JULIANA
Big, tall, and delicious next to me has been shockingly quiet. Hasn't tried to hit on me. Hasn't been obviously keeping me in line, hasn't been looking around like some kind of murderer is going to drop out of the sky and slit my throat.
I bite my pinky nail as he looks at his cards. There's no tell on his face, no giveaway that I'm rubbing his calf with my toes under the table. "What about you?"
"Me?"
God, his voice is amazing. It rumbles from deep in his chest, is so deep. I'd love to hear him sing, maybe moan. He'd be good for at least one night. Maybe. I eye him again. Not all big guys are proportional. I learned that the sad way.
"I don't even know your name."
"I'm not very memorable then." His hazel eyes spear me.
The green and brown strands in his irises loop and lace in a way that makes me dizzy. There's no way I'd forget eyes like that. But they're almost familiar. I look him over. No. There's no way I'd forget a body like that. And there's certainly no way I'd forget that voice.
"I'm searching my brain and can't come up with anything. What a shame. I'd love to remember our time together. Was it spicy?" I gasp mockingly. "Did you take advantage of me while I was drunk?"
He just continues to watch me with a steady face. I lean towards him. "You can whisper it in my ear. Especially if you remember the details."
He lays down four cards. "Your turn. Sevens."
"I'd rather talk about you," I say, laying down three.
Patricia sighs. "Any conditions for me, Juliana?"
I look at my one sure friend in the world. Patricia came into my life like a wrecking ball. She hated me and made it clear. And such blatant hatred in a world where people kiss my ass charmed me. All it took was one night drinking together senior year of college after she'd fought to avoid me for two years.
We'd collapsed together in a frat house. When one of the guys had come in with a sneaky smile and bad intentions, I'd given him a swift kick in the balls and locked him out of his own room. That earned me some points.
Patricia is also used to my games. She acts like she doesn't like them, she acts like we're barely friends around others, but it's just so my dad doesn't swoop in and try to buy her away. He's against me getting close to anyone.
Refuses to believe that anyone could like me for me, I suppose. He's certain they just want the money, that they see me as a potential hostage and want to use me to score an easy payday.
"None for you," I assure him.
But when the next guy puts down, I barely glance. He touches his earpiece. I narrow my eyes. "You're not welcome here."
He starts to argue, but I look to Patricia. "You want some entertainment, have it. Hell, have them both, but this one." I point at the big man. "You're staying right here."
"Juliana." He says.
The way he caresses my name with his voice .. it has to be intentional. I continue to stare at his mouth, his gorgeous lips, the cut of his jaw. God, he really is a demigod. I set the cards down and then gather them all up as Patricia tries to take care of security.
I shuffle the cards. "How are you at poker, stranger?"
"I've been told I have an average poker face."
I giggle. "Nothing about you is average."
I glance around. I spot no less than seven security guards and sigh as I shuffle. One day, eventually, my dad won't have a say over me. He's stolen so much from me. So many chances to do what I want to do, so many chances to be immature, to have fun, make mistakes, and pick myself up.
When someone else carries the consequences for every action and isn't afraid to punish for the smallest infraction or partial infraction. No. Those aren't thoughts for now. I'm a badass bitch. A boss-ass bitch. The bitch that gets what she wants, even with Daddy's guards everywhere, ready to tell on me.
"You know, there's only one way to play poker with someone who has a face like yours," I say.
He blinks at me. I lean toward him, giving him the chance to look down my dress. He doesn't take it, but it doesn't mean he doesn't want to. I flash a naughty smile. "Playing strip poker."
"I'm not sure I want to see everyone here naked."
"Only some people?" I ask as I arch my eyebrow. "Maybe one that's right in front of you?"
"You move quick. You don't even know my name."
I lean back and look at the cards. "Do you ever want to relive a moment you never got to have, stranger?"
"Such as?"
"Anything. Your version of something you saw on T.V. an 'almost moment' that you wish you could follow through on?"
I feel a rush through me that I don't understand. I blame this stranger and how he doesn't seem to fall for my shit, how he just exists and is there. I grab his arm, ignoring what I know I should and shouldn't do.
"Come on. I can't be the only one who rethinks the past and – and wishes things would have been done differently."
He seems to consider that. "No. You're not the only one."
"I feel like ... if I don't run with something right now, that if I don't .. be reckless or wild, then I'll wake up and go about my life, and keep living the exact same way I have every single day in the past."
The man watches me for a long time. I stand up, look at my dogs and the leash and remember. It's that easy to rip me out of my go-lucky mood. I hold the leashes to Nolan and Charlie. They watch me at the ready.
