Page 77 of Baby for the Bratva King

“Thank you,” says Felix, unbothered as usual. “The presidential suites will be making their debut in New York City very soon.”

“Exciting,” says the man. “And I’m sure you’ll let me borrow your escort for the night, from one businessman to another.”

Felix tenses beside me, an incredibly tense silence drifting between them.

“Is there a problem, Mr. Pozharsky?” says the man, tipping his head to the side. “Usually there isn’t when it comes to women.”

“There’s no problem at all,” says Felix, maintaining composure. “Not unless you would like to leave here with a broken jaw.”

“Well, burn me at the stake and throw away my ashes. Felix Pozharsky getting territorial over a woman? It turns out the rumors online are true.”

Felix steps forward, sizing the man up. He’s way taller, his shoulders double the size of Robert’s. “Speak out of term again and find out what happens.”

“Noted,” says the man, a spark glinting in his eye. His gaze then drifts over to me, and for the first time in my life, I feel at peace. His predatory eyes can’t hurt me, not while Felix is here. “You want to be careful with that one,” says the man, leveling me a hard look. “He’s notoriously known for breaking women’s hearts.”

“And what are you known for?” I challenge. “Breaking laws? Escorts are illegal here in the city.”

“A lot of things are illegal, my dear.”

I fold my arms over my chest, remembering who I am tonight. I’m the predator, not the prey, and I’m sick of men looking at me like I’m meat. “Perhaps you should leave before I take this wand and shove it up your ass. That might straighten you out.”

“Feisty. I see why you want to hold onto this one.” Robert eventually takes his leave after giving me a long once over.

“Fuck, Saskia,” sighs Felix as soon as we’re alone again. “You want to be careful speaking like that.”

“After biting my tongue for so long, I enjoy saying whatever comes to mind.”

“This could get us in trouble.”

“No,” I argue. “Silence gets you in trouble.”

I link my hand with Felix’s, and we spend the next half hour meeting investors, businessmen and other notable people in the industry. Felix switches back to his stoic self, giving bare minimum answers, introducing me as his date. One stern look from him and the men immediately know their place. I’m a woman, not an accessory, and on Felix’s arm, I feel powerful.

Cameras flash, and I know that my father will be sitting at home regretting every decision he’s ever made. I twirl for the paparazzi, pouting my lips. I stick a hand on my hip and look like I’m happy to be here, because for the first time ever, I’m having a ball. I’m not glancing at the time on the wall with misery, counting down the hours; slipping into a dissociative state to make the time pass quicker.

I’m living in the moment, creating my own identity away from my father’s expectations.

And the best part about this is that Felix approves. He fixes his arm around my waist, holding me close as we pose for the cameras. He wants my father to pay, and that makes me question a lot of things about him.

“Saskia,” begins a news reporter. “Where the hell do we begin? Firstly, you look positively terrifying in that getup. I hope that is fake blood!”

“Tomato sauce,” I laugh, sucking some from my finger.

“We’ve been dying to ask you some questions about your father, Vesper Brouwer. You and your sister Fleur seemed relatively close to him a few years back, attending all those lavish balls and galas.”

“My father certainly knows how to party in style.”

“Indeed,” says the journalist, smiling. “But as a self-acclaimed family man, we’re all a little confused as to what happened between you guys.”

I feel Felix twitch beside me, his eyes scolding my temple. Don’t entertain them. These people are just as power-hungry.

I place my hands behind my back, biting my lip. This is my opportunity to break my silence, to end my father once and for all.

Karma takes time, and Fleur and I have been dreaming of this day for years. I have the chance to end this myself, and the power is resting in the palm of my hands.

Power given to me by Felix…

Opportunities have expiry dates, and this could be my moment.