She lets go and pats my cheek. “I would expect nothing less, Tyoma.”
“You know I could do it on my own.”
“This is a den of vipers and they would eat you alive.”
“They haven’t so far.”
“Because you had your scary old babushka to protect you.” She sinks into one of the red velvet chairs with a groan. “I won’t be around forever, dear boy. I can’t protect you from her or him.”
She looks over to where my mother and uncle are talking, their heads close together. They don’t bother trying to hide their relationship anymore. After Vanya’s announcement, I’m sure they’ll schedule a wedding within a week.
“I’m your child, Babushka. Raised by wolves,” I give her a cheeky smile that hides the sinking feeling growing in my chest. “I can give it out just as good as they can.”
Vanya jabs a finger at my chest. “There’s a soft heart beating in that chest. It’s why everyone likes you, Artyom. It’s why you should be next. But it makes you vulnerable too. Especially when it’s as broken as it has been lately.”
I put up my defenses and flash Vanya a smile. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, babushka. I could get married tonight if Ineeded to. Mariana has always liked me.”
“But you won’t,” Vanya replies, tugging me into the chair next to hers and placing a papery hand to my cheek. “You won’t. Because she’s not here. That nice girl.”
Leave it to Vanya to identify exactly what’s tearing me apart.
I shake my head and push my hair back from my forehead. This was supposed to be my night.
“I’m over it.” I set my jaw.
“Your lies work on anyone but me. I couldn’t watch you take the Council seat, all the while knowing that you would never be happy. You’ve been pining after that girl for years.” As always, Vanya is the only one who knows what’s on my mind.
But it feels like an ice bath when she says: “You need to move on, Tyoma. It’s not healthy for you. This isn’t love, it’s obsession.”
“I said, I’m over it.”
Vanya raises her palms. “This job will tear you apart. It will make you question what you know, who your friends are, whether the floor is under your feet or up on the roof. You need one person who you can trust to the ends of the earth.”
I plan for everything, but I never planned for the fact that my babushka could be such a romantic.
The rest of the night, I pretend. I act like I expected this, like I know what I’m doing.
Like my mind isn’t already casting around for options.
I flirt. I dance. I smile.
I take the number of Mariana Vontov, a blonde ice-queen who I’ve never seen show an emotion in her life. She taps away at myphone with her shiny acrylic nails, and every whiff of her sugary perfume solidifies what I already know.
There’s only one person I can stomach the thought of marrying.
My plan hasn’t changed since she walked into my office.
The problem is, we haven’t spoken in five years.
2
NINA
“Did you hear? Some rich asshole is using our helipad.”
I can feel Lily’s excitement from across the room. I’m taking a very late lunch break — in the early morning, because I’m on the night shift — and cannot relate to her perkiness right now.
“I heard about the helicopter.” I shoot her a smile. She’s overly energetic about mornings, but Lily is nonetheless my best friend. She’s coming in for the day shift, and this ten-minute chat might be the only time we get together all week.
