With This Ring

Chapter Thirty-One

Freya

I was walking down the subway stairs when the call came in.

“Hey, Freya, it’s Bianca.”

My heart began to beat faster and I knew it was because of her close relation to a pair of piercing blue eyes that haunted my dreams.

“Hey, Bianca,” I answered as casually as I could.

“I was thinking of checking out some jewelry today. Would you be available anytime today?”

I was suddenly even more excited. “I’m yours.”

“Great,” she responded. “I’m just waiting on an early afternoon appointment for our wedding venue. So after that I’ll be right over to you. Let’s say about 2.00 p.m.”

“Perfect,” I responded.

As soon as the call was over I phoned Britney and told her about the proposition.

“Oh my God! That is freaking amazing,” she cried excitedly. “Their wedding will be full of paparazzi and the crème de la crème of society so our jewelry on her is going to get a ton of exposure. Is their wedding sponsored in a magazine or something, do you know?”

“I doubt that very much,” I replied. “It is elite, but a completely private affair, I imagine. If anything, the Ivankovs shy away from publicity.”

“Hmm, either way it’s a good opportunity for us.”

“Yes, it is,” I agreed happily, as the subway car arrived.

At about a quarter to two Bianca called again.

“I’m so sorry, Freya, but I have to push our appointment. I just got the call to come inspect the venue now. But I’m having a dessert tasting this evening at our apartment. Perhaps you could come by and eat with us while we look at jewelry.”

“Oh, uh sure,” I replied and wanted so badly to ask… about him… but I didn’t dare. Almost. Before she cut the call though, I grew some balls. “You … er … you’re having some friends over?”

“Oh, just my best friend Aldie, and Levan if he’s back by then.”

“Oh, okay,” I said, and couldn’t help feeling disappointed. “Sure, I’ll be there. As well as some pieces that I think you may like, I’ll bring our new catalogue as well. There are designs in there that no one has seen yet.”

“Oh yes, definitely do,” she replied.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Maxim

It was just a little bit after eight in the evening when Levan popped his head through my office door. “On my way home,” he said.

I wondered why he was informing me.

“Bianca’s having a dessert tasting tonight. For the wedding. Want to come?”

I returned my gaze back to my computer without a word and he laughed in response. “Of course you don’t. At least I offered. She invited Aldie, and Freya’s also coming over to show her some jewelry. I’ll have fun alone with them then.”

Bastard, I swore silently at the way he had slipped her name into the fray, but I didn’t dare give him the satisfaction of my sudden interest. So I held myself back as he shut the door. I tried to return to my work but even the words on my computer had blurred. I sprang to my feet and grabbed my suit jacket.

I called him as he waited for the elevator doors to open. “I sent Otari and Viktor on an errand so you’ll have to give me a ride home. “

“That’s not happening,” he said. “I’m already late, and last I checked you knew how to drive.”

Fucking bastard.

“If you leave without me I’m going to hurt you,” I said and his mocking laughter haunted me to the depths of my being.

His town car pulled up in front of the building and I got in the passenger seat. “So am I driving you to your house or mine?”

“Fuck you, Levan.”

He laughed.

As we neared his apartment my palms grew sweaty, and the blood in my veins began to simmer in anticipation. Before we could even arrive at the door Bianca had already opened it. She gazed at me with a secret smile, as though she had expected to see me and I felt more exposed than I ever had.

“Maxim,” she said in her best hostess voice, as Levan’s arms enveloped her. A second later they were lost in a kiss.

I passed them both and headed into the apartment. I prepared myself as I walked through the foyer for the moment I arrived at the open layout home and saw her. I thought I was prepared, but it was like a blow to the solar plexus to see her again. This time her hair was loose. The way I had always dreamed it. There was a white ribbon in it. It looked old-fashioned. Girls didn’t wear ribbon anymore, but it made her look as if she belonged in another world, a forgotten, special world, where milky white women like her were worshipped on an altar.

Aldie rose when she saw me. “Hello, Maxim. It’s been a while, how are things with you?” she said almost shyly. They were seated at the long dining table, an assortment of desserts laid out on it.