VOLKO

Chapter Twelve

Outside the large tents which had been assembled, mirrored the circus. Tall towers with fire burning in the middle led the way into the tents. People were everywhere, chatting, waiting, laughing. Everyone seemed to know everyone, which meant they could spot an outsider from a mile away.

Their judgemental stars followed me into the tent, and down the step to a wide area full of fancy dresses and suited men, all carrying a glass of champagne as though the world would run out.

Chandlers plunged from the ceiling, showering the room with light. Although the tents had been set up outside, my heels sunk into the carpet, and a wide circle bar sat in the centre of the room, despite waiters looping the room endlessly with more champagne.

I spotted my father at once, a crowd of people laughing loudly pointed directly to him. To me, Robert had never been that funny, perhaps that changed at parties. These people obviously thought so.

My heart skipped at the chance Dean would be here, yet the lower I got on the steps the more apparent it became he wasn't here. I wish he was, because now my whole body felt on edge, waiting for him to appear at any second. Frantically worrying what upstairs had meant and how I was to act.

Not to mention the wetness between my thighs that I'd forgotten to wipe away before leaving. Great start.

My eyes continued to scan until I was in shouting distances from Robert.

" Ah, there she is. My darling daughter Megan. Please meet Mr Duskin, he's a very important business partner of mine." Robert pulled me through the mob, who did part the moment they realised who Robert was referring to.

Having been caught up looking for Dean, I'd barely noticed Mr Duskin until his soft hands touched mine.

"Miss Young, pleasure to meet you." His russian accent was the first thing I noticed as he brought my hand to his lips whilst his eyes never left mine giving me a chance to look at him.

His shortish blonde hair was combed back allowing me to see every aspect of his face. Although I wish it wasn't. If Robert hadn't introduced the man, I'd have probably guessed him to be a model or film star, he certainly had the look. His smile gave him a youthful look, I'd say he looked about Twenty five although that seemed a little young considering he was Robert's business partner.

As Dimitri released my hand, he gave a cheeky wink. Unable to suppress the blood rushing to my face, I smiled nicely. Was it the dress? Two guys in one night were flirting with me? No, Dimitri was just being kind, I'm sure. Nobody would openly flirt with their business partners' daughter in front of them.

"You're late." Just like all the other guests, Robert wore a tailored tuxedo. Unlike everyone else, his smile looked stained, it was the same expression Helen displayed whenever I'd said or did something out of turn in public and she wanted to smack me.

However, I wasn't a kid anymore.

"Yeah, sorry. I didn't like my outfit." I said honestly and was rewarded with Dimitri throwing his head back laughing. Even my father chuckled a little, more for Dimitri's benefit no doubt.

"With someone of such beauty it must be hard to find an outfit that matches." I smiled even though the comment made me feel uneasy. Never in my life had I been called beautiful before tonight, had I missed something?

When Dean called me beautiful I felt it, like I'd been waiting for someone to finally notice and he had. Yet Dimitri had this glint in his eyes, and not a good one. As if a switch had been turned on and compliments just oozed out. Sure he was a charmer, but the words were empty.

The urge to find Jake became pressing, I wanted to be anywhere other than with these people. The other five men who made up the group appeared like yes men. Laughing when Dimitri or Robert did so, listening when they spoke. I found the whole thing rather fake.