“How?”
“Because people will expect you to treat them as heirs. To give them a role in the business. To split your assets between all your children instead of just me.”
“They’re four years old, Maxim. They’re not a threat to you.”
“Not now. But in ten years? In twenty?”
I stand. “Your insecurity is showing.”
“This isn’t insecurity. This is a practical concern. I’ve spent ten years preparing to take over your operations. I’m not going to let two children derail that.”
“No one is derailing anything. You’re still my heir. That hasn’t changed and won’t change.”
“You say that now?—”
“I say it always. You’re my son. You’re thirty years old with a decade of experience in this business. Mila and Alexei are four. Even if I wanted to bring them into the organization eventually, you’d still have seniority, experience, and position. Stop looking for threats that don’t exist.”
Maxim crosses his arms. “What about Anna? What’s she getting out of this?”
“What do you mean?”
“She hid your children from you for years. Now the truth is out. What are the consequences for her?”
“That’s between Anna and me.”
“Is it? Because she made you look weak. She embarrassed you. In our world, that usually has consequences.”
“She’s my wife.”
“She’s a liability.”
“Watch yourself.”
“I’m just stating facts. She lied to you. She kept your children secret. She’s caused a situation that threatens our organization’s reputation. If she were anyone else, you’d handle her.”
“She’s not anyone else. She’s the mother of my children.”
“So what? You give her a pass because she had your babies? That’s not how you’ve operated for thirty years.”
I move around the desk until I’m standing directly in front of Maxim. “You’re angry because you feel threatened. I understand that. But directing that anger at Anna is misplaced.”
“She’s the reason we’re in this mess!”
“She made choices that created problems. Yes. But she’s also the mother of Mila and Alexei. That matters.”
“Since when? Since when do you care about things like that?”
“Since I found out I have a four-year-old son and daughter living under my roof. Since I watched them cry when they learned I was their father. Since I realized they’re mine and I’m responsible for them.”
Maxim shakes his head. “You’re getting soft.”
“I’m being realistic. The twins exist. They’re mine. Fighting that reality helps no one.”
“And me? Where do I fit in this new reality?”
“Exactly where you’ve always fit. As my son and heir. Nothing has changed except you now have younger siblings.”
“Half-siblings.”
