An heiress for his empire

“That is not true,” Misha said in a deep voice so like Viktor’s own. “He fathered you.”

Viktor opened his mouth and shut it again without a word.

Madison grinned, a smug glint in her azure eyes. “I told him the same thing.”

“You are a very good match for our grandson.” His grandmother’s answering smile was blinding. “It pleases Misha and me very much that you appreciate our Viktor as we do.”

“He’s easy to love.”

Once again Viktor did not know how to respond to those words, though he liked hearing them. Very much.

But love was not something he had ever considered in the equation of his marriage to Madison and the life they would build together. Was it enough that she felt the emotion, or did she expect him to reciprocate one day?

Could he? Did he even know how?

He had never been in love before. The affection between his grandparents had grown over time and did not look on the surface anything like the passion that burned between Viktor and Madison.

The silence had stretched and it should have been awkward, but the three most important people in the world to him simply observed Viktor with varying degrees of understanding.

It was a strange experience, but not unpleasant.

“Thank you,” he finally said to Madison, hoping that once again it was enough.

His grandfather winced, but patted Viktor on the shoulder. Misha didn’t say anything, though.

Madison’s smile turned soft in a way Viktor did not understand, but liked nonetheless.

His grandmother rolled her eyes. “Viktor, my dear grandson, you have much to learn about romance.”

Viktor could not deny it.

She didn’t seem to expect an answer. “Is it so much to ask you follow a few of our family’s traditions?”

“I’m not answering before you tell me exactly which ones you’re talking about.” His caution was necessary.

Russian wedding preparations and celebrations could become extremely complicated and involved.

But his grandparents’ requests weren’t unreasonable, even if they did mean Madison had to spend the night before her wedding at Jeremy’s home instead of Viktor’s bed.

* * *

Five weeks after Perry’s exposé, Maddie waited in the drawing room of her father’s mansion the morning of her wedding.

She was wearing the gown her mother had worn, and her mother before that and her mother before that in 1957.

Her full-length Victorian-era veil of Brussels lace was even older than the dress. Romi had shown up with it a week ago. And it was the exact same ivory as the gown.

Romi adjusted the veil around Maddie’s face now. “You are so beautiful.”

Maddie couldn’t answer. If she tried to talk, her emotions were going to get the best of her.

“Viktor is going to be here any minute. Are you ready?”

Maddie indicated herself with a wave of her hand and forced an even tone. “What do you think?”

“I already told you, beautiful. But, sweetie, that’s not what I’m talking about. Are you ready?”

“According to Vik, we got married that day we made promises overlooking San Francisco’s skyline.”

“Pffft.” Romi shook her head. “Men.”

“Those promises were vows.” Of that Maddie was very certain.

“So are the words you’re going to speak today.”

Maddie nodded. “I’m ready.”

“You love him.”

“I do.” There was no point in denying it. Besides Romi could always tell when Maddie was lying.

“You always have.”

Maddie wasn’t so sure about that, but she couldn’t deny she’d never fallen in love with anyone else.

“Perry didn’t stand a chance.”

“He didn’t want one.” Their friendship had never been like that.

“I’m not so sure about that.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“No,” Romi said with finality. “It doesn’t.”

Maddie grinned at her sister-by-choice. “I’m getting married today.”

“You are.” Romi grinned back.

Their hug was fierce enough to crush silk and neither of them cared.

The sound of the doorbell came faintly from the hall. Then Vik’s voice and Misha’s laugh.

Oh, this was real. It was happening. Now.

More laughter and then the door to the drawing room swung in and bounced against the wall.

Her six-foot-two distant cousin James, wearing a distinctly masculine tuxedo and tulle veil, stumbled in first. “He figured out I wasn’t you, cuz.”

Maddie found herself laughing along with the others as they came in behind him. The first tradition had been observed. Her father had pretended to offer an alternate “bride” and Vik had shown his determination to only wed one.