seats were scattered around the room, with small tables and cozy lights highlighting each conversation area, some of which were tucked into private alcoves.
In addition to the conversation sets, there were twelve square tables in the middle of the room, each adorned with low table lights and a unique chess set. He moved forward, pausing by the nearest table. As his gaze swept the beautifully carved chess set, he was suddenly assailed by uncomfortable memories.
His heart began to race. He never let those memories into his head. They were too painful. But he couldn't seem to stop the images from flooding his mind.
The chess set had sat on a table by the living room window. Every weekend, there had been different men at that table, trying to beat the master. But they always lost. Later, when they'd gone, he'd beg for a chance to show off his skills. An indulgent smile would follow. An invitation to join. Lessons that would stay with him long after the game had ended.
He sucked in a quick breath. God! He could smell the cigar. And it wasn't from the cigar lounge next door; it was in his head. The scent of Old Spice cologne mixed with cigar smoke. And then there was sweet perfume, a lilting voice calling him to come, love in the Russian words flowing from her lips.
"Jax?"
He started at the sound of another female voice, this one belonging to Genie Kalnikova, one of the waitresses working the room. "Sorry, did you say something?"
She gave him an odd look. "You were lost in thought."
"I was thinking about something else. It's crowded in here."
"It always is during tournaments. You're taking over for Novak?"
"Yes."
"Alan just left, so…"
"Right." He headed toward the bar. He needed to focus on work, and not on the past.
For the next several minutes, he filled drink orders, trying to dodge the memories dancing around in his head. Maybe getting this assignment was a bad idea. Having to speak Russian, deal with Russians, had never bothered him before, but the chess…that was bringing up a tidal wave of old emotions, feelings he could not afford. As he hit a temporary lull in drink orders, he glanced toward the door. That's when he saw Maya slip in. She was now angling her way toward a man sitting alone at a chess table. He had silver hair, olive skin, and handsome features that had probably served him well fifty years earlier.
Now he knew who Wallace Jagger was. He just didn't know what was going to happen next, but he didn't think it was going to be good.
Should he kick Maya out? It would probably be the best move he could make. He could impress Sylvia and avoid potential drama. On the other hand, he doubted Maya would go quietly, and he might create more drama than he was trying to avoid.
In that split second of hesitation, Genie reappeared with a long list of drink orders, and the decision was made. He would have to let Maya's ambush play out. He had to admit he was a little curious as to how it would go.
Maya could see the very attractive bartender eyeing her from across the room, but he didn't seem inclined to kick her out. He was certainly a handsome man with thick blond hair and blue eyes, the color of the deepest part of the ocean.
She smiled to herself at that fanciful thought. She'd been doing a lot of writing lately, thinking about how to describe the characters in the movie she was writing about her grandmother. But that movie wouldn't get made if she didn't focus now. She dragged her gaze away from Jax and turned her attention to Wallace Jagger.
Wallace's gaze was fixed on the chess set in front of him, as if he were mentally planning out every move. For a brief second, she could see the man her grandmother had described in her journal. Wallace has an intense focus. When he turns his eyes on me, I feel like he can see into my soul, hear my unspoken secrets. I feel so attractive in the depth of his gaze. But I also feel vulnerable. I could love this man, and I think he could love me back, but there is so much he doesn't know about me. His feelings would change if he ever found out.
She had told Jax she didn't believe Wallace had hurt Natasha. What if she was wrong?