Page 15

"Ihave no intention of marrying Samuil Galkin."

The silence that follows is absolute. My father's fork freezes halfway to his mouth. His face goes completely still, that dangerous kind of calm that means he's furious. I've seen that expression maybe three times in my entire life, and it never ends well for whoever caused it.

But it's Samuil's reaction that catches me off guard. First shock, and then relief. It flashes across his face for just a split second before he schools his features back into that unreadable mask he wears so well. But I saw it. That brief moment where his shoulders relaxed, his eyes lightened, and he looked like a man who'd just been handed an unexpected reprieve.

He's glad I don't want to marry him. I shouldn't feel stung by it. He's made it blatantly clear that he wanted nothing to do with me. But I figured if I just tried a little harder, he'd eventually give in. Well, until I realized he had a ready-made family, that is.

Still, I'm a princess. He should be honored to be my husband. No, he should get down on his knees and thank God he was given such a gift as me. I'm not some uneducated homeless woman. I'm the last heir! I'm royalty!

And why the hell am I getting so pissed off at his relief when I don't want to marry him either? God, pride is a horrible thing, I guess.

"Anastasia." My father's voice is deadly quiet. He sets down his fork with careful precision. "We will discuss this later. In private."

"There's nothing to discuss." I keep my voice steady even though my heart is pounding. "I won't marry him. I don't care what agreements you've made."

"The engagement is settled." Ivan's tone leaves no room for argument. "The wedding will happen."

"No, it won't." I turn to face him fully, ignoring Samuil completely. "You can't force me to marry someone I don't want."

"Can't I?" My father's eyes are cold. "You're my daughter, Anastasia. You'll do what's best for this family."

"Best for the family?" I laugh, but there's no humor in it. "Or best for your business dealings? There's a difference."

"Watch your tone." The warning in his voice is clear.

"I'm twenty-five years old. I'm not a child you can order around anymore." My hands clench in my lap beneath the table. "I have a say in whom I marry."

"You had a say," Ivan qualifies, then picks up his wine glass and takes a deliberate sip. "You chose to pursue Samuil, and now you'll deal with the consequences of those choices."

Heat floods my face. He's not wrong, but hearing it stated so bluntly makes me want to crawl under the table. I chance a glance at Samuil. He's watching the exchange with that same unreadable expression, saying nothing. His silence irritates me almost as much as his relief did.

"I didn't throw myself at anyone," I say through gritted teeth. "I was curious about him. That's all."

"Curious." My father sets down his glass. "Is that what you call showing up at a man's private establishment and forcing your way into his office?"

"I didn't force anything." But even as I say it, I know how weak it sounds.

"The engagement stands," Ivan says flatly. "The contracts are signed. The alliance is made. You will marry Samuil Galkin in six weeks, and that's the end of this discussion."

"It's not the end." I push back from the table slightly. "You can't make me go through with it."

"Can't I?" My father leans forward, his eyes hard. "You want to test me on this, Anastasia? You want to see how far I'm willing to go to ensure this family's future and your safety?"

The threat in his voice is unmistakable. I've never heard him speak to me like this before. He's always been indulgent, always given me what I wanted. But right now, looking at his face, I realize he's not going to bend on this. Not even for me.

I look at Samuil again, desperate for him to say something, anything. But he just sits there, silent and still, watching us like he's observing a business negotiation that doesn't really concern him. His lack of reaction makes my blood boil.

"You're not going to say anything?" I demand, turning my full attention on him. "You're just going to sit there?"

He meets my eyes, and for a moment I see something flicker in their depths. But then it's gone, replaced by that infuriating calm. "This is between you and your father."

"It's between all of us!" My voice rises despite my best efforts to control it. "You're the one I'm supposedly marrying. Don't you have an opinion?"

"My opinion doesn't matter." His tone is flat, emotionless. "The decision has been made."

"By everyone except me, apparently."

"You made your decision when you came to my restaurant." There's an edge to his voice now, the first real emotion he's shown. "Actions have consequences, Princess Anastasia."