Andrei won't listen to reason about my father. He's convinced Alexander is the enemy, that there's no negotiating with him. But Andrei doesn't know my father the way I do. He doesn't understand that underneath all the ruthless business decisions and strategic maneuvering, there's a man who loves his daughter. Who would do anything to get her back safely.
If I could just see him. Talk to him face-to-face. Convince him to stop arming Andrei's enemies and negotiate in good faith?—
It could work. Itwouldwork.
I just have to convince Andrei to let me try.
I swallow hard. I have power over Andrei. I know I do—I see it every time he comes close. I’ve seen it every time he touches me. If I use that to my advantage, I could convince him.
It feels like a shitty thing to do—to use his desire to manipulate him. Like he’s making me more like he is. But the things he’s done are so much worse. And if I could stop all of this…
Maybe the end justifies the means.
I tell myself that, and I never let myself think, even for a second as I start to plan, that I’m doing this because it gives me an excuse to touch him again. To let him touch me.
To go against what I know is right, and have what I want, for just a few more moments.
—
I waituntil later in the evening, after dinner. My door is left unlocked, and I change clothes after I eat, putting on a blue slip dress that brings out my eyes and suits my coloring. Barefoot, I pad out of the room and down to his office, noticing how the men I pass give me a wide berth. They don’t look at or speak to me. Whatever Andrei said to them, I don’t know if it’s fixed whatever resentment there might be over the situation, but it’s definitely kept them from so much as acknowledging my presence.
When I knock at his door, I hear him call to come in. I push the door open and quickly close it behind me, and then stand there, the wood cold against my bare feet as I watch him register my presence. His eyes widen, and he sets down the glass of vodka that was in his hand. His shoulders tense slightly, and he pushes his chair back a little, away from whatever he was working on.
I swallow hard, and take a few steps closer. "I have an idea.”
Andrei’s jaw works. "No."
I let my lower lip pout, just a little. His eyes flick to my mouth for a split second. "You haven't even heard it yet."
"Don't need to." He looks away, reaching for his glass. "Whatever you're about to suggest, the answer is no."
I take a slow breath, and walk closer, all the way to his desk. I press my hands against the edge and lean forward, letting the neckline of my dress dip. "Let me meet with my father."
His expression hardens instantly. I see his gaze dip to my breasts for just a moment, before he looks away again. Despite the look on his face, I feel a flicker of hope, even when he speaks again and says: "Absolutely not."
I give him that pout again. "Just listen?—"
"I said no, Liesl."
"He'll negotiate if he sees me," I press on, ignoring the warning in his voice. "If I'm there, in person, telling him to stop this war—he'll listen. He has to. I'm his daughter."
"You're also leverage." Andrei’s jaw clenches. He’s trying not to be distracted by me. I can see it. "Walking you into your father's reach would be the stupidest strategic decision I could possibly make."
"Not if you're there. Not if you control the meeting location, the security, all of it." I move away from the desk, circling around the side of it, getting closer to him. I see him tense, but he doesn’t move back as I stop a few inches away. I wonder if he can. If he can make himself put distance between the two of us. "You can protect me. I know you can. And if it works—if he agrees to stop arming your enemies—this whole thing ends. No more war. No more of your men dying. No more complications."
"No more of you making me weak?" His voice takes on that mocking note that I’ve come to recognize.
"I don't make you weak." I lean one hip against his desk, the fabric of my dress tightening across my stomach. His eyesflick down the length of my body and back up. I hear his breath quicken.
"My men seem to think otherwise."
"Your men are wrong." I inch slightly closer. "You're the strongest person I've ever met. Nothing I do or say changes that. But this war could cost you everything if it continues. You know that."
He stares at me for a long moment. "You think your father will negotiate in good faith."
"I think he'll negotiate if I ask him to. In person, he won’t be able to ignore the situation I’m in." I bite my lip. “It’s hard to believe that what you’ve been telling me about him is real. But if it is… maybe he just needs to see me. To remember that his daughter is the one at risk in all of this. It will make it more real.”
Andrei draws in a breath and lets it out. “So now you believe me. Convenient.” His eyes narrow.
