Beautiful Revenge (A Good Wife #1) - Sienna Blake Page 0,34

you won’t stay fired.”

Javier ignores me and keeps right on talking to her. “Truth is, he can’t live without me. I’m the only one who isn’t afraid of him. I know he’s really a marshmallow inside.”

“I’m right fucking here.”

Only then does Javier pay me any real attention. He gives me a patronizing look. “Sit down, Dimi. Here,” he nods towards the tea set on the table in front of him, “have a cup of tea to calm the savage beast inside. The English swear by it.”

Alena stares between us, her eyes wide. “I think…I think I might leave you two.”

“No, stay,” Javier says.

“Good idea,” I mutter under my breath at the same time.

Javier sighs. “If you leave, Alena, the conversation will become half as charming and my view will become infinitely less appealing.”

I hear a growl and realise it’s coming from the depths of my throat.

Alena makes her apologies as she suddenly “remembers” an errand she is supposed to be doing. She departs, swiftly, her lashes cast down as she passes me. I can see the bob in the smooth column of her neck. I catch a whiff of her perfume. The scent of vanilla hits me in the gut like a punch. My hands curl into fists by my side.

The door clicks shut behind me, signalling that she has left the library. My fury remains.

Javier smiles at me, despite how I glare at him. “I like her.”

I stiffen. “You are not paid to like her.”

“She seems so different from the wretched creature who you described carelessly ripping out your heart.”

She is a wretched creature. Don’t be fooled just because she dresses so prettily and speaks so softly. “Appearances can be deceiving.” I change the subject before he can argue with me. “Have you found what I asked you to?”

“Not yet.” He leans forward, pouring two cups of tea from a delicate white and blue china teapot. “Sit down, Dimi. Relax for one second. Here,” he waves a shortbread at me, “have a cookie, there’s a good boy.”

I scowl, not moving towards the chair beside him. “If you haven’t found what I’m looking for then why are you here and not in London?”

He shrugs and picks up his teacup, his pinkie extended. “Needed to get a bit of country air into me.” As he takes a sip, his eyes slide to the door where Alena just exited. “I also wanted to meet her.”

I bite down a furious retort. “Well, now you have. Get your ass back to London and get me what I need.”

“Can I at least finish my tea?”

“No.”

Javier chuckles. He finishes his tea and four pieces of shortbread, making a point to slurp and smack his lips, while I stand there shooting daggers at him. The damn insubordinate man. I should fire him. Again. For good this time.

Javier stands and brushes his suit down. I still haven’t moved.

“Relax, Dimitri,” Javier says, patting my shoulder as he passes. “No need to be…jealous.” He strides out of the drawing room, leaving me alone with my tempest of thoughts.

Jealous? I scoff internally. I’m not jealous.

The memory of Javier’s hand on her arm sears through my brain, making me want to run after Javier and beat him to a pulp. I grab the closest chair, trying to hold myself back, trying to calm myself, trying to steady my breath coming out in short bursts.

You are jealous. The realisation stings.

I can’t be jealous. I don’t want Alena. How could I after what she did to me? I hate that she’s managed to charm Javier, that’s all. That’s all. I know what a snake she is underneath.

I hate her, I remind myself.

I hate her.

I hate her.

29

____________

Alena

Javier spoke so warmly to me, and so highly of Dimitri, that after I leave him, I feel…hope. Perhaps I am wrong about Dimitri’s return? Perhaps, under his anger, the same man I love is waiting for me. Waiting to take me away from this place. He just needs time. Encouragement.

As the days go on, Dimitri ignores me. He hasn’t said one word to me since that day when he burst in on Javier and me.

Javier has returned to London. I fight disappointment at his quick departure. I can’t help but feel like I had an ally in him. Like, perhaps he could have shed some light on the confusing man in front of me. Perhaps that’s why Dimitri sent him away.

Dimitri might be ignoring me. But he openly flirts with Emily in front of me. At breakfast. At