaught. Hoping still to have the upper hand, she was not prepared for her body’s response to him. As he loosened his grip on her hands, Sarah managed to pull free. The resounding slap as her hand connected with his check echoed across the living room. As Vitaly stepped back in surprise, she put her hands on her hips as she stared him down.