Masquerade [Kuskovo Estate]

[Adrian Kane]

He never got the chance to answer her question. Which was just as well. It would have required a lie and thinking up a decent response was more distraction than he wanted to bother with at the moment. Truth was, he may dominate the room with his perfect hair, piercing eyes and imposing presence, and eyes followed him as he climbed from the car, but this was work. He had targets to locate and business to discuss. Colette was an entrance ticket but little more. He disliked that fleeting moment of speechlessness when he saw her waiting at the bar and easily displaced it from his mind ever since. However, he assumed he would be forced to dance with her and generally fawn in the way of such social events over women. He also assumed she would finish the night in his bed, but these were peripheral details to what he intended, and luckily, he wasn’t forced to mince words around any of that.

As fitting, he likewise posed for pictures, but it was Colette who was the star of the stairs. She ascended them like a queen climbing the dais to her throne. The confidence was admirable, but Adrian was just as interesting to the photographers. He allowed them only a few well-angled shots then accompanied her inside.

Her second question was returned with a flat stare.  “Do you know nothing of Moscow politics?” The question was serious, though he guessed she would take it humorously. It wasn’t meant to be a compliment.

However, he could not help but look at the man in question no matter how hard he feigned disinterest.