Truly, the only two creatures in the world that look up to me for my choices, my decisions, and all of it. And just like them, I'm chained and obedient. I wonder if they're half as sassy as I am, but save it for when I'm not around.
"Juliana." The big guy says, standing up and showing exactly how big he really is.
He has to be nearly seven feet tall. Seven feet of gorgeous, muscle and .... I shiver and nearly drop my dogs' leashes. I could climb him and I have a feeling that I'd find heaven with my legs wrapped around his shoulders.
I blink away the fantasy. He's just like every other man, I'm sure of it. He'd want to tame me. He'd be eager to put me in my place or, at the very least, he'd try to get in Dad's good graces.
"I apologize. I guess the wine got the best of me." I pull myself together and hide my momentary humiliation with a little wobble of my foot. He reaches out and I catch the earpiece this time. I shove him away but point at him. "One of Daddy's men."
"I am."
"You might be better at pretending than I am," I say with a nod. "Because you're distracting and know how to play to your strengths."
"I hope you don't hold that against me." He says sincerely.
"I haven't decided. Maybe if you let me escape and be a real adult, I'll let it go."
"Unfortunately, I have consequences for looking the other way."
"You're not the only one," I say sadly.
I clear my throat. "Anyway, enjoy the party."
I take a few steps, ready to be done with this event. I showed up. I could be doing better things with my time. I could be making my own empire instead of walking around like Daddy's accessory. Just because I'm not a man doesn't mean I can't take over the business.
It's the twenty-first century and I've been observant. I took business classes. I even took accounting classes and stayed awake all through them. I've proved time and time again that I can be as ruthless as my dad ... in most instances.
I leave the event hall and head outside. Nolan paws at my leg and I put him and Charlie in my purse so they can be closer. Nolan whimpers and licks my arm as I close my eyes. Mom knew how to deal. She knew how to keep a poker face like no one else. No one ever knew what she was thinking until she had already gotten her way.
And where had being good, manipulating others through soft nudges, where had all that gotten her? I make myself look up and exhale slowly. Strong women don't cry. They don't cry, they don't yell, and they never admit they're wrong.
"Juliana."
It's impossible for that voice to belong to anyone but my father. I slowly turn around, pulling at the single strap of my dress. I hate when he's behind me. I narrow my eyes and feel like snarling, but I push all that down.
One act of defiance and I know what it gets me. So I meet his eyes, like a good girl, and give him a soft smile. "Daddy."
"Where are you going all by yourself?"
Little Charlie growls at my father, like always. I gently stroke his head with my fingers. Mister tall and large approaches behind my father. Daddy waves to him. "I'm sure you're not leaving without protection."
"Of course not. I just needed to take a breath. So many people. It can be a lot to handle."
He approaches and cups my face. He kisses my cheek and speaks softly. "I thought you were over that. And over bringing the rats everywhere."
Charlie barks and, if my hand wasn't in the way, I know he'd lunge. I nod. "Of course, Daddy."
"My princess." He pats my cheek and I fight the urge to flinch. "I'd like you to keep this man with you at all times."
"I'm an adult. I've studied every single combat class you've sent me to. I'm not a damsel in distress. I'm not-"
"You are my daughter." He growls.
I calm my face and take a slow breath, one that barely moves my chest. The same one I'd use when I was pretending to sleep.
"As long as my name is your name, people will want to hurt you. Why don't you understand that? How many times do I need to teach you that lesson?"
The tall man takes a step closer. An intimidating step. But I hold my ground. Dad stands over me. "You will keep one of my men close at all times. Anytime you are out of that penthouse. Do you understand me?"
"Yes, Daddy."
"I love you." He kisses my cheek and drops his voice again. "One day you'll see that."
I swallow hard and let the tall man take me home. He walks me to the elevator and I swear I see the mask slip from his face. I see something almost gentle in his eyes. He opens his mouth, but then the stony look is back.
"Let me know if you'd like to leave."
"As if you won't be right here waiting for just that. Don't worry. Daddy installed locks on all the windows."
Nolan whines. I look down at him as he whines again and paws at the purse. I hit the button for the penthouse and put my key in. "Goodnight, bodyguard supreme."
Only after I get upstairs, undress, and get in bed can I think straight. My little dogs in their beds, wearing a giant sweater that I got four sizes two large, eyes shut, all warm and cuddled.
I see those hazel eyes, I see his cheeks flushed, but his hair was longer, he was thinner, lanky and awkward and cute and –
I sit straight up in bed.
"Konstantin."