“What’s wrong? What’s happened?” I demand. She’s never called me before.
“Oh,” her soft voice breathes into the receiver. She sounds distant. Weak. My heart pounds faster.
“Annika, answer me,” I demand, gripping the phone tighter. “Are you safe? Where’s Yana?”
“Kirill, I’m fine,” Annika answers in a rush. “Everything’s fine, I promise. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have called.”
I close my eyes and blow out a breath of relief. This woman was going to give me blood pressure problems before I hit forty.
“No,” I reply. “You’re supposed to call when you need something. So tell me what you need.”
I can feel her hesitancy through the phone, but what she eventually says has me letting out a ridiculous laugh.
“What?”
“Ice cream,” she repeats, and I can’t help but smile. “I know we have people to get stuff for us but I figured since you were still in the city you could get it here faster. But if you’re too busy I understand, I’ll send someone-”
“No, it’s fine,” I promise. And surprisingly, it actually is. I’d rather her call for a craving than an emergency. Though from what I know about pregnant women, cravings actuallycanbe emergencies.
“You called at the perfect time,” I tell her. “I’m just finishing up a meeting and then heading home. What kind do you want?”
“Butter pecan caramel crunch, please,” Annika replies. “They make it at this little ice cream shop on the Upper East Side. It’s called Sprinkles & Swirls.”
It’s a ridiculously cutesy name for an ice cream shop.
“I’ll get it,” I promise her.
“In the biggest size they have, please,” she adds, her tone suddenly sheepish. Again, I can’t help but smile.
“Of course,” I reply. “I’ll see you in twenty minutes.”
I hang up with her and take in the worried looks around the table as I return.
“It was my wife,” I explain, not bothering to sit back down. “She’s pregnant and has a craving for ice cream.”
Words I truly never thought I’d say in a business meeting.
“Oh, Kirill, that is fantastic news!” Eva gushes, rising to her feet. “Congratulations.”
“I was just going to ask how your new bride was doing,” Tolya says, rising with a grin, “Obviously you two are getting along well.”
“It was a beautiful wedding,” Eva adds. “Please tell her that I will reach out soon so we can get better acquainted.”
I don’t miss the distrustful look that passes through Edik’s eyes as Tolya and Eve give Annika their well wishes. He’s wary of her. Worried for me. Even though I tell him I’m keeping her at arm's length, I know he doesn’t believe me.
“I certainly will,” I reply to Eva. Then to the both of them I say “And thank you both for your help. Call me tomorrow after Edik gets you the list. I want to know how you’re going to start.”
“Don’t say a word,” I say to Edik as we get back in the town car. I give the driver the name of the ice cream shop and he takes off.
“You’re getting your enemy ice cream?” he asks, ignoring my command.
“We don’t know that she’s the enemy,” I reply, more defensive than I mean to.
“I just want you to be careful,” Edik replies. “I can’t watch over you in your bedroom.”
“Maybe you should,” I say with a devious chuckle, “Maybe it would teach you a thing or two.”
When Edik doesn’t laugh with me, I drop my smile and shake my head.
