"Why?" Rihanna pressed.
"Drop it, Rihanna. We're from different worlds. He already... anyway, it's over."
I changed the subject. Couldn't handle this humiliation anymore.
Rihanna opened her mouth to argue but stopped herself.
She sighed and pulled out her phone. Her tone shifted to forced cheer.
"Fine, fine. Big deal." She patted my shoulder. "So what if one Russian guy has no taste? We'll find you another target."
I forced a bitter smile, about to say something to lighten the mood, when my phone buzzed faintlyin my bag.
Quiet, but loud in the now-silent room.
"Your busted phone's ringing." Rihanna jutted her chin.
I sniffled and pulled it out absently. I hadn't replaced it in ages. The screen was so shattered I could barely swipe to unlock.
The text was distorted by cracks, but I could still read every word.
"Tonight, 8 PM. Plaza Hotel, top floor restaurant. Dress nice. We need to talk. —Kirill."
I froze. Nearly dropped the phone.
"What?" Rihanna snatched it off the blanket. "Let me see..."
She squinted at the screen.
One second of silence.
Then a shriek that could shatter eardrums.
"Oh my God! Oh my God! This is a date! This is definitely a date!"
"Quiet! Quiet!"
The door flew open. A heavyset head nurse poked her head in, furious. "This is ICU! One more outburst and you're all out!"
"Sorry! Sorry!" Rihanna apologized, then checked her diamond Rolex. "Four-thirty. Hope Emily's still at work... even if she's not, I'm dragging her out of bed. She's the only one who can tame that haystack on your head."
Without waiting for a response, she grabbed my wrist with a grip like iron and hauled me like a sack of potatoes.
"Let's go!"
"Where? I need to stay with Aiden!" I stumbled.
"Stay nothing! What your brother needs is a hot brother-in-law!" She dragged me toward the door, waving back at Aiden. "Bye, Aiden baby!"
"Uh... bye?" Aiden sat there holding half a cupcake, bewildered.
We burst into the hallway.
Finally, I shouted, "Rihanna! Where are you taking me? I haven't even decided if I'm going!"
Rihanna stopped dead and whirled around, eyes blazing.
"Harper Evans, listen up."
