by J A Whiting
“Her reaction about the cross necklace seemed sincere,” Olivia observed.
“Can’t be hers then.” Brad sighed. “So many loose ends.”
Olivia and Brad strolled around the party goers. They sampled some of the food and danced under the tent. Brad went to get some drinks and Olivia stood apart from the crowd, looking out over the water. Brad handed her some champagne.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“That’s Martin Andersen’s house. Now it belongs to Rodney Hannigan.” The Victorian was surrounded by lawn, a buffer of trees, and the ocean on three sides, affording a great measure of privacy. The fourth side shared a property boundary with the house that had been owned by the accident victim. The house was perched on its lot at an angle so as to provide the best possible views of the sea. This caused its orientation to slightly face the Victorian. The contemporary house was tall and had walls of glass. There were wide decks projecting out from each of the three levels facing the Victorian.
“Its location must really bug the owner of this place,” Olivia said. “Andersen had quite a nice view of these grounds and the Victorian.”
“Yeah,” said Brad. “From what I’ve heard, this Siderov guy values his privacy.”
A murmur went through the crowd and Brad and Olivia turned their attention back to the tents. A short, stocky middle-aged man had appeared on the veranda. He had blonde short hair and was wearing a well cut dark suit with a white shirt and blue tie. He moved with confidence. The two body guards fell in with him but stayed a step behind.
“Must be our host,” Brad said. Olivia nodded.
Another man emerged from the Victorian through the French doors. Olivia recognized the man as Alexei. He strolled along the veranda and down to the lawn behind the first man and the bodyguards. Siderov moved through the crowd, shaking hands and pausing to speak to some of the guests. Alexei followed along, greeting the people.
“This guy really thinks he’s something special,” Olivia said.
“How about we go dance instead of gawking at his grand entrance?” Brad asked.
Olivia and Brad were enjoying the music and had been dancing together for about a half hour when someone touched Brad on the arm. “Excuse me,” a voice said. Olivia and Brad stopped in mid-step.
Alexei stood to Brad’s side and gazed at Olivia. Ignoring Brad, he said, “May I have a dance with the lovely lady?” Without waiting for a reply, Alexei slid into dancing position and shouldered Brad away. He moved Olivia across the dance floor. She was stiff in his arms.
“You are the most beautiful woman at this gala,” Alexei whispered into Olivia’s ear. “No need to be tense. I am a very good dancer.”
Olivia let out a sigh of exasperation.
Alexei continued. “I’m sorry our time together on the river was so short. I apologize again for my behavior. I appreciate a woman with energy and spirit. Perhaps we can start over. Did you like the flowers I left with you the other night?”
Olivia glared at him. “Have you ever been in my house?”
Alexei looked quizzical. “Why would you ask me that?”
Olivia tried to remove her hand from his, but he held on and pulled her closer with the hand that rested on her back. “I hope you’re not going to be rude to your host.”
“Alexei…” Olivia started.
“Alexei,” a deep voice spoke from behind them. “How do you manage to attract the most beautiful women? And then lose them?” Alexei and Olivia stopped and turned. They were facing Alexei’s father.
“You must introduce me,” the father commanded.
“Of course,” Alexei said. “Father, this is Miss Olivia Miller. Olivia, this is my father, Dmitri Siderov.”
Siderov took Olivia’s hand. He bent slightly forward and nodded. “Miss Miller, it is a pleasure.”
“Thank you,” Olivia told him. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Would you honor me with a dance? I’m sure my son would not begrudge me.” Siderov waved his hand dismissively at Alexei. “Go,” he told him. Siderov moved into position and maneuvered Olivia in a slow dance around the floor. Olivia glanced over Siderov’s shoulder, trying to find Brad and hoping for rescue. He was not in sight.
“So, what do you do, Miss Miller?”
“I’m a graduate student,” Olivia answered.
“And what do you study?”
