“For what? I thought we had moved past this.” I reached over to grab a half-finished cigarette from the nightstand, then rested against the headboard as I lit it. “I would have dressed for you if I knew we had a date. I don’t usually see guests in only my underclothes.”
“I come only to strike our deal, nothing more.”
My eyes flicked up to stare at her, a slow grin crawling across my face as I took a drag of the cigarette. “Based on the weapon, I take it you mean to accept?”
“I want to renegotiate first.”
I gestured around me to an invisible crowd. “I am but a willing audience.”
“No marriage, you agree to keep the tenets and cause of my Nest, and you and Luka live with us,” she mumbled the last one, but I heard her.
“Counter—all of the terms mentioned,andyou are my wife.”
“Is that really your dealbreaker?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because it is fun to anger you, my dearest.”
She was silent, the pistol on her knee shaking as her restless leg bounced.
“I will not share a room with you.”
I groaned in irritation. “Fine.”
“You have to take on all financial responsibilities of theentireNest, not just me.”
“I assumed as much.” I lifted a brow at her, waiting for her next inevitable demand.
There was another pause of silence.
“I want an allowance.”
“How much?”
“Three thousand a month.”
“That is all?” I scoffed. “I thought it would be more. You can have access to all my money if that is what you want.”
More silence.
“Alina?”
“Yes?”
“Are you making these terms up as you go?”
Yet another silence from the shadow.
“I want thirteen oranges in my room at all times.”
Now she was just being difficult.
“If you want oranges, I will get you oranges.” I tapped the cigarette in the ashtray. “Come here; do not treat me like a stranger. Negotiations don’t have to be so cold.”
“I have to go back.” Her voice wavered.
