“So she’s desperate for money.”
“Very. Which explains why she came to you expecting payment.”
I turn from the window. “What’s her connection to Anna beyond university?”
“They’ve been friends for eight years. Lina was Anna’s roommate for two years before Anna moved back in with her parents after the twins were born. According to social media, they were close. Regular outings, dinners, events. Then Anna married you, and the contact stopped.”
“Anna cut her off.”
“Or Lina became resentful when Anna’s circumstances improved.”
Both are plausible. Both lead to Lina showing up at my office with information she thought was valuable.
“When will the results be ready?” I ask.
Pavel checks his watch. “Four more hours. The lab is expediting, but DNA analysis takes time.”
Four hours.
I sit back down at my desk. “I’m working from here until then. Hold all calls except emergencies.”
Pavel nods and leaves.
I try to focus on the contracts in front of me. A shipment agreement with suppliers in Singapore. Updated terms for the Moscow distribution network. Standard business that requires signatures and approval. But my mind keeps circling back to the twins.
Alexei crashed into me this morning in the hallway. Green eyes looking up at me with careful assessment. The way he considered my suggestion about strategy was instead of dismissing it outright. Is that mine? That calculating nature?
Mila’s sharp response when I said predicting movement was winning, not cheating. The immediate defense of her position. Anna does that. Argues every point, refuses to concede. But is it genetic or learned behavior?
I’ve barely interacted with them. Anna has made sure of that. Every time I get within proximity, she intervenes. If Lina is telling the truth, Anna has been keeping my own children away from me while I lived in the same house.
That level of deception requires intent. Planning. She recognized me at the wedding. She knew I was their father. And she chose to say nothing. Why?
Fear, maybe. She saw what I do, who I am, and decided her children were safer if I never knew they were mine.
Or spite. Keeping them from me as punishment for forcing the marriage.
Or strategy. Information is leverage. She might have been planning to use the truth later when she needed something.
None of these options make her look good.
My door opens again. I look up, ready to tell Pavel I said no interruptions.
It’s not Pavel.
Anna walks in, closing the door behind her. She looks exhausted.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
“I came to talk.”
“About?”
“About whatever you’re planning.” She crosses her arms. “You’ve been different today. Distracted. Watching the twins like you’re studying them. What’s going on?”
“Nothing that concerns you.”
“Everything about my children concerns me.”
