Chapter 19: Million dollar wedding rings
Ava
I stare at the rows of glittering diamond and gleaming gold laid out in front of us in neat rows behind velvet–lined show glasses stretched across the room, each showcasing a set of glittering pieces.
Each cut diamond and precious gemstone seems to capture the light in the room, refracting it in different directions until all I can see are the flashes of brilliance shimmering in the air.
Nikolai brought me to a jewellery store. But not just any jewellery store. No, he brought me to the biggest one in the city.
Éclat was known around Chicago for its unrivalled collection of diamonds and gemstones from all around the world. Each piece has been carefully curated by different masters of the craft, from renowned gemologists to expert artisans.
It’s the kind of place that only caters to the elite and the only place in the city where each piece was worthy enough to be a statement.
Around us, only a handful of people browse quietly, moving from one display to the other with the kind of ease that only comes with a fat wallet.
A lady approaches us; her smile practised and polite. She’s dressed in a tight–fitted black suit, and her blond hair is slicked back into a bun.
“Is there anything I can help the both of you with?” she asks, smiling widely. I wonder if that hurts her face.
I glance at the silver name tag pinned to the lapel of her jacket, the name Sylvia engraved on it in thin cursive letters.
“Yes, actually, I’d like to buy a wedding ring for my wife. Nikolai says with practised confidence, his hand falling to my waist, and I furrow my brows at him.
A ring? He’d come back just to get me a ring?
Why didn’t that annoy me as much as I thought it would? And why did my insides feel warm at the realization that he’d come back and his first instinct was to get me a wedding ring, something I forgot I was missing until now?
I glance at my ringless finger and push down the ache the sight causes. If things were different and Nikolai and I were in love, a ring would probably be sitting there glaring back at me, the size of it as intimidating as the man who put it there. I imagine it heavy and brilliant, with the sight of it alone probably blinding me with its brightness.
Nikolai takes my hand in his, startling me as he intertwines our fingers together. The attendant watches this, and I don’t think it’s possible, but I’m pretty sure I see her smile grow.
“Of course. Is there anything you might be interested in?”
She’s looking at me now and I have no idea what to say. I’ve never given much thought to what I want my wedding ring to look like. I’ve always assumed that the man I’d marry would pick it out, and I’d probably have to suffer with it all the days of my life if I didn’t like it.
“Honestly, I’m not sure about any of these,“, I say, pointing at the display in front of us, “Are there any others we can see?” I ask, my curiosity piqued.
I’m no fool. I know that the main selection is at the back, and if I’m going to pick a ring, I’d rather it be the best. I
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wonder what the pieces they’ve kept hidden away from the usual customers and reserved for only those who are willing to drill a hole in their wallets without actually drilling a hole look like.
Sylvia’s gaze flickers over to Nikolai, then to me, and then back to him. “Certainly,” she says, her voice tinged with subtle surprise. She straightens and pushes her hands in front of her, gesturing in the opposite direction.” Right this way,” she says, leading us deeper into the store.
I try to ignore the heat of Nikolai’s hands on my lower back as he guides me In front of him, careful not to stray from Sylvia’s direction.
The space Sylvia leads us into is more secluded, with only a few people around us. This section is set apart by plush velvet ropes and guarded by the faint scent of polished wood and leather.
The display cases here are much larger than the previous ones and the jewelry within them more grander.
They were probably even more outrageously priced given that only a few people stood admiring the shimmer within the cases.
“These,” she says, gesturing to the row behind her, “are our finest selection.” Sylvia’s voice takes on a reverent tone as she steps aside, allowing us to take a better look at the display. Each ring shines brightly, the diamonds catching in the soft light, casting tiny rainbows on the velvet–lined shelves beneath them.
The sight of the rings momentarily takes my breath away and I’m stunned. While some are simple designs with elegant bands, others are a luscious cluster of gems that feel heavy just by looking at them.
Nikolai stands behind me, his presence looming over me like my personal shadow. He leans in, his lips brushing the shell of my ear as he speaks
“Which one do you like, Solnyshko?”
I look back at him, shaking my head,
“I don’t think you’d be able to afford my taste if I told you
He chuckles, the sound a deep soft rumble only I can hear.
He brushes my hair away from my shoulder and places a soft kiss on the spot between my neck and shoulder, surprising me, “Try me.” he says then pats my hip, “Pick one.”
I glance back at the rings again, eyes flitting from one piece to another. I lift a hand and immediately drop it, scared that I might damage the beauty in front of me by the singular act of touching the glass.
“This one,” I say finally, pointing at the gold band with an oval cut diamond at the centre.
“Ahh, “Sylvia murmurs, her voice filled with quiet admiration, “A fine selection. This one is actually a new arrival and currently the only one of its kind available in the entire North America.‘
My lips part slightly and my eyes widen in shock.
“It’s that rare?”
I ask and she nods, “The only one in the country.” She says
My eyes drift back to the ring and I trace the edges with my eyes. “Would you like to try it on?” She asks and I hesitate for a moment,
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“Will that be okay?” I ask, fidgeting with my thumb by my side.
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She nods, reaching for the case and unlocking the glass display with a soft click. She carefully lifts the ring out from where it rests between two other similar designs—both larger and more extravagant, but not quite as captivating as the one I had chosen. The delicate oval–cut diamond glimmers in her hand, its brilliance almost blinding as she holds it out to me.
