Page 7 of His to Own

I stand there, feeling nothing but awkward. The guests all look at me with confused expressions. Because none of them know who I am.

Lana offers me a pitying smile. “Elena…” She leans in closer to me. “I’m sorry. I was trying.”

All I can do is smile but I know it doesn’t reach my eyes. The frog in my throat tightens, making me want to cry.

Lana claps her hands together. “Why don’t we sing happy birthday? Bring out the cake!”

A man wheels a large cake on a moving table towards me. Exactly nineteen candles in it. A pretty cake. Simple. Vanilla. Nothing extravagant. At least this is more up my alley.

The guests all sing me happy birthday but all I feel is an uncomfortable pit in my stomach. This birthday isn’t truly for me. Nikolai took over and made it about himself. And Lana let him.

I blow out the candles and everyone politely claps for me.

Lana cuts me a piece and hands it to me. I take the smallest bite possible. It’s hard to eat when you want to throw up.

“I’m sure you can eat more than that,” Nikolai comments. “Enjoy the cake, Elena. This day is for you.”

Except, this day isn’t for me. If it was, I would just have a small party with my sisters and call it a day. But that’s not what’s happening. I’m surrounded by people I don’t know in a house I’ve never been to before. It’s a stranger’s home, despite Nikolai being Lana’s husband. I don’t know this world of hers.

Sergei’s face flashes in my mind again and I almost throw up.

“Excuse me,” I mutter, setting the plate down. But it falls to the floor, sending glass in every direction. The room goes quiet.

“Elena,” Lana says.

I rush from the room before anyone can stop me and make it to the front door and outside where I can breathe in deeply. Just breathe. Just breathe.

I’m bent over, catching my breath, when shoes enter my line of sight. Standing upright, I come face to face with an extraordinarily handsome man. Dark hair. Stubble. Broad shoulders. Classic good looks.

His eyes are right on me. “You don’t look too good, I must say.”

“Sorry,” I whisper, stepping out of his way.

But he doesn’t walk into the house. He only remains standing there… watching me. “Are you all right? I’ve been around enough women to know when one is in distress.”

“I’m fine,” I lie.

He gives me a pointed look like he can see right into my soul. It’s unnerving. “I don’t think you’re telling the truth.”

“I’m fine,” I say in a hard voice.

He raises his hands in surrender. “All right. I won’t push. I just can’t help but do my duty.” He pauses, waiting for me to say something but I don’t. “My duty is to save pretty women in distress,” he explains.

I still don’t utter a word.

He smirks. “This is where you laugh.”

No response from me.

The handsome man shakes his head with a chuckle. “Tough crowd.” He nods at Nikolai’s house. “I’m going inside. Got invited to a birthday party of a girl I have never met before. Have you seen the girl? Is she pretty?”

“Why does that matter?” I ask.

“You finally spoke.” He shrugs. “A woman’s looks doesn’t matter but at the same time it does, you know? I like spending my time with pretty women.”

A flare of anger courses through me. “As opposed to spending time with ugly women?”

He nods at me with his charming smile. “Exactly. You understand me perfectly.”