Page 16 of Merciless Union
I blink, startled by her harsh words.
“I think you look beautiful, honey,” my mother says.
“Well, my son is paying,” Vasilisa snaps. “She’ll choose a dress that doesn’t make her look cheap.” She waves a dismissive hand at me. “Try another one on.”
I do as she says. Besides, I don’t really love the dress anyway.
The next dress is flowier and has a sweetheart neckline. Before I can even step on the dais, Vasilisa says, “No.” She looks at the sales assistant. “Are you trying to make her look like she’s twelve? Change.”
I stumble as I turn around to try on another dress.
Hopefully, the third time’s the charm.
Expect that hope doesn’t last long as Vasilisa dismisses it.
Back in the dressing room, I sit down, burrowing my head in my hands. Maybe it’s not the dresses. Maybe it’s me. Clearly, Vasilisa doesn’t think I’m good enough for Maxim. If she weren’t such a proud woman, I feel like she’d have me show up at the wedding in a burlap sack to make fun of me. The only reason she wants me to look good is so I look good next to her son.
The sales assistant brings me another dress, a pitying smile on her lips. “Maybe she’ll like this one.”
The dress has a bodice that cuts straight across my chest, giving a good look at my neck. It’s sleeveless, letting my arms show in a sophisticated way. It’s bold and streamlined. Elegant in its simplicity. There are no frills, no lace, no flowy fabric. It makes me look mature in a good way.
In it, I can actually see myself standing next to Maxim and feeling like I belong.
I walk out, bracing myself for Vasilisa’s disapproval, which will be a real shame since I actually really like this dress.
But no objections come.
She looks me over critically, not saying a word.
“Well?” I ask, placing my hands on my hips. “What do you think?”
My mom claps her hands together. “Oh, honey. You look phenomenal.” She turns to the Petrov women. “Doesn’t she?”
Kira offers me a smile.
Elena, at least, doesn’t look as bored.
And Vasilisa, her face is frozen as usual, but there’s a quality to her that doesn’t seem so displeased. Maybe she’s even a little bit … pleased.
She crosses her arms as she stands and begins walking around me, eyeing the dress from all angles. I hold still even though all I want to do is curl into a ball. I need to stand tall. Maxim told me I need a backbone, so I’ll have a backbone.
Finally, Vasilisa sniffs. “It will look good with my son’s suit.” She turns away and hands her card over to the sales assistant. “We’ll take it.”
I guess that’s as good of a compliment as I’m going to get.
Looking myself over in the mirror, I run my hands over the bodice and top of the skirt. I do look good in it.
Maybe I’ll be able to handle being married to the big bad leader of the Bratva after all.
CHAPTER5
Maxim
The rest of the month passes by quickly as wedding plans get underway, and Arina and I don’t see much of each other. I’m too busy cementing my place as leader of the Bratva.
So far, no one has stepped out of the darkness to try and take my place, but I can sense it will happen soon. In the meantime, I hold meetings with the men loyal to me and continue to try to appease the rest, so I can make my empire even stronger.
On my wedding day, I can feel it in my bones that shit will hit the fan soon. Everyone in the Bratva has been speaking about my upcoming marriage. It’s obvious it’s an arranged marriage. I’ve heard more talk that people are happy with my decision to marry Arina and stay loyal to George for my father’s sake.
