Okay, so when I first wrote Reckless Sin book, Karina was dating someone, but it ever felt right, especially with the whole drama of Adam, who was originally Princeton instead of Prince. So, I scrapped her chapter for some thing a little more action packed. My most favorite part of this deleted chapter is the phone call with Nathan at the end.
Hope you enjoy!
Karina’s POV
Ms. Vasiliev.
That’s what everyone called me, that was who I’d always be. Being a Vasiliev had its benefits: everyone recognized me, people wanted to be around me, and I could get any job I pursued. But no matter where I’d go or who I’d become my father’s shadow would cast over. I was just another product of my father. An opportunity for others to get acknowledged. Nothing more, nothing less; which was why I still didn’t understand why I agreed to live with him temporarily.
“Will you marry me?”
Right, that was why.
The words haunted my thoughts like a never-ending nightmare. Marrying Icarus was the farthest thing from my mind. He wasn’t a terrible person, in fact, he was one of the nicest guys I ever dated. He was kind, sweet, and respectful. The problem was that we had only been dating for five months. Five! And somehow in those five months, he decided to ask me a question that he must have known he shouldn’t have. So, I gave him an answer, one that it seemed he wanted to hear. I wanted to ask, but I felt like there was no need to since I wasn’t going to take back what I said no matter what his answer would have been.
Piles of clothes surrounded me as I sat in the middle with an open suitcase uncertain of which clothes would be best to pack. Knowing my father, business clothes were in order. Comfy clothes would be necessary for sleep. Those lingerie outfits could be left in the apartment or I could bring them along and give them to my friends.
Yeah, that option was the best.
I was sure Icarus wanted none of my things here anymore and I really couldn’t blame him.
At the sound of a light knock, my eyes shifted up. The man I rejected stood against the doorpost. His arms crossed over his chest. His eyes refused to look directly at me. “You almost packed?”
I glanced around the room before looking back at him. “Almost.”
He nodded and started to turn.
“Wait, Icarus.”
“Yeah, Karina.”
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why did you ask me? It’s only been five months.”
“I just wanted to.” He shrugged his shoulders.
There was more to it. I could tell by the way his fingers tapped against his forearm. He didn’t want to give me the real answer, but I needed to know. I had to know why he would purposely sabotage what could have been a good relationship. “No, you didn’t. You were hoping I’d say no. If you wanted to break up you could have just done so before.”
“It’s not that Karina.”
“Then what is it?”
“I-” He struggled. “I can’t talk about it. I just had to do it, okay?”
I nodded, pushing myself up to my feet I walked over to the door and shut him out. He was the fourth who wanted to end things with me. Four out of four boyfriends since high school.
“I wasn’t going to lead you on anymore and…” he sighed.
“Let me guess someone offered you money, so now you don’t need Karina Vasiliev anymore to get what you want.”
“How’d you—” He stopped himself from revealing what we both knew was true. “Look I’m going to head out, give you space to get your things settled and leave.”
I didn’t say I word. Anger and sadness swirled inside my chest. I wanted to cry, maybe even scream, but instead, I dragged my feet back to the middle of the room and sat down on the floor. Wasting tears wouldn’t make me feel any better. No, holding my head high and leaving with dignity would.
Packing away my life took more than three suitcases and by the time I was done, night had fallen. I dragged my suitcases outside one by one and hopped into a cab.
“Where to?”
“The airport,” I mumbled as I stared out the window.
Life was meant to be taken one stitch at a time, if rushed the one would and fall apart.
My mother taught me that when I was young and somehow, I still managed to live at a non-stop pace. Traveling, shows, modeling gigs, photoshoots, parties and meet and greets. It was never-ending. And apparently lost under the lights, fame, and fast pace life, I managed to do exactly that.
Or at least it felt like I was falling apart on the inside.
A bolt of light ripped through the sky pulling me out of my thoughts. It seemed as though the sky was about to break into two as well. “Hey, has anyone ever told you that you look like the Vasiliev girl.”
I drifted my attention to the driver and nodded. “All the time, I don’t see it though.”
He smiled in the rearview mirror. “Did you hear she was getting married?”
Married? That was the first I’d heard about that. Unless it was a known fact that Icarus was going to ask me and the city of models and gossip craved to hear I was off the market. “Married, to who?”
“Some guy who works with her father.”
That did not narrow it down at all. My father worked with plenty of guys. From business partners, clients, to small employees. There were far too many to count. I shook my head. “No idea.”
“You must have heard. It’s all people are talking out. They say he came all this way to get her back from some loser guy she was dating.”
My mysterious stalker. “Sounds like a sick obsession.”
“I don’t know it’s a little romantic, over the top, but kind of romantic.”
Yeah, there was just something about men with money pursuing a lady that just made it romantic instead of crazy. I rolled my eyes.
Rain poured down like rice against an aluminum bucket. A crackle followed by a loud pop rang in my ears. Lighting flashed in the sky.
Going home was a bad idea, but there was nothing I could do about it. I already agreed to go. And I wasn’t going back to my apartment with Icarus.
“Are you sure you want to go to the airport? Your flight will probably end up being canceled or delayed.”
“Yeah, I’m sure. Who knows maybe it will stop soon.”
He scoffed in disbelief and turned his attention back to the road. The ride didn’t take too long. In a matter of minutes, he stopped the car and I got out, taking my four suitcases along with me.
I stepped inside the airport, my eyes drifting to the screen of canceled flights. One which was mine. I moved to the side and reached into my pocket for my phone. I dialed the last number I called.
“Dad,” I spoke as the phone stopped ringing.
“Mr. Vasiliev’s phone, Nathan speaking.”
Great, of all people he had to answer. “Can you let my dad know my flights delayed?”
“Is that you, princess?” I could hear the smirk on his lips through the phone.
“I told you before not to call me that.”
“Only once and it was after you kicked me out of your room that night.” Yeah, because I was drunk and he rejected me.
“Nathan, can you just pass along the message to my dad?”
“Sure, I’ll let him know. Anything else?”
“Yeah, don’t send you to pick me up. In fact, I’d rather not see you the entire time I’m home.” I didn’t need him to babysit me again. I was a grown adult who could look after herself.
“About that, princess…”
“Nathan I swear—”
“Mr. Vasiliev, it’s your daughter.” I heard him say a little far from the phone.
“Karina?”
“My flight’s delayed.”
“Oh, that’s alright dear. Nathan will be waiting for you when you get here.”
“What? No, dad—”
“Sorry princess, I have to go. Love you, safe trip.”
I took a deep breath and held it in, internally screaming.
Why did it have to be Nathan James of all people? Hell, even Aleksei would have been a better choice. At least I could avoid talking to my dad’s business partner like I did back when he was in a higher grade than I was when we were at the academy. But Nathan… there was just something about him that got under my skin.
Two could play at that though. If Nathan wanted to annoy me, I could bother him ten times worse and I could do it without opening my mouth.
If you enjoyed Reckless Sin, be sure to grab Irresistible Desire (Cole!) which is AVAILABLE NOW in Kindle Unlimited. As an author’s note … Cole’s book is my favorite so far. I loved his cameo in Reckless Sin, but getting into his head was the most fun ever. He’s broody, a bit sad, but defintiely sexy ;).