With This Ring

His laughter rang out until the door shut on him.

Chapter Sixty-Four

Freya

I placed the empty tray down and picked up my vibrating phone. It was a quiet night at the bar so I had brought my phone behind the bar with me.

“Aldie?”

“Hey,” she greeted excitedly. “I’m at Bianca’s place, how are you?”

“Um, I’m great,” I replied. “You?”

“I’m doing okay.”

She laughed. “I heard about what happened at the Ivankov’s building,” she drawled, and I felt my heart sink to my stomach. That episode was going to haunt me for life.

“Bianca’s too polite to ask but I’m dying of curiosity. Why did you get so mad? Why did Maxim have to carry you away like some scene in a romantic comedy? And what was all the money about? Also, I am butt hurt that you didn’t come over to my place to rain some down on me, but I’ll try my best not to hold that against you.”

I couldn’t help the grin that slipped onto my face. Aldie was a busybody, but a loveable one. One I couldn’t resist.

I looked around. It was still pretty dead. “Why don’t you come over to my bar and I’ll make you a drink… on the house. To make up for not raining cash at your place.”

“I’m hailing a taxi as I speak!”

Forty minutes later she waved vigorously to me from the door. I set her Dirty Martini on the counter and she took her seat opposite me. She had an air of excitement around her as if she couldn’t wait to hear my story. I leaned on the counter while she took a sip of her drink.

“Thank you, babe,” she said. “I needed that. Now, quickly tell me what happened before I burst from curiosity.”

I wasn’t really ready to talk about any of it yet, but I figured talking to someone objective could only help. I spelled it out simply. “It was kind of a joke that if I slept with Maxim he would pay me a million dollars. I slept with him, and he transferred a million dollars into my bank account.”

She went still, the hand holding her toothpick with an olive stabbed on it, suspended in the air.

“Which part are you appalled by?”

“Uh… oh… uh…” She shook her head to get her brain working again. “You… did you… a million dollars? As in… seven figures? As in real money?”

“Yup,” I agreed crisply.

Her hand covered her mouth as she stared at me. “They always say you have to watch out for the quiet ones.”

“Just a second,” I said, and walked away to take a customer’s order for a beer. After serving him I returned to her and by then she had processed the information.

“Okay. Um … why did he send it to you if it was a joke?”

“Because he’s a piece of shit.”

She opened her mouth, and shut it again.

‘How much did you disperse that day?”

“About a quarter of it,” I replied.

She began to fan herself with her hand. “Where’s the rest of it?”

“Still in my account, but not for much longer.”

“I can’t believe this,” she gasped.

“Neither could I,” I agreed sourly.

“Well, mine is for a different reason. What I can’t believe is… you threw all that money into the air when you still have to pull shifts in a bar to make ends meet.”

I shrugged. “I guess the only money that excites me is that I make myself, no matter how little.”

“Right. Makes complete sense. Now, if you really have no interest in Maxim can you put in a good word for me?”

“Aldie!” I scolded.

She couldn’t hide her blush. “I’m sorry but have you taken a good look at Maxim? The first time I saw him I almost went into a coma.”

“Yes, he is hot,” I admitted.

“And tough, and loyal. Sure you have absolutely no interest in him?”

I bit my lip. I hadn’t even confessed how I felt about Maxim to Britney. It was too confusing. Too intense. Too crazy.

“Bianca once said that she wondered what kind of woman would ever be enough to attract and keep Maxim. I wondered the same too, but now … especially with that scene you pulled at his workplace, you both actually seem perfect for each other.”

I had to serve another customer and when I got back I tactfully steered the conversation to a different topic. When she left an hour later, I mulled over her words.

During my break I went outside and called Maxim. My heart was pounding so hard in my chest, that I was sure if he picked up, I wouldn’t be able to speak. He picked up on the second ring.

“Apologize,’ I said. “Apologize for sending me that money.”

A small silence followed. Then he shocked me.

“I’m sorry,” he said.

My heart stopped.

“I’m very sorry about that. I wasn’t trying to degrade you. In my world you keep your word.” He stopped and I knew that he wouldn’t be going any further. Even that little glimpse of him being vulnerable was something hardly anyone ever saw.