Page 19 of Blazing Embers

I pull out my phone and send a message to someone I know in Vegas who has access to medical records, asking them to look into a patient using the assumed name Tara, which she used during her checkups.

I don’t have to wait long for my contact to message back:I will look into it and get back to you as soon as I have some information.

I’m not sure he will find anything, but it’s worth a try. If Tara did somehow stage the miscarriage it was a fucking good staging and I have no doubt she’d had help form the best in the business.

I hear footsteps in the hallway and realize it must be her. I get up and walk into the hallway freezing when I see Tara talking to fucking Victoria Sutton. How did she even get in here without me hearing?

“What the fuck is Victoria doing here?” My jaw clamps as I walk forward.

“Sorry, boss,” Pavel’s voice came from behind me. “I was on my way to tell you Victoria was here but I had to piss so I went to the toilet quickly.”

“And you couldn’t find a way to tell her I wasn’t here?” I grit.

“I tried.” Pavel puts his hands up in surrender, sure. “But she said she knew you were here.” He shakes his head. “I keep telling you that old nosy lady in the apartment downstairs knows Victoria and reports to her on your movements.”

“I’ll have a word with her,” I promise, and walk forward as Victoria and Tara meet.

“Hi, I’m Victoria, and you are?” Victoria’s eyes rake Tara and don’t give her a chance to answer as she throws out another question, “Are you Ruslan’s new assistant?”

“Yes, that’s what I am,” Tara nods. “An assistant wearing Saint Laurent.”

“Ruslan tends to pay his minions very well,” Victoria’s voice drips with condescension. “But I wasn’t aware that he’d actually gotten a new assistant just yet.”

“As I see you’re also dressed in designer labels, do I assume you’re also one of Ruslan’s assistants?” Tara asked sweetly.

“No!” Victoria said frostily. “Ruslan and I have a different relationship.”

“Oh…” Tara nods. “I’m so sorry.” She looks apologetic, but my shoulders stiffen. “You must be his mother then.” She shakes her head, feigning mortification. “I made the horrible assumption you were dead.”

“Well, I never!” Victoria hisses. “Do I look old enough to be Ruslan's mother?”

“I..” Tara pulls a pained face. “You know. I’ve never been too good at judging a person’s age, and to be fair, you don’t look a day over forty… five… forty…” She shrugs. “Forty-eight.”

“Uh, boss, I think a cat fight is about to break out, and while seeing a real live cat fight is on my bucket list of things to do before I turn forty,” Pavel says, looking at me. “And as much as I’d like to see that bitch Victoria slapped down a peg or four… It would be like watching the Hulk swatting a fly.”

I sigh. “I know.” Nodding, I walk forward. “Victoria, did we have an appointment I didn’t know about?” I stop beside Tara, who instantly stiffens.

“No…” Victoria says, her voice softening as she gives me a sultry smile. “I was hoping we could… uh…” She shoots Tara a pointed look. “Have some private time.” Again she glances at Tara before stepping closer and putting her hand possessively on my chest like she’s marking her fucking territory. “Could you ask your assistant to maybe come back tomorrow? I’m sure she’d love the night off.”

Tara snorts, rolls her eyes, and turns. “Don’t mind me,” she says, waving her hand in the air. “I was just going to get something to eat before I go to bed, as I’m exhausted with everything that happened today.” She glances around and finds the way to the dining room.

“Tara!” I bark, but she ignores me and carries on walking. I can see by her stiff posture and the look she shot me before she spun on her heels that she is not impressed. My eyes narrow. In fact she looked downright pissed off. Is Tara jealous of Victoria? That’s interesting.

“Ruslan!” Victoria’s voice snaps me out of my thoughts. “Darling, have you heard a word I was saying?”

“No!” I admit. “What are you doing here, Victoria?” I ask her again. “It’s late. I’m exhausted, and I have a long day tomorrow.”I glance at my wristwatch and remind her. “I’m also on leave for two months, and Tony is in charge. He can help you with whatever it is you need help with.”

“Oh, sweetie, no, he can’t,” Victoria purrs, suggestively sidling up to me, pressing her body against mine, and kissing my lips. “What I want to discuss is strictly between you and me.”

Her perfume swamps me and churns my stomach, as does the feel of her body pressed against me. The only body I want has just stormed off with murder in her eyes, although she tried to hide it, into the dining room, and I’ve just remembered there are sharp knives in there.

Her hand slides down my body and moves toward my cock but I grab her hand. “I told you, Victoria. We are done. We had a good time. The fucking was good and filled the gap,” I tell her cruelly. It’s the only way to get through to women like her, or they’ll just keep coming back and trying to break down barriers. “But now… I no longer want you or have any gaps to fill.”

Her eyes narrow and spark with anger. “You mean that gaudy American?” She hisses nastily. “She’s as skinny as a rake you’d break her in half, and she’s rather plain, don’t you think?”

“That gaudy skinny woman,” I warn her, “is my wife!”

“What?” Victoria splutters, her cheeks turning red and eyes now darkening with fury. “Are you fucking kidding me?” Her voice rises. “You chose an uneducated American over me?”

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