The sound of a car door shutting had her looking over her shoulder and seeing Barbara and presumably her husband walking toward her.
“Karina, you look beautiful,” Barbara said, her gown a deep red color.
“And you, too,” Karina said and turned to face the older couple.
After introductions, the three of them headed inside.
“Can you believe he sprang for this for us?” Barbara whispered.
Karina just nodded, because right now she was taking in the elegance of the place and realizing she was so out of her element.
A few more employees entered, and although Karina mainly saw Barbara because they worked so closely with Viktor, there were several analyzers, attorneys, and the environmental service aids in attendance. After a while, the restaurant was filled with people who worked for Mr. Port, although the man in question was nowhere to be seen.
“Here, honey,” Barbra said and handed Karina a glass of champagne.
Thank you.” Karina drank a large swallow and glanced around the room. Hors d'oeuvres had already been served, and the alcohol was flowing in the form of glasses of champagne and an open bar.
“Where is Mr. Port? This is his party, but I haven’t seen him.” At the thought of Viktor, Karina’s heart started beating harder. She finished off her glass of champagne and grabbed another when a waiter passed by.
“I’m sure he’s being fashionably late,” Barbara said and started chuckling. It was clear the woman was taking advantage of the free alcohol, what with her rosy cheeks and personality that was becoming even more open. Karina liked it.
She finished off her second glass of champagne just as she saw Viktor walk in. Her body’s reaction was instant: her pulse raced, her palms started to sweat, and her throat tightened. He wore a tuxedo, the black and white garment molding to his impressive and muscular body.
The bowtie didn’t make him look any less manly, and in fact she found the sight of him dressed up even more attractive.
He’d be good-looking no matter what.
All Karina could think about was being in his office, his hand light on her, skimming her body, his breath brushing along her neck. A shiver worked its way through her, and she turned and headed toward the bathroom, needing to get away, to gather her thoughts.
Everything will be fine. He probably doesn’t remember.
But what if he regrets what he did? What if he fires you because of how inappropriate it was?
She shook her head.
He won’t fire you over that.
She breathed in through her nose and exhaled out her mouth, feeling herself calm slightly, although she knew as soon as she saw him again she’d feel so unsteady, so nervous. The sound of someone knocking on the bathroom door brought her back to reality, and she washed her hands, dried them, and left the bathroom.
Everyone was seated for dinner, and she found her table, sat down next to Barbara, and saw Viktor. He was speaking with one of the attorneys who handled his contracts. One of the environmental service aides was on his other side. The woman was gorgeous on regular days, but all dressed up she was stunning.
She was looking at Viktor despite the fact he was speaking with someone else, and it was clear there was arousal in her gaze.
The waiters brought out the first course, but Karina was still looking at Viktor. He finally straightened, and although there was a good amount of distance between them, his gaze locked right with hers. They stared at each other for so long she started to shift on her seat, but it was his expression that had her body lighting up.
He remembers everything.
Yes, just by his expression she knew he remembered, and it was clear he wasn’t regretting it.
Or maybe that’s just what you want to think, want to hope for?
She broke eye contact and started eating, knowing that even if Viktor wanted something more with her, it would never work. She would never be anything more than a piece of ass for a man like him. She’d never heard of him in any kind of committed relationship.
He’d be with one woman, have her hanging off his arm, but the next week he was seen with someone else.
No, she wouldn’t be a notch in his bedpost, no matter how appealing that sounded in the carnal kind of way.
6
He’d stayed away from Karina all night, and it was taking Viktor all his fucking control to do just that. The fact was she appeared nervous, and she was just looking at him. He knew it was because of their encounter in his office, and the things he’d said and done to her. Oh, he remembered all of it, every single incredible thing.
All he’d done was smell her, barely touch her, and he’d been ready to come in his damn slacks just from that.
And ever since then he’d been thinking about her, jerking off to the image, the very thought of her, and he knew he couldn’t wait anymore. She wanted him. He knew that from her reaction at his office. Viktor might have been drunk, but he’d known what he was doing.