Carefully, I reach out, feeling a strange sense of excitement and nerves rush through me as my fingers brush over the meticulously crafted diamond.
Wow, Marilyn Monroe wasn’t lying when she said that diamonds are a girl’s best friend because I instantly fall in love with the studded piece.
“Wait,” Nikolai stops me, his hand around my wrist just as I’m about to slip the piece on my finger, “I want to put it on you,” he says looking right at me. It’s not a request and I doubt he intends for it to sound like one. I hesitate, not sure if I should give in, but then He steps closer, His shadow a strong presence that reaches into my chest and steals the air from my lungs, and I find myself nodding, giving in to his request.
He takes my hand in his, and I watch as his long fingers cradle the piece of jewellery before slipping it carefully onto my fourth finger. It fits perfectly.
“It’s beautiful,” I whisper, more to myself than to him and I lift my eyes to meet his.
“It is,” he agrees but his eyes are not on the diamond around my finger, instead they are on me. The freaking butterflies in my belly flutter as our gazes lock. The air between us shifts, swirling with a dangerous energy and wrapping us in our own personal little bubble.
Air escapes my lungs in soft puffs and the sound of Sylvia clearing her throat jerks me back to reality. I snap my gaze towards her to find her staring intently at both Nikolai and me, and it’s only then I realize how close we’ve gotten.
Nikolai is the first to step away, breaking the contact and for some reason disappointment blooms in my chest.
I swallow hard, my mouth suddenly feeling dry.
“Uh… How much does it cost?” I ask, my voice unbearably soft.
Sylvia’s practised smile returns and she replies with “It’s priced at one million dollars,‘
I blink slowly. The number hitting me with a heavy blow. What. The. Hell?
“One million dollars,” I repeat, hoping the surprise in my voice isn’t obvious. From the corner of my eye, I see the corner of Nikolai’s mouth tip up slightly at my reaction, and I want nothing more than to wipe that God–forsaken smirk off his face.
I mean, yes, I would be lying if I said that I didn’t expect the prices to be outrageous, but I also expected it to be within reason. There was nothing reasonable about paying one million dollars for a ring.
“We’ll take it.”
My head snaps to Nikolai who looks calm and completely unfazed and not at all like the demented man I expect to see who just agreed to pay one million dollars for a ring.
“We will?”
“Yes, we will,” he says, his eyes pointed at me.
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“Nikolai, I don’t think spending one million dollars on a ring is within the vicinity of sanity. We can just get something smaller.”
“He lifts a brow, “Do you want something smaller, Solnyshko?”
“… that’s not the point.”
“It is.” He says and I let out a frustrated breath,
“Nikolai, please be reasonable.”
“Do you want a smaller ring, Solnyshko?” He asks again and I glance back at the ring on my finger. It was really pretty. And it did fit me on the first try almost like it was made for me. I don’t think I want to let it go if I’m being honest. But it’s so expensive…
A second ticks by, then another. I look at Nikolai and shake my head.
“I want the ring.” I say, my voice painfully soft, “But I don’t think we should be paying one million dollars for our wedding ring.”
“I don’t care how much the ring costs, Solnyshko, all I care about is that you like it. Do you want this ring Solnyshko?”
I bite my lower lip, “What if I lose it?” I ask
He shrugs, “Then I’ll know that one isn’t enough for you and I’ll have to buy you another one.”
Is he crazy? Spending one million dollars on a ring is already insane, now he’s saying, that he’ll buy me another one if I lose it.
“But there’s only one in the world.”
“Correction, there’s only one in North America“, Sylvia pipes up, “There are five in total scattered all around the world. Two of which are in London, one in Brazil, while the other one is located somewhere in Africa,” she explains.
“I see” I hum.
Knowing there were four others just like it surprises me but it doesn’t take away from the fact that I still think that the price is outrageous.
“We’ll take it.” Nikolai’s tone is final, leaving no room for argument and Sylvia nods, grinning.
“Excellent choice Mr and Mrs Volkov. Would you like me to pack it up for you”
I’m about to say yes and remove the ring from my finger to give her so that she can do just that but Nikolai steps in, stopping me.
“That won’t be necessary“, he says, then lifts my hand to his lips, pressing a soft kiss just above the diamond and mutters something in Russian, his eyes boring into mine. Sylvia nods once and Nikolai hands her his card to pay with.
“What did you say?”
I ask once we’re in the car. Nikolai tilts his head back and hums questioningly, looking at me.
“In the store.” I clarify, “You said something in Russian when you kissed my finger, right here,” I point to
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spot above my new wedding ring, which was still tingling from the soft brush of his lips.
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“I said you were mine Solnyshko, and that ring proves it,” he murmurs, his voice low and possessive. His green eyes pierce through me, and I’m almost too scared to look away.
My heart races wildly in my chest. There’s something about the way he’s looking at me that tells me there’s more to what he said but I don’t press further.
Clearing my throat, I shift uncomfortably against the leather seats, my mind calming as I stare outside into the blurry streets and passing lights.
I wonder briefly what Kat’s reaction would be to the ring on my finger. She’ll probably lose her mind and Cara would be no better. She already thinks that Nikolai is hot, and if she hears that he spent one million dollars on a wedding ring, she’d probably push him up on her hotties scale.
The car comes to a halt and it’s not until I look outside the window I realize that we aren’t at the house.
I look at the words printed on the signpost in big bold letters then turn to Nikolai, already seething as I say, “Why are we in an airport?”
