"Goodbye, Madam Olga!"
She bolted from the room like a startled rabbit.
Seeing that pink envelope, I suddenly remembered what day it was.
February 14th. Valentine's Day.
I had zero interest in that fake holiday and its pink bubble bullshit.
Finally alone, I lit a cigarette. Let the nicotine settle whatever the hell was irritating me.
"You're an asshole, Kirill."
Olga watched me with that disappointed look I hated. "You could've handled that better. You just crushed a good girl's dignity. She only took that money for her brother."
"Doesn't matter who it's for. Same result." I cut her off. "Transaction complete. We're even. Now let's talk about our problem."
I crushed out the cigarette, walked to her, voice hard.
"This place is compromised. We cleaned up, but those Italians breed like cockroaches. You're coming back to the manor. It has the best security in the city."
"I'm not going back."
"Olga!" I raised my voice. "Stop gambling with your life!"
"I'm not gambling. I'm old, Kirill. I spent most of my life in that frozen tomb. If you're sending me back to live with nothing but bodyguards and servants, no one to talk to, you might as well let those killers come back and finish the job."
She paused. Stared into my eyes.
"I want you married. That's my only condition."
My head started pounding. "We've been over this. Genevie already—"
"I don't mean Genevie. I don't give a damn about that woman who treats you like an ATM." Olga cut me off. "I want you to marry someone simple. Clean background. Like the girl who just left."
She pointed at the door.
"I want you to marry Harper Evans."
I stared at her like she'd lost her mind, then laughed. Couldn't help it.
"Who? The nurse?"
"Her."
"That's insane." I unbuttoned my jacket and paced the room. "I'm not running a charity. You want me to marry some random caregiver? I barely know her."
"Trust my judgment. I'm better at reading women than you'll ever be." Olga crossed her arms. Non-negotiable. "If you don't agree, I'm staying here. And you know those Italians are coming back, right? Next time, you might actually be identifying my body at the morgue."
We locked eyes.
The room went silent.
She was serious. She'd actually die here over this ridiculous demand.
Damn it.
I took a deep breath. Forced myself to think.
