Ravaged Crown: A Russian Mafia Romance by Nicole Fox

Author:Nicole Fox [Fox, Nicole]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-02-22T16:00:00+00:00

21

WILLOW

I stop in front of the bronze-plated glass doors that separate me from my soon-to-be ex-husband. Jessica stops next to me.

“Are you ready?” she asks.

No? Yes? Maybe? I don’t know anymore.

I left whatever composure I had on Leo’s desk. Now, I’m simply going through the motions.

So I just nod, too mixed up to speak.

“Close enough.” Jessica pushes the door open and ushers me inside.

The building is at least fifty percent glass and mirror. I catch sight of the two of us in one of the many reflective surfaces.

Jessica’s red suit catches the light and makes her look like she’s on fire. Her heels hit the tile floor with a fierce click-clack.

I follow behind her, feeling like the ugly sister despite my designer suit. Thanks to Leo, my hair has come undone from the sleek updo that I spent almost an hour on this morning. Wisps of it hang around my face, which looks unusually pale.

“Willow?”

I glance up. Jessica is standing inside the elevator holding the doors open for me. I rush inside and they slide shut.

She presses the button for floor twenty-seven and the elevator shoots upward faster than I think should be possible. Pressure builds in my ears. I stare at my shoes the whole ride.

When the doors slide open again, I swallow hard. My ears pop, but the relief pales in comparison to the weight of my nerves.

Jessica leads me silently down the tiled hallway and takes a sharp left through a white push door. Only when I’m inside do I realize we’re standing in a brightly lit bathroom.

I breathe a sigh of relief.

I’d expected to step into a room and see Casey sitting in front of me. Waiting. Scowling. But it’s just me, Jessica, and our reflections.

“Now,” Jessica says, turning to me, “let’s get you sorted.”

“Me?”

She raises her sculpted brows. “Look at the state of you, honey. You look petrified. A little disheveled, too. That’s not the vibe we want to be giving off.”

“Right,” I breathe. “What vibe are we going for again?”

“Calm and confident,” she answers. “You need to show him the middle finger without actually showing him your middle finger.”

I force a smile. “You could pull that off, but I’m not sure I can manage it.”

“It just takes practice. You think I was born confident?”

“Some people are.”

“Are you referring to who I think you’re referring to?”

I try really hard not to blush. “Well…”

She waves a hand. “Forget him. He’s not human.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means he’s Bratva. When you’re born to the life, it consumes you. Leo has to be stronger, more resilient, and more ruthless than the average person. Comparing yourself to him is only going to lead to disappointment.”

I frown, wondering if there’s hidden meaning in her words. Is she trying to tell me I’m not good enough for him?

“Go on then. Splash some cold water on your face.”

I have makeup on, but I’m not in any position to question Jessica. I’m not in any position to question anyone, really. The janitor could come in and tell me what to do and I’d probably listen.

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