Page 24 of Vienna Bliss

“The frames of the paintings are tied to the security system. Destroying one of those would create an alert.” Alexander tapped his fingers on the table, but thoughtfully.

“That would be ideal. You then explain that you took Ms. Moreau to one of your other houses to discuss your relationship.”

“I value my privacy. I don’t discuss these sorts of things with any of my staff.”

“Gentlemen, as much fun as it is listening to you create plans that are entirely unworkable… Perhaps you had best leave this to a professional.” Alena smiled coldly.

Alexander started to return her smile, but seemed to hesitate, the corner of his lips twitching before the expression dropped away entirely.

“By all means, Ms. Moreau.” Rolf waved a hand. “Please enlighten me.”

Alena pulled out a chair, but then slid her hip and one butt cheek onto the table. It hurt, and this time she didn’t bother to hide the wince. The way Rolf stiffened made it clear that he knew exactly why she would be wincing like that.

Good.

“If I had, in a fit of rage, destroyed one of the paintings, wouldn’t Absolon have been notified right away?”

Rolf’s lips twisted. She didn’t know him well enough to know if that expression meant he hadn’t thought of that, or if he had and hadn’t wanted her or Alexander to see the glaring hole in the plan. It seemed like Interpol was desperate to make sure that Absolon didn’t stop doing what he was doing. Not until they were ready to go.

She was the one who’d fucked up, so she was the one who should pay.

Not with going to prison for months. She was masochistic—more so than she’d ever known—but not an idiot.

She had a much better, and by better she meant more fucked up and emotionally destructive, idea.

“The same could be said for any valuable piece of furniture, most of which are antiques.”

They both waited, and based on the way he was watching her, Alexander knew that she had a plan, knew that something was coming.

He didn’t want her as a submissive. He’d made that much clear in the basement. He made everything black and white, when reality was every color in between.

She would force him to touch her, stay in contact with her. For a little while longer.

Maybe if she did that, she could fall out of love, rather than having to walk away, leaving the pieces of her broken heart behind.

“Here’s what really happened back in Vienna.” She leaned forward, as if she were telling them a secret. “When Alexander and I had dinner, I swiped his tablet. I just wanted to see his calendar. I was planning to show up someplace he was going to be and surprise him. I tried, and failed, to access the tablet, which created an alert.

“Then, I tried to sneak the tablet down into the Wagner Global offices, hoping that he would think it had been left there. When I tried to open the door, that alert, plus the one from the tablet, was enough for RTW to send a full team.”

“That…would work.” Rolf seemed surprised.

“Your confidence in me is so inspiring.” Alena put her hand over her heart.

“Alena…” Alexander was frowning at her, but it was a look of concern, not anger or dislike.

“Alexander brings me here to try and figure out why I stole the tablet. Corporate espionage? Theft?” She held out her hands, palms up. “But, in Moldova the truth comes out. I’m hopelessly, stupidly in love with him, and all that was just so I could arrange to ‘accidentally’ bump into him. Possibly rekindle the relationship.”

“I would not share these details with anyone on my staff,” Alexander said again.

“Of course not, but you didn’t let me finish.”

Cold, grim satisfaction made her smile, and the expression must have been rather off-putting because both men stiffened.

“You see, when we were in Moldova, Alexander decided that while he didn’t love me, he would happily fuck me, and be my Dom.”

“Alena, enough.”

“Almost done, suga’.” Alena folded her hands demurely, resting them on her thigh. “So Alexander takes me back to Vienna and decides to show off his new…I’m sorry but I can’t stomach slave…could we compromise with pet? Or plaything?”