“I’ll be entering law school in the fall,” Olivia said. Siderov slid his hand slightly lower on Olivia’s back. Like father, like son, Olivia thought. She gritted her teeth.
“Excellent. Alexei did graduate study at Harvard. We were pleased with the education. Will you be staying in the area? Where will you be going to school?”
“Stanford,” Olivia lied. She enjoyed telling the Siderovs untruths.
“Very impressive,” Siderov said. He was quiet for a minute as he moved Olivia around the dance floor.
“I hear you had a date with Alexei the other day.”
“I wouldn’t call it a date,” Olivia said.
Siderov ignored her statement. “And Alexei said that it ended quite quickly. What called you away?”
Olivia bristled. “Rude behavior.”
“Yes,” Siderov said. “Rude behavior on your part.”
Olivia’s face went red with anger. She stopped following his lead and rooted her feet to the ground, which threw Siderov off balance. He caught himself from stumbling.
“Don’t you…” Olivia began, rage constricting her throat.
From behind Siderov, Magdalene Streeter stretched out her hand to take Siderov’s arm. Olivia was never so glad to see that flaming red head of hair.
“Oh my,” Magdalene said. “Clumsy girl nearly tripped you.” Magdalene elbowed Olivia out of her way and offered her hand to Siderov. “I’m Magdalene Streeter and I’m one of the committee members who helped organize this gala. I must thank you for your generosity in hosting our event.”
Olivia took the opportunity to make her exit. “Excuse me,” she muttered and strode away past the crowd of dancers. Siderov glared at Olivia as Magdalene prattled on. Olivia stormed out of the dance tent and collided with Alexei.
“Olivia,” he said.
“Not now,” Olivia answered. Her eyes were flashing as she tried to move past him.
Alexei caught her arm and she swiveled to him. “What’s wrong with you? You tell your father everything? Why? So he can intervene and get you whatever you want?”
Party goers heard the angry tone and cast glances at Alexei and Olivia.
“It’s not like that,” Alexei said, lowering his voice. He steered Olivia away from the crowd. “My father is very overbearing. He demands perfection. Everyone lets him down, especially me. He says what he says and then you just have to ignore him. That’s what I’ve tried to do all my life.”
Olivia did not respond.
“Olivia, please. You should pity me. I have to live with him every day.”
Olivia sighed.
“Did you read my note? That I left with the flowers?
“Yes.”
“You didn’t call me.”
“No, I didn’t.” Olivia rubbed her forehead. “I’ve been preoccupied.”
“Have a drink with me,” Alexei said. “Let’s talk. Come on. Just one drink and then I’ll leave you alone for the rest of the night.”
“My God,” Olivia muttered.
Alexei gestured to one of the waiters. The waiter came over and Alexei removed two flutes of champagne from the tray. He handed one to Olivia.
“Walk with me a bit?” he said. “Please. I need a break from all of this.” He seemed defeated.
Olivia weakened. She almost felt bad for him. They headed away from the tents.
Alexei sighed. “Such a pretty night.”
Olivia glanced at him out of the corner of her eye.
“These events can be exhausting.” Alexei sighed again. “Olivia…” he started. “I apologize for…” He waved his hand. “You know…for being a j
erk.”
“Just leave it,” she answered. She did not want to discuss it. They looked at the sweeping vista before them. Olivia felt angry and exasperated, but she also felt a tiny bit sorry for Alexei. Olivia got the impression, even from the little time spent with the Siderovs, that they were dissatisfied, defensive, and troubled people. She tried to think of something to say.
“This is a perfect location…the view, the privacy,” Olivia said. “The best spot in the entire town.”
“Hmmm. Well, it would be, if not for that,” Alexei said as he gestured to the house to their right. “It’s like a sentry watching over us. A monstrosity.” His voice had turned cold. He glared at it with his jaw clenched. Olivia was taken aback at how quickly Alexei’s mood could shift from pleasant and conversational to angry. He was almost like a split personality.
