"No, they don't, but you know what I say. Even George Clooney got caught in the end."
I smile sadly. "Have you heard any stories about him?"
"I didn't pay much attention to them."
"Tell me, Rosa."
"There is nothing to tell," she insists with a laugh.
"I spent so many years with my head in the sand. I'm learning to be different. To ask questions. To find things out for myself. You're not protecting me by hiding stuff from me. I want to know where I stand." "Okay. Most of it was just salacious gossip. It's normal with him being so rich and handsome, but one thing did stick out though."
"What?"
"Apparently, the rumor is he won't go out with blonde women."
"I'm blonde."
"I know. Once he was dating this model, I even know her, and she changed her hair color to blonde so he just dropped her like a hot potato. She tried changing it back but he had already lost interest."
"Isn't it weird that he chose me?"
"Very weird, which is what makes me say don't rock the boat. Just go with the flow. You never know what's waiting on the other side."
"All this is neither here nor there, anyway, since I'm going back to Nigel. I've already told Nikolai that I'll be using some of my money to pay the debt back and-"
"You did what?" she explodes.
"Well, it seemed like the right thing to do … "
She shakes her head. "This is exactly what is called rocking the boat.
If you could forget this bullshit loyalty you have to Nigel. He totally doesn't deserve it. If you weren't with Nigel wouldn't you like to be with Nikolai?"
"If I weren't with Nigel? I am with Nigel, Rosa."
"Forget it." She walks away from the mirror.
I turn around and look at her. "Are you angry with me, Rosa?"
She turns around and forces a smile. "No, I'm not. I just wish you could see what I can, but I guess you can't. It doesn't matter. What will be, will be. Now let's get your hair done."
"Celine will do it."
"Hell, I love your life at the moment," she says with a grin.
I ring for Celine and she comes to do my hair while Rosa and I chat. When Celine finishes, Rosa takes over and does my make-up. She twists open a strong red lipstick.
"Don't put too much," I warn.
"You know what I always say. Don't do the walk of shame, just do the walk," she says.
Finally, she snaps the lid of her gold eyeshadow and sighs with satisfaction. "Wanna see what you look like?"
I walk to the mirror. "God, I look so different," I say, turning to look at the back of the dress. "You don't think it's all too over the top?"
"That's the point whole. I want you to knock him off his feet."
I slip into my sandals and show Rosa to the door. We quickly hug and say goodbye.
"You have a fab time tonight," she says. I watch her walk, clicking down the stone steps in her high heels towards her car. "Don't forget to call me. I want to know everything," she shouts over her shoulder as she gets into her car. I wave as she drives off. From the corner of my eye I can see the black Bentley with Andrei inside inching forward. He stops in front of me and gets out to open the car door. His eyes slide over me in surprise but all he says is, "Good evening, Miss Minton."
Suddenly I feel nervous and a little awkward. I know that this is not a date and yet it feels like it. Actually, it feels like I am a Princess going out to meet my Prince.
Andrei holds open the door and I slide in.
Chapter Forty-Five
Star
I get out of the car, surprised. I can see bouncers standing outside the understated entrance of some kind of club or restaurant. It is as if someone was trying hard to be ordinary. Everything about it is drab. There is an awning but even that is the dullest green you can think of. The name of the club is in black on gray.
Ziggurat.
One of the bouncers immediately leaves his position and comes towards me. It's a beautiful warm summer evening with an occasional gentle breeze and I stand there frozen.
"Good evening, Miss Minton. My name is Roman," he says when he gets close enough to me.
"Good evening, Roman. Where is Nikolai?"
"Mr. Smirnov is upstairs in his office and asked if you could wait for him."
"Oh." He makes me come here alone and now he won't even allow me to go up to his office. Instead he wants me to sit somewhere and wait for him.
"Please, come with me. You can sit and have a drink in one of our private rooms," he says.
"What is this place?"
He looks at me strangely. "It's a club."
What kind of club? I want to ask, but his face discourages any further conversation. Oh well, I'll find out soon enough.
I follow him inside. To my great astonishment the interior is nothing like the exterior. Inside it is grand and majestic. We walk through the beautiful marbled reception. Roman does not speak to the girls sitting there, both eye-wateringly beautiful, but they stare curiously at me.
A stunningly beautiful woman walks up to us. She smiles sweetly at me. "I absolutely adore your dress. Is it Dior?" she asks in a sexy Russian accent.
"It is," I answer, surprised that she could guess the label so accurately.
She smiles.
"You have a very good eye for fashion," I remark.
"I used to be a model. Fashion is my thing." She glances at the bouncer then back at me. "Can I get you a drink? A glass of champagne perhaps?"
"Thank you," I accept gratefully. I need to calm my nerves.
She turns and nods at a waitress hovering nearby carrying a tray of champagne glasses. The waitress comes over to us and I snag a glass from her tray and take a sip.
"I hope you enjoy your night," the ex-model says with a polite smile before she walks away.
I watch her slender body swaying. I don't know why, maybe it is the fact that she used to be a model, or because she has wonderfully dark hair, but I suddenly think of Nikolai with her and a lump forms in my throat.
"Come, I will show you where you can wait," Roman says.
We go down a long corridor with deep plush carpet and walls lined with stunning Russian tapestries. I have to give it to Nikolai, he has absolutely wonderful taste. There is so much mystery to him I can't help but want to know more. We stop outside a room with tall antique doors. Roman opens one and with his open palm beckons me inside. The sound of laughter and voices fill my ears and I hesitate.
"You want me to wait in there?"
"No, we only have to pass through here," he says.
I take a deep breath and follow him. My breath catches and I freeze. I'm standing in a large room filled with gambling tables. Some of the tables are occupied by gamblers. I feel my hands clench. Why? Why would he bring me here?
Roman stops too. "It's just this room here. It is unoccupied. You can wait there for Mr. Smirnov."
A pretty Asian girl approaches with the offer of another glass of champagne. I shake my head. All I want to do is get out of this place. This is exactly the kind of place where Nigel lost all our money.
"Miss Minton," Roman prompts.
"I can't stay. I have to go," I say, and turn around to walk back the way we came. It is then I hear the loud, hearty laugh. My god! The laugh is coming from one of the smaller rooms attached to this main room. The entrance is partially covered with purple velvet drapes. I walk forward, and lifting my hand, I drag one of the drapes aside.
Everything turns silent inside me.
"Yo, I'm on a roll," a man shouts excitedly, as he reaches forward to scoop up his winnings. The croupier stands by impassively. There are two more men and a woman sitting at the same table. My eyes gaze at the man in shock. I have never seen him like this. He is at once foreign, magnificent, and frightening. Granddad once said all gamblers are magnificent when they are winning.
Oh, Nigel, Nigel, Nigel.
I never knew you. Never.
My glass slips out of my nerveless fingers and falls. I turn away and start running. My legs feel like jelly. It is a wonder they support me. Tears stream down my face. A man tries to grab me but I push him away hard and head for the door.
I don't have any idea where I'm going, but I know I have to get out of this horrible, horrible place. I run down the corridor and out to reception. I get outside. The bouncers are too shocked to react. I lift the red ropes and dash down the street.
Chapter Forty-Six
Star
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTcu7MCtuTs
If You Don't Know Me By Now
Suddenly, a powerful arm grabs my arm and whirls me around. The power of it is so strong it jerks me off balance and I almost fall, but I right myself and look at him with furious eyes.
"You knew he was there," I rage breathlessly. "You set it up."
"Yes," he admits calmly.
"Why?" I cry.
"There was no other way to get through to you. When it comes to him you're blind."