She pouts. “You still could have bought me something.”
“Sorry. I was a little busy making a deal to marry a woman I’ve never met. You understand.”
Kira’s eyes widen. Her head whips back and forth as she looks between me and our father. “What?”
“Maksim is getting married, darling.”
“To who?”
“To a stranger,” I say right as Gregor says, “Natasha Sokolov.”
“Who?”
“Her father, Lev, works in Chicago,” Gregor says, shooting me an annoyed look that I ignore. “He has power. It’s a good way to keep the peace.”
“Did you meet her? What does she look like? I mean, this is all happening so fast.”
“No, I didn’t meet her,” I say, getting to my feet. “And I’m not going to until the wedding. Now, we’re done here. I’m going home to rest. I need it.” I leave the office before my father can stop me.
Kira follows me to the front door. “Maksim, are you ok?” Despite how much our father spoils her, she can still be sweet when she wants to be.
“I’ll be fine. Just have the weight of the world on my shoulders right now. No big deal.”
“I’m worried. If Dad is willing to marry you off to make a deal, when will he do that to me? I know I’m twenty. I’m of a marrying age. I knew this day would come.”
I try to give my sister as reassuring of a smile as I can but judging by her expression, I know I fucked that up too. “You’re off the hook. For now. It’s me who has to do this. And I’ll be fine. Don’t worry. Just focus on the pretty earrings Dad gave you.”
She frowns but doesn’t say a word as I leave the house. I really need a fucking drink to get through all of this.
In just a few weeks, I’ll marry a woman I’ve never met.
Chapter Two
Natasha
Iwatch from my window as three men I’ve never seen before leave my house. They’re all tall and wearing suits and exude power. They remind me of my father.
I want nothing more than to ask my dad who those men are but I don’t dare. He doesn’t appreciate it when I ask too many questions. Docile and sweet is what is expected of me.
So, I force myself to sit down on my window seat and fold my hands in my lap and wait like the good girl I’ve been taught to be.
Eventually, my father comes to see me. “Natasha,” he says from the doorway, standing tall. He always did have such a large, commanding presence. It’s only made me feel smaller around him and I’m already small enough.
“Dad.”
“I have some news. You’re twenty now. An adult. It’s time for you to go out in the world.”
My heart rate spikes. I’ve never done that before. I haven’t wanted to. The world is a scary place and I prefer staying at home, even if it’s around my domineering father. As long as I stay by myself, no one can hurt me. I like it this way.
“Oh?” is all I can say.
“I’m sure you were looking out your window. I know you do that a lot. Did you see those men who were at our house?”
I swallow hard. For some reason, even doing something as simple as looking out my window feels wrong when my father says it. “Yes.”
“They live in New York. They came to make a deal with me. One of them is going to marry you.”
It takes everything inside of me to stay seated when all I want is to run. “Marry me?”
