Billionaire Blood

chapter 16 - the masquerade continued

KATERINA SOLDANO

He looked back at me with pure hatred in his eyes.

"Say that again," he said deadly.

"I wish I had killed you when I had the chance," I said deadpanned.

He grabbed me by the throat and pulled me up against the wall. He brought his face up close and stared at me. He looked at me as if he was searching for something. As if he had never seen me before. He groaned as he banged his face into the wall right next me, not letting go of my throat.

"Fuck Katerina. You have no idea how much you infuriate me. I want to kill you. I really do. You should be glad that I don't have anything on me right now."

My throat was aching now so I pinched his skin. He side eyed me with half his face still leaning on the wall. He started laughing and gripped even tighter. Dante moved his face closer to me so that his lips were brushing my ear.

"Don't ever fucking say that to me," he let me go with a shove so I hit the balcony railing, "You wanna start hating each other again? Two can play at that game Soldano," he said walking off.

The brisk night air cooled me down as I looked at my reflection in the window. There was only a red mark right now. I walked back just in time to be seated for dinner.

A large table running down the middle of the ballroom was set with cutlery and a white cloth. After we were all seated, 100 servers came to our side asking what we ordered. I ordered grilled scallops with creamed corn. When the food came everyone's masks came off and I noticed that I was sitting next to Kurtis and Dante with Spencer sitting opposite me.

"What happened to your neck?" Spencer asked in a hushed tone not trying to cause attention.

"Oh that... I just had an allergic reaction to the perfume. No big deal," I said smiling.

"Right..." he said clearly not believing that bullshit lie and glaring at Dante.

I stayed quiet, keeping my answers minimal, until I felt a hand crawl up my thigh. This motherfucker had the nerve to put his hand on my thigh. I glared at Kurtis who gave me a sleazy smile.

"C'mon Kat... just relax. Enjoy yourself."

"Only people I like call me Kat. Get your hand off me," I whispered.

When he didn't show any intention of stopping, I slammed my stiletto heel into his shoe. He swore and took his hand off me.

"Didn't know you were a prude, Katerina."

Dante clearly heard that but didn't bat an eye. I guess we really did hate each other now.

"Anyone who knows me already knows that I am not a prude but..."

"But?..."

"If you were more attractive maybe I'd let you do more than just laying a hand on my thigh," I said leaning back and putting my arm on his chair.

"You bitch," he snarled.

"Kurtis.... we are not on the same level - looks wise and intelligence wise. It's sad how bad you wanna fuck me even when I'm married" I said rolling my eyes, "Please get a life."

That seemed to put a sock in it and the rest of the dinner he didn't speak to me. Dessert came and it was a delicious peach soufflé.

"Katerina, what'll you be doing after you leave Switzerland?"

My eyes flicked up and found Spencer looking at me expectantly.

"Dante and I will be going to France for my sister, Celeste's, opening night. She has a solo in the Paris Opera Ballet. Well be staying there for a while because of Paris Fashion Week. My mother often uses me as a model for events like that. What about you?"