Alexei turned his attention to Olivia. “I heard that you were at the accident scene of our poor neighbor’s demise.”
“I was,” Olivia answered.
“Was he alive when you arrived?”
Olivia nodded.
“Did he speak?”
“I tried to comfort him,” Olivia said.
“What did he say?”
“Nothing that made any sense. He must have been in shock.”
Alexei’s eyes held Olivia’s and he took a step closer. “What did he say to you?”
Olivia didn’t like Alexei’s intense interest in the accident. “Nothing.”
“But you said he spoke.”
“I said he didn’t make any sense.” Olivia’s voice was firm.
“But what words did he say?” Alexei pressed.
Olivia wondered why on earth Alexei was so keen on this topic. “He was praying,” she lied.
“You said he wasn’t making sense.”
“Why are you asking me this?” Olivia demanded. Flickers of anger flashed in her eyes.
“He was my neighbor.”
“Had you met him?”
Alexei shook his head.
Olivia held up her hands. “Then your interest seems morbid.” Her tone was sharp with anger. “The man was incoherent. He was dying. I tried to comfort him, Alexei. That’s all.” She faced the ocean. As far as she was concerned, the conversation was over.
“I’ve upset you. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…”
Olivia shook her head and put her hand up. “Stop.”
They stood in silence for several minutes.
“Come. Let me show you the house,” Alexei said.
Olivia started to protest. Being with Alexei was like riding a mood swing merry-go-round, and she wanted off the carousel.
“The work is really wonderful. I think you’ll like it. Please, come see.” He started across the lawn and beckoned to her with his hand.
Olivia looked over her shoulder at the crowd. “I should get back. I haven’t seen my friends for a while.”
“They’ll be fine. We won’t be long. Come see how nice it turned out.” He smiled and walked backwards. “Please.”
Olivia was curious about the renovations to the old house and she knew Joe would love to hear about what they had done to it. “I guess, but just for a little while,” Olivia told him.
They climbed the steps to the veranda and entered the house through the French doors. They stepped into a massive living room furnished with beautiful white sofas, oriental rugs, impressive paintings, and two shimmering crystal chandeliers. The wall was expanses of glass, bringing the manicured lawn and the sea beyond into the room. The effect was breathtaking. Alexei pointed at the paintings.
“These are Matisse. My father prefers the Dutch masters, but he chose these because of the color scheme.”
Olivia noticed security cameras poised at different points in the rooms. They entered a long dining room with stained glass windows along one wall. There was a huge mahogany table which easily seated twenty-four. Pale yellow walls were illuminated by another crystal chandelier. “This is Venetian crystal, Murano. We found it in Venice last summer,” Alexei said. “And my father had to have it for this room.” He continued the tour, showing a billiards room, a media room, two kitchens, a library, a den, and a ballroom. Each room was meticulously decorated with the finest furnishings, paintings, and finishing touches. Alexei relayed tidbits of information regarding several pieces in each of the rooms. He indicated a long hallway that he said contained his father’s office suites and staff rooms, but they did not enter there.
As they came back to the living room where they had started the tour, Alexei said, “And upstairs there are eleven bedroom suites, each with its own sitting room and private bath. In addition, there is another living room, media room, small kitchen, library, and office suite on that floor. There are two elevators as well; one for staff and one for family.”
“Well,” Olivia said. “It’s all very grand and beautiful. Your family did a masterful job of restoring and expanding the house. A lovely new home.”
“Thank you,” Alexei said. “It will be used primarily in the summer.”
“Where is your main residence?” Olivia asked.
Alexei chuckled. “Wherever we happen to be at the time.”
Olivia held his eyes and tilted her head at his evasive answer.
“Where do you call home?” Olivia asked.
“Wherever my father tells me to be.”
“That’s a strange answer,” Olivia told him.
Alexei ignored the comment and took Olivia’s elbow, steering her toward the French doors leading to the veranda, when Olivia remembered something. “Oh wait. You didn’t show me the room everyone is talking about.”
