*
A - Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. Saturday. 7 PM. You’ll be receiving an invitation to a fundraising event. Women attendees only.
M - What do I tell Ivan?
A - Tell him my sister invited you. I’ll make sure you have proof.
How was he going to give me proof?
Moments later, my answer was provided.
Hi, Marisha! This is Katya Vasiliev. I’m helping to host a fundraiser for the women’s shelter downtown. My mother and I would love your attendance! Female attendees only. I’ll send over an official invite soon. Hope to see you there!
I stared at the message. It had come from a new number. Not Alexander’s, and no automatic match in my address book—my address book that Ivan had curated carefully. His control permeated every corner of my existence. It had from the second he’d saved me from execution.
A- Show Ivan the message from my sister’s number. He can even verify that it’s registered to her.
M - Is she helping you?
A - Not… knowingly. I borrowed her phone, deleted the message after sending.
M - You might have a future in undercover work. What about the official invite?
A - Oh, you’ll get one. Check the mail tomorrow.
M - So, I’ll see you there then?
A - Not a question, Marisha. I’ll see you there.
I deleted the messages, body already thrumming with the promise of seeing him. The botanical gardens were amazing, and the ornate year-round greenhouses were full of tropical flowers, mesmerizing colors, and intoxicating smells.
Shoving my phone into my pocket, I walked towards Ivan’s study and knocked on the door gently. “Ivan, can I come in?”
“For a moment. I need to make a business call.” His voice was dismissive and scratchy. He’d been drinking again, heavily.
I turned the doorknob and pushed the door open, smells of bourbon and cigars wafting into my face.
“Ivan, I’ve been invited by Katya Vasiliev to attend a fundraiser for the women’s shelter. Things are going well with the Vasilievs, aren’t they? I haven’t accepted the invitation yet but thought I should in the spirit of keeping up good relations. Of course, I’ll go with what you believe is best.” I leaned against the doorway, crossing my arms and smiling, making sure my words showed that I cared about what he thought, and that his opinion was the rule here.
He glanced up, his beady eyes funny behind the dark-rimmed reading glasses he only wore at home.
“Katya Vasiliev invited you? Evelina is not involved?”
“Oh, she is. But it was Katya who specifically invited me. Here.” I pulled out my phone and walked forward, tapping on icons and pulling up the message. I handed the cell to Ivan and he read over the message quickly, jotting down the phone number on a pad on his desk.
“Ah, yes. Only female attendees,” he focused on that fact, because it, and it alone, made the biggest impact on his decision. He would not want me attending a mixed function with other men, not unless he was also there to parade me around and show ownership. “It’s a good idea, Marisha. Accept the invitation if you receive the formal invite in the mail. Otherwise, you will only have this message to gain you entry to the fundraiser. It wouldn’t be appropriate. I’ll verify the number as well.”
“That makes sense. Thank you, Ivan.” I took the phone back from him and turned around to leave. I started across the room, almost making it to the door when he called my name.
“Marisha,” he said, stopping me before I could fully reach the door. “Remember to buy something new. And as I will not be attending with you, I want your body covered. Female attendees or not, there will likely be waitstaff and employees of the gardens.”
“Of course, Ivan. Thank you.” I pulled the doors closed, smiling at him, until he could no longer see me.
I would cover my body.
As long as Alexander was there to uncover it.
Chapter Fifteen
