Chapter 12

Celestia~

“You wouldn't dare.”

“Try me little minx.”

Huh? Little what?

I wanted to ask but felt too tired.

As the plane began its descent into New York, I felt another wave of exhaustion wash over me. I glanced over at Dmitri , who remained focused on his laptop, with different expressions crossing his face by the minute. Was everything OK with work? Roxie was beside me, practically bouncing in her seat with delight. I had a fair idea it was the thoughts of so many shops that was making her so delighted. Eugh.

“Are you ready for this, Celestia ?” Roxie asked, her eyes shining.

“ Absolutely fuckin not. I'm hungover and sick as fuck. How are you so full of energy?”

“Tsk,tsk. Spend your energy on the right stuff boo.” She grinned in reply as the plane taxied down.

***

Once we landed and disembarked, I could feel the busy energy of the city around me. Dmitri turned to me, folding his laptop closed with a decisive snap. “Okay, Roxie, take Celestia to my apartment.”

“Your apartment?” I repeated, confusion written on my face. “Why can’t I just go to mine?”

Dmitri raised an eyebrow and pointed at the ring on his finger. “Remember? We’re married.”

That's when it hit me, and I burst into laughter. “Oh my God! I almost forgot!” I shook my head, still giggling. “How could I forget that? I guess I’m still adjusting to this whole thing.”

“It’s a wild ride, isn’t it?” Roxie chimed in, her humor matching mine. “Come on, Mrs. Dmitri ! Let’s go see your new home.”

“Alright, lead the way!”

. As we walked out to grab a cab, I started to wonder what kind of apartment Dmitri would have.

The cab ride was quick, but that didn’t stop Roxie from talking non-stop about all the cool places we’d visit in New York. “There’s this amazing bakery I have to show you, and the parks are just stunning! You’ll love exploring!”

When we finally arrived at Dmitri ’s apartment building, Roxie finally stopped talking.

“Let’s go,” Roxie said, leading the way inside. We pressed the button for the elevator, and I fidgeted with my hands, still processing everything.

The door opened, and as we stepped into Dmitri ’s apartment, I was instantly taken aback by the minimalist style. The entire area was filled with black and white—black leather couches, white walls, and even some striking black-and-white artwork. It felt sleek and modern.

“Oh wow!” I gasped, spinning around to take it all in. “I love it!”

“Really?” Roxie said, a look of disbelief crossing her face. “You actually like this place?”

“I absolutely love it!” I exclaimed, feeling a warmth spread through me as I admired the space. “It’s so stylish and elegant!”

“Stylish?” Roxie scoffed, placing her hands on her hips. “It’s so cold! This looks like a showroom, not a home. Where are the cozy pillows? The colors?”

“Hey, I think it’s perfect just the way it is!” I defended, unable to hide my smile. “It feels… refreshing.”

“You really are weird,” she teased, shaking her head in mock disbelief. “But hey, weird is good!”

“Can you show me where the shower is? I really need to freshen up. I’m dying from jet lag and from hearing your voice all morning!”

“Hey! My voice is pleasant and of course.” Roxie said, leading me down the hall. “Follow me. It’s just at the end of the corridor.”

“Babes, it ain't.”

She glared at me and I said nothing more. As we reached the bathroom, I noticed it was just as sleek as the rest of the apartment, with a big glass shower stall. “Wow, this is nice!” I exclaimed.

“Dmitri has great taste, doesn’t he?” Roxie said with a smirk.

“I can see why you give him such a hard time,” I replied, stepping into the bathroom. “I mean, he can be a bit intense, but this place is really beautiful.”

“Intense? That’s one way to put it,” Roxie laughed, leaning against the wall. “He’s all rough edges on the outside, but under all that tough guy act, he’s really just a softy.”

“Yeah, I can tell,” I said, feeling comforted by the thought. “He really does care.”

“You’ll see,” she replied knowingly. “So, hurry up in there! You don’t want to keep the king waiting!”

“Roxie!” I called through the bathroom door, playfully annoyed. “I’ll be quick!”

“Good! I’m starving, and we need to celebrate the fact that you’re in New York!” she yelled back, her excitement palpable.

Finally, I stepped out of the shower and quickly dried off. Looking in the mirror, I realized I needed to calm my hair. I looked around.

Fuck.

“Roxie… Is there anything I can wear?” I yelled from the bathroom.

“Yea,yea. I put a shirt and some pants there.”

I spotted them and almost cursed when I raised the shirt. This friggin thing was way bigger than me. It was obviously a men's shirt.

As I walked back into the main living area, I found Roxie plopped on the couch, scrolling through her phone. “You still alive in there?” she called without looking up.

“Yep, I survived. Also, what's with the huge shirt?” I asked, frowning as I took a seat beside her.

“Oh yea. That's Dmitri’s. He doesn't have any ladies clothes here. He sent a model to shop for you so you'll be out of those soon.

“Oh… Anyway, what did I miss?”

Roxie chuckled. “Just some New York social media drama. Apparently, all the celebs are buzzing. But let’s talk about you—where are we going to eat?”

“Is there a place you recommend?” I asked, feeling famished.

“Oh, lots of options! Do you want something fancy or casual?” Roxie asked, sitting up straight.

“Casual sounds good. I just want to soak in the vibe of the city,” I replied.

“Perfect! I know a great little diner down the street. It’s a classic New York spot. They have the best burgers,” she said, her eyes glimmering with excitement.

I smiled at her enthusiasm. “That sounds amazing!”

Just then, the front door creaked open, and Dmitri walked in, glancing between us. “What’s going on here? Did I hear food?”

“Yes!” Roxie replied, almost bouncing, “We’re heading out to get some burgers!”

"I thought you were supposed to be in the office?” I added, looking up at him.

“ I took the day off.”