“I’m getting her a drink. She’s going to need it,” Alexei says as he gets up.

The others also leave the table, giving us privacy.

Placing my other hand on her cheek, I explain, “Your father was a wealthy man. You’ll never have to worry about money again.”

Before Ariana can reply, Alexei comes back with the tumbler of vodka and Ilia, who must’ve just arrived.

I rise to my feet and shake the man’s hand, and after the introductions are over, Ilia gets right to business. He begins to read the long list of assets. Mainly Properties scattered over the world, and then he moves onto the investments in Switzerland and the main bank account.

“The total sum of movable cash comes to one-hundred-and-fifty-three million euros.”

Ariana grabs hold of my thigh, and her face pales dangerously. “I think I’m going to pass out.”

Alexei gets up and comes to hold the tumbler to her lips, helping her to drink the alcohol. She trembles lightly while we give her a moment to process the news. I pull Ariana to my chest and hold her for a minute.

When she’s feeling calmer, she pulls back and then starts to shake her head. “I can’t even begin to comprehend that amount. What? How?”

“My uncle is an accountant. He can help you manage your finances,” I say.

“There’s also a request from Sergei,” Ilia carries on, obviously needing to get this over so he can leave.

Ariana waves a hand in the air, slumping back against her chair. “Hit me.”

“Sergei approved an arranged marriage between Ariana and Alexei Koslov, with the clause that Mr. Koslov gets thirty percent of the profits the first ten years of their marriage and then sixty percent thereafter.”

A burst of laughter explodes from Ariana, and she has to wrap her arm around her waist. Alexei chuckles at her reaction. When Ariana reigns in her laughter, she shakes her head. “Yeah, no offense, Alexei, but that’s never going to happen.”

I roll my shoulders to get rid of the tension of just hearing Ariana, Alexei, and marriage in the same sentence.

“None taken,” he says. Then his eyes move to me before he looks at Ilia. “Same terms with an arranged marriage between Ariana and Demitri?”

“Uh…” Ariana begins to frown, all the laughter gone now.

“I’m sure Sergei would’ve agreed,” Ilia answers.

“Hold up,” Ariana leans forward. “Stop making plans as if I don’t have a say in this.”

Alexei turns his attention to Ariana, giving her a patient look. “Feel free to join in the discussion at any point.”

“Why the hell are we even talking about arranged marriage?” she snaps. “With the money I’m inheriting, I’ll be financially fine, and I can still give Demitri a percentage of the profits so he’ll run the business for me.” She gives Alexei a pointed look. “And I’m not going to discuss all of this in front of you.”

Oh. Fuck.

“I need to go,” Ilia says, rising to his feet. We shake his hand and watch as he rushes from the room.