Alexei cocked his head. “What do you mean?”
“The safe room,” Olivia said.
Alexei’s face clouded over and he kept walking. “Gossip.”
“Really?” Olivia peered at him. “So many people claim that your father built one here.”
“Ridiculous.” The muscles of his jaw twitched.
“Even some of the construction workers talk about it.”
Alexei wheeled to her. “What? Who?”
Olivia startled at his strong reaction. “I don’t know who. People talk.”
“Exactly,” Alexei said. “They talk about things they know nothing about.”
“Why does this anger you?” she asked.
“It doesn’t,” he said sharply and strode through the French doors ahead of Olivia.
Instead of following him along the veranda, Olivia walked to the rail of the wide porch and stood looking out over the lawn.
“May I help you, Miss?” A butler stood at her elbow. “Is there something you wish?”
Ugh, Olivia thought. Are we watched every second? She shook her head.
“Olivia.” Alexei had stopped at the top of the veranda’s stairs. “It’s time to rejoin the party.”
As Olivia strolled over to where Alexei waited, she noticed surveillance cameras at different points on the roof.
“May I?” she asked formally with a touch of sarcasm, questioning if she might descend the stairs before Alexei.
Aware that she asked this because he had strode in anger through the French doors ahead of her when they left the house, he collected himself and said, “Yes. Please.” He offered her his arm and they walked down the stairs together.
At the bottom of the stairs, Alexei said, “Thank you for indulging me with your company.”
Olivia said nothing, but she held his eyes with her own for several seconds, her face expressionless.
“Perhaps we can get together soon,” Alexei said. “A drink? A swim?”
Olivia nodded slightly, and as she turned away she said, “Yes, Alexei. We can get together sometime.” She looked over her shoulder at him. “Sometime when you grow up.”
***
Olivia, Joe, and Brad sat together in three of the garden chairs that were scattered about the Siderovs’ lawn. It was nearly midnight but the party continued in full swing with no signs of ending any time soon.
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br /> “The house sounds magnificent,” Joe said. “I’m jealous you got to see it.”
“It is magnificent,” Olivia told them. “But there’s something weird about it too. There’s such a vibe and feeling of being watched. There are surveillance cameras strategically placed all over outside here. And there are cameras inside as well.”
“The way Alexei questioned you about the accident was strange. What was that all about?” Brad said.
“I don’t know,” Olivia said. “It was concerning how he pushed for answers about what Andersen had said to me at the scene.”
“And you didn’t reveal anything that Andersen said, right? You’re sure?” Joe asked.
“No way. I wasn’t telling him anything. You should have seen his face when he talked about Andersen’s house. ‘A monstrosity’, he said. He looked like he was going to explode.”
“I wonder if he or his family had some sort of run-in with Andersen?” Joe said.
“Nothing like that came up.” Olivia was deep in thought. “It’s very weird how Alexei’s mood fluctuates so wildly. One second he is trying to be all charming and nice and the next second he’s so angry that he seems like he could become violent. But with a father like that one…” Olivia flushed with anger recalling the dance with Mr. Siderov. “Can you imagine him berating me for what happened when Alexei and I were kayaking? What would he do? Threaten me to keep me dating his son?”
“Pathetic,” Brad said.
“It worries me. They worry me,” Joe said.
“No need.” Olivia patted his hand. “He’s all bluster.”
“Sounds like that safe room conversation you had really set Alexei off,” Brad said.
Olivia nodded.
Joe said, “Construction people were dying to get some work on this place. I would have loved to have been part of the renovation team. But instead they flew in experts…so they claimed.”
“But you’re the well-known expert in antique renovation. They never approached you about working on it, Joe?” Olivia asked.
“No. They seemed like they didn’t want any locals involved in the construction. Had to have their own people working on it. Occasionally they hired a guy from the area to do something minor, but even those guys had to sign a non-disclosure agreement.”
