It’s not about whether or not I want to have a religious wedding ceremony in Russia. That actually sounds kind of cool, even though I’m not much for organized religion. But once my father started talking about bringing a camera crew and all that, it took the joy out of it. I should be used to that but I guess I thought things with Viktor would be different.
I need to talk to him but I don’t know what to say.
Hey, by the way, I’m sorry I fell in love with you—I know that wasn’t part of the plan. So, can you please promise you won’t move back to Russia when you retire?
Is that a dealbreaker for me?
I don’t even know. We haven’t been together long enough to think about that kind of change. It’s easy to say, well, he left his country to move here, but he didn’t do that for me. He did it for the career he loves and is making millions of dollars a year for doing it. It’s not the same as taking me to a country with a tricky political climate, no friends, no career, and no way to have one unless and until I can learn fluent Russian.
There would be so many things to consider and it’s too soon for that.
So, I have to continue under the assumption that he’s still leaving and I’m not going with him.
And I have to figure out how to stay married to him for the next eleven months while falling out of love with him.
That’s going to be impossible.
What I really have to do is prepare myself for the inevitable broken heart.
I’m still overthinking every single one of my life choices when an email pops up from a financial conglomerate in New York. On Wall Street. I’d spoken with them months ago and they told the recruiter I used that they liked me but there wasn’t a position available.
And now there is.
Am I still looking?
Would I be available to fly out next week for an in-person interview?
Holy shit.
Wall Street.
That would be the dream for almost anyone in finance.
Maybe this is the sign I need to get off my ass and start taking my life back.
Viktor has been a lifesaver, but I can’t continue to rely on him. If I could be set up professionally, making good money, then the money he’s given me—along with the million I’ll get when we divorce—will be for my future. If I invest wisely, I can bring it back to where it was before Nathan lost it.
And then I’ll be completely independent and won’t have to rely on anyone.
Certainly not a man.
I quickly type out a response, indicating that I’m available and to let me know the details. Then I hurry downstairs to leave with Serena and Jayne. The kids are staying home with a babysitter so we can enjoy ourselves, and we stop on the way to pick up Kelly.
“Hi!” She slides into the SUV beside me with a grin. Serena is driving, Jayne is next to her, so the two of us are in the back.
Great.
Now I have to spend time with yet another person who doesn’t like me. Like Viktor’s mother hasn’t been difficult enough. At least his father likes me. I don’t know about Irina, but I don’t care that much.
I’m just tired.
I know he’s paying me a lot of money but I didn’t expect to have to battle people from every aspect of my life: my family, his family, even some of his friends. Not to mention Nathan is still buddy-buddy with my dad. I guess he assumes I’m too embarrassed about losing that money to tell my father he’s a liar and a conman.
“Guys, I was waiting for everyone to be here,” Jayne says as soon as the door closes behind Kelly. “I have news.”
“Do tell!” Kelly looks intrigued.
“I found an investor for the bookstore.”
