“Really? So soon?”
“Yeah,” I answered, chuckling.
“She clearly likes you, too.”
“Is that you, Mila?”
Anya and I looked to the side to see the owner of the voice.
It was Roman Lobanov.
“Roman, you know Mila?”
“Mr. Roman. It’s good to see you again.”
“It’s great to see you, too,” he answered, turning to Anya as he said, “I know her. Mila’s brains have helped me out with the business before. She worked with Konstantin, too.”
“Oh, wow,” Anya uttered. “When she was still an accountant?”
He responded with a nod.
“And here I was thinking I’d be introducing my best friend to you all,” she uttered.
“That’s not something to sulk over. You can still introduce her to the others,” he pointed out, his smile charming as ever. Then he asked me, “You’re no longer in auditing?”
“Done with it. I’m currently pursuing a Master's of Psychology.”
“I’m sure you’ll be great at that, too.”
“Thank you.”
“Even Konstantin will be surprised when I tell him you were here. He would have been here, but he’s out of the country with his family.”
“I would have loved to see Alina. I hope she attends the wedding,” I said.
“She’s attending. She has no choice,” Anya disclosed.
“That’s settled, then,” Roman uttered. “Make yourself at home, Mila.”
“Thank you.”
“I know you told me you’ve worked at one of the Lobanov’s clubs as a forensic accountant, but you didn’t say youknewRoman. And Konstantin. You’ve been holding out on me, girl,” Anya accused, squinting her eyes in mock suspicion.
“He was in charge of the club. I didn’t know him personally, only professionally. Same with Mr. Konstantin… it’s just that his wife was an old friend.”
“Don’t tell me you’re my best friend while she’s your best friend.”
“Anya! Can you calm down?” I inquired, chuckling. “I’ve not spoken with Alina in a long while.”
“O…kay.”
“If it’s not the latest bride-to-be,” a tall, lanky guy with black locks and a small smile came towards us.
“I need to take a break, bride-to-be,” I told her, slinking away before she could voice her protest.
I kept walking until I got out onto the rear corridor. The cool evening breeze made me sigh in relief. The sound was somehow muted, and the darkness made me feel more alone and less watched. The city stretched out beneath the night sky, glittering and distant.
“Oh, God,” I breathed, grabbing the cool steel railing with both hands on either side of my waist.
