The Romanov Diadem: Oblast Dmitrovka

7. Welcome Dinner

For anyone who lives in Russia, it's not unusual for the days to be long during the summer months. By dinnertime, the sky was as clear as day. Viktor and Xandrova arrive at the restaurant where their parents are waiting for them.

Viktor follows Xandrova's steps, which suddenly stop. Viktor followed Xandrova's gaze and understood why his wife had stopped.

'Oh, wait! Who is the man sitting next to Davidoff?' Viktor asked as he looked at Xandrova who was glancing at him.

"Should we just leave, Viktor?"

The tremor in Xandrova's voice let Viktor know that his wife was uncomfortable with the mysterious man's presence.

"What's wrong, Zoya? Do you think the man sitting next to Papa David is your ex-fiancé?"

Xandrova snorted, then gave a small nod.

"Who else could he be?"

Viktor chuckled. He took Xandrova's left hand and grasped it.

"You can't always run away from him, Zoya. You have to face the reality in front of you no matter how bitter it is!"

'Do you understand what I'm saying, Zoya? I only want you to take a stand in front of your parents and Maksim.'

"Ah, Viktor! You talk too much!"

Xandrova scolded Viktor. She pursed her lips when she saw Galana waving at her.

"See? Mama's caught us and there's no chance of getting out of here."

Viktor saw it too. Yes, apparently Xandrova didn't heed Viktor's words.

"Tak chego zhe ty zhdesh, Zoya!" Meaning, "What are you waiting for, Zoya?"

Viktor called out encouragingly to his wife. He didn't want Xandrova to be constantly overwhelmed with fear because of Maksim's presence.

"You have to show them that Maksim won't have a chance to win your heart back, Zoya!"

Xandrova stared into Viktor's blazing eyes.

'Unfortunately, I'm not as brave as you, Viktor!' Xandrova let out a stifled squeal in her heart. She was reluctant to be at the same table with Maksim, but there was no other choice. This time, she would follow Viktor's wishes.

"Yes."

Viktor took Xandrova's hand. The two of them took a step with a heavy heart.

"Hello, Pa, Ma ...."

Xandrova greeted her parents. She tried to ignore the man beside Davidoff even though her heart was beating irregularly as Maksim looked at her.

"Have a seat, Miss Pretty!"

Viktor prepared a chair for Xandrova to make her blush. The man who didn't know his origins gave Xandrova a seductive look.

"Thank you, handsome man."

Xandrova returned Viktor's words with an equally seductive look. She smiled so sweetly and winked too.

'What the hell are these two doing?! Do they love each other or is Viktor intentionally flirting with Zoya?!' Maksim's heart sank again at the couple's behavior in front of him. He reached for his glass filled with mineral water.

Maksim gulped down the mineral water greedily. His eyes didn't stop gazing at Xandrova's beautiful face.

"Zoya, why don't you say hello to Mr. Maksim Smirnov Romanov?"

Galana reprimanded her daughter for not greeting Maksim.

"Oh, no need, Ma."

Maksim smiled without any awkwardness. He looked at Viktor who was sitting across from him.

'Huh?! Ma?! That jerk called you Mama?!'

Viktor was stunned when his sense of hearing caught the word mama coming out of Maksim's mouth. He smiled at the corners of his lips.

"Hello, Mr. Maksim." Viktor greeted Maksim as he extended his hand.

"I'm here to greet you on behalf of my wife. Wouldn't it be the same if it was me?"

Maksim had no intention of welcoming Viktor's hand. His jaw hardened. He gritted his teeth, then turned to Davidoff.

"Oh, all right. Let's get the dinner started!"

Davidoff opened his voice to break the ice. He looked at Xandrova who was looking down.

"So, what would you like to eat, Zoya?"

Seeing this, Xandrova pulled Viktor's hand away. She ignored Davidoff's question.

"Honey, what do you want to eat?"

Viktor began role-playing with Xandrova in front of both Maksim and his in-laws. Their gazes clashed.

"I will eat the same menu as my husband."

Xandrova pressed her nose against Viktor's. She is enjoying her game with her husband. So did Viktor.

"All right, Miss Pretty. I'll spoil my wife so she won't easily turn away from me."

Viktor deliberately raises his tone so Maksim hears every word he and Xandrova say.

'Shit! How long do I have to endure this pain?!'

Maksim complained to himself. He reached for the smartphone in front of him. His two thumbs danced over the keypad quickly.

Maksim: Feliks, quickly bring it here!

Five words strung together into one sentence. Maksim sent the message to his assistant. It didn't take long for Feliks to reply to his assistant's chat.

Feliks: Yes, Young Master. I'll be there soon.

Maksim put his smartphone back on the table. He brought his face closer to Davidoff.

"You two's plans really suck!"

Maksim grumbled in a whisper in Davidoff's earlobe until the man stopped eating.

" Relax, Young Master!"

Davidoff did the same as Maksim.

"What did Papa say?! Relax?! How come?! Look at them, Papa!"

Maksim pointed at the couple who were flaunting their affection in front of his eyes.

"This is just the beginning, Young Master. My wife has far more wonderful plans than this dinner. Don't you worry!"

Davidoff winked at the woman at the table right behind Maksim.

'Bozhe! That woman was really beautiful. She had a perfect body shape."

Davidoff couldn't stop looking at the woman in the red evening dress while chattering to himself. The Asian-faced woman was so different in his eyes.

It wasn't that he didn't know or realize Davidoff's strange behavior, but Viktor pretended to be stupid in front of everyone in order to achieve his goal. Purpose? Oh, of course. Wasn't he assigned by Gennadius to guard Xandrova and his two in-laws from Maksim?

'Papa is starting to act up! Papa doesn't even hesitate to give signals to women when he's with Mama.' Viktor said to himself as he tried to overhear the conversation between his father-in-law and Maksim.

"Excuse me, Young Master Maksim. I came to deliver your order."

Feliks stood right behind Xandrova's chair. Realizing Feliks' presence, Viktor looked back.

'Damn it!' Viktor squealed in his heart when he saw the bouquet of flowers in Feliks' hand. 'This must be Papa and Mama's trick!' Viktor squealed inwardly for the second time.

"Zoya, please accept the bouquet of roses!"

Maksim tried to adjust his tone to appeal to Xandrova. The woman didn't just accept it. She stared at Viktor as she waited for his approval.

"Just a bouquet of flowers, Viktor. You shouldn't be prejudiced against Maksim!"

Galana reprimanded Viktor in a displeased tone.

"That's right. I didn't mean anything by it."

Maksim tried to explain to Viktor, even though he knew that the man wouldn't let Xandrova accept his flowers.

"How is it, Viktor?"