Chapter Five
Ivan
The next morning, I leave Destiny in bed and make my way down to Stavros’ office. He is the head of HR for Dobrev Enterprises and chooses to make his office here, instead of Miami. I don’t wait for Stacia or her supervisor. I make it known that she will be fired. Once I am done with that that, I exit his office. My phone rings and I see that it is my brother. Before I can say hello, my brother jumps right in.
“Ivan. I have news about our parents.”
“News?”
“That kusok der'ma cousin of ours, Viktor, had our parents killed. For the inheritance.” Piece of shit about sums it up.
“Shit. Do you think Dimitri is in on it?”
“They are brothers, so I would think so.” I file that information away for later. “I have run Viktor off, but I am not sure for how long.” He finishes.
“If Dimitri isn’t already gone, I’d be surprised” I say. He is the hospitality manager for the restaurants, so I do not know what we are going to do about that.
“He has also sent Natasha to Isla Nubia. Navarro has her and I do not like it one bit.”
“The fuck? Are you sending the plane for her?”
“Nyet. She says she is fine. I will wait until she says otherwise.”
“Keep me updated,” I say.
Before hanging up, I promise to bring Destiny to Marisol this evening for dinner. I don't bother him with the firing of Stacia. That is solely my department.
“That sucks about your parents, but don’t worry, babe. Julian wouldn’t hurt a fly.” Destiny says sitting on the couch with her legs tucked up under her. I had my brother on speaker phone, so she heard the entire conversation.
“Julian? Do you know him well?” I can’t keep the jealousy out of my voice.
“Well? I mean I have known Marisol since elementary school. So yeah, I know him well. Why?”
“I want to kill him for thinking he could just take my sister. Keep her.”
“Wow. Pot calling the kettle black much?”
“What do you mean?”
“You and your brother did the same thing. Remember?” She points out.
“That is not the same thing.” I return.
“It is.” She puts her hands on her hips. God, she is so beautiful. Her hives have all but disappeared.
“Is not.” I say.
“It absolutely is.”
“While I am loving this back and forth, it. Mikhail loves Marisol. I lov...I just mean it’s not the same thing.”
“Maybe Julian loves Natasha. You don’t know. It is my understanding that it can happen quickly.” She shrugs. “Can we go to the beach now?”
Today she is wearing a hot pink and black bikini. It doesn’t cover much, but as we walk out of the hotel, down the walkway and out onto the sand, she holds my hand. Most men on the beach are preoccupied with their own women. Thank fuck, because I don’t want to kill someone today. Not that I ever have, but I find I would do anything to keep this woman.
The all-inclusive aspect the resort offers caters to every kind of budget. I take great pride in the fact that people from all walks of life can afford to stay and relax here. This is our first hotel, but already it is my favorite enterprise.
The lounge chairs are set up all along the beach. Some have umbrellas. Some are under canopies. Destiny indicates she wants a canopy, so we head over to an empty one. Immediately, a waiter comes over to us.
“Can I get you anything, Sir?”
“Sergei. I have told you a thousand times, call me Ivan. You are my cousin after all. I will have a vodka on the rocks, with a lime.” I say. Sergei laughs. He is my mother’s sister’s son, but more importantly no relation to Viktor and Dimitri who are my father’s sister’s sons.
“No problem. Ma’am?”
“Destiny, please. I will have a margarita, on the rocks, with salt.” Good thing the legal drinking age on the island is eighteen.
“Coming right up.”
Sergei comes back a few minutes later with the drinks.
I watch as she drinks down the cold beverage in two gulps. I drink my vodka slower, so I can savor it.
“Can you help me with this?” Destiny asks, shaking her sunscreen bottle.
“Is this your own bottle?” I ask hesitantly, putting my empty glass on the round table between the chairs.
“Yes. I brought it from home. This would be one of things I need to order.” She says laughing.
“Alright.” I say as I begin to rub it into her skin.
As I reach her shoulders, she moans.
“Mmm. That feels so good. Relaxing.”
“Stop moaning like that Princess. I don’t want anyone else to hear you.”
“You gonna spank me again?” she asks, sassily. Fuck, I love that sass.
“Nyet. You liked it too much.”
“That was surprising,” she says.
“For me too.” I say.
“Let’s swim.” She says, popping off her chair and taking off running. I catch up to her easily and grab her around the waist and carry her into the water.
“It so blue here. It’s not this blue in Miami.” She says wrapping her legs around my waist.
“It is nice here,” I say, dunking her under.
She comes up sputtering.
“You ass. Why did you do that?”
“You looked hot.”
Her laugh hypnotizes me to the point I don’t realize she has me in the prime position to take me down. Which she does. Of course, I take her under with me.
When we come up for air, I pull her in for a kiss.
“I love you. I know it’s crazy-” I say after leaning back from her, looking in her eyes.
“I love you too, Ivan.”
“That’s good, Princess.”
Fuck yes. I am going to own this girl.
When we get out of the water, Sergei is hovering around our cabana.
“Yes?” I question.
“Phone call for Ms. Destiny.” He says handing her a cordless phone.
“No one knows that I am here except Marisol. I’ll just be a moment. Hello?” She says. “Hi Daddy. How did you know where I was? Wow okay. I am on vacation.” She steps further away from me until I can no longer hear her.
Hearing that little snippet reminds me how young she is, but I must be the biggest bastard on earth, because I will not be giving her back.
She comes back over to the chair and plops down.
“He is absolutely crazy. He has a GPS tracker in my phone. Who does that?”
“He is the ambassador to Russia. I am surprised he doesn’t have one embedded in your skin.”
“Take his side much?”
“I am not taking his side, I am just saying that I get where he is coming from.”
Sergei comes back to get the phone.
“I need something stronger this time. What do you recommend this time, Sergei?”
“Something stronger than a margarita?”
“Yes. Much stronger.”
“I think the Ostrov Iced Tea is what you are looking for. It’s our take on the Long Island Iced Tea but has two additional liquors.”
“Sold. Keep them coming.”
“Anything for you, Ivan?”
“Another vodka on the rocks.” Sergei nods and takes off towards the bar.
“Are you done with your little temper tantrum?” I ask her.
“Yes. But come on. He’s crazy.”
“I am sure he just thinks he is protecting you.”
“Yeah well. Don’t be surprised when he shows up.”
“He is coming here?” I ask.
“That is what he said, right before I hung up on him. Ooh. Drink.” She exclaims as Sergei hands her drink.
“What am I going to do with you, Destiny?” I ask.
“Whatever you want to do.” She says smiling.
I growl and pull her leg towards me, until she lying flat against me, chest to chest. She drags her fingertips along my pecs. I lean up and kiss her neck, causing her to shiver.
“Let's go back upstairs, Princess. I need to be inside of you again.”
“That sounds amazing.”