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Alexei deserves my best efforts. Then if people don’t soften, that’s on them. I turn back to face the camera again, and this time, I try to be as honest and sincere as I can.
“I’m very good at a few things, things no one cares about in politics. One of them is racing horses. One of them is defending myself. And the last one?” I look right at the camera and pause. Then I say, “Telling the truth, and you all know that’s the worst thing anyone can do in politics, right? So if you want to hate me, go right ahead. Throw paint or eggs or something at me. Despise me in your homes. Slander me in your newspapers and on the streets. At the supermarket. I don’t care. But what you shouldn’t do is blame Alexei Romanov for liking me, because the things he doesn’t hate about me are the same things that give him a reason to take this terrible job and try to serve you. He sees the good in flawed people. I’m guessing that describes most of you almost as well as it describes me. And none of us are good enough for him, but he cares about us anyway. That’s the reason you should vote for him right there. He’ll look the world in the eye and tell them all that he loves you, even when you’re not perfect.”
I turn on my heel, and I walk toward the edge of the stage, leaving Pavel to splutter and stammer until someone shows up with some cue cards for him to read. I’m nearly to the stairs when Alexei walks on stage across the studio. He’s smiling.
“Isn’t she brilliant?”
Of course everyone cheers for him.
“Much like all of you, things have not always been easy for Adriana. She’s had to fight for what she wants, and she had to fight to protect herself in a world that never gave her what she deserved. She’s had terrible men who stood in her way. She’s had to deal with bigotry and sexism. She’s had to overcome struggles, and she’s had to forgive the people who wronged her. But in spite of all of that, she’s a little spitfire, and she always helps the people who need it. I’ve seen that, and now you’ve seen enough to believe the truth in what I’m saying.”
He walks toward me, and he holds up one hand, ducks his head a little, and waves for me to come back. I groan, but I listen. Walking back out there feels like being forced to chat with someone I just bawled out.
It’s uncomfortable.
“This is a little unconventional, but I hope you’ll forgive me. The news media outlets haven’t been very kind to my girlfriend since they found out we were dating. Not just media outlets, either. Some of you on chats, on webpages, and on message boards have called her names, and they’ve even demanded that I should dump her.” He shakes his head. “I will give my all to Russia as its president, but one thing I’ll never do is let anyone dictate what’s right and wrong in my personal life. I do love Adriana Strelkova, with every part of my being.”
He drops to one knee and turns to face me.
“I want to marry you.” He looks over his shoulder, a boyish grin tugging at his lips. “That’s my answer to all of you asking me to dump her.” He leans forward, and emphatically says, “In case I wasn’t clear, it’s a very firm no.”
“Alexei,” I say.
“I’m sorry,” Alexei says. “I couldn’t hear her. Did anyone else?” He looks around. “Did that sound like a yes? Or was it a no?”
“Alexei Romanov,” I say. “Stand up right now.”
“Not until you’ve said you’ll marry me.” He pulls a black box out of his pocket and holds it up. “Your sister told me you would want the largest, most ostentatious diamond I could possibly find so that everyone who ever treated you like crap would gnash their teeth in jealousy and rage when they saw it.”
How embarrassing. My cheeks heat up furiously.
“This is what I came up with.” He whips the lid off, and I’m suddenly staring at the largest, sparkliest diamond I’ve ever seen.
“Alexei,” I say.
He stands up. “They say the third time’s the charm, and guys, she’s now said my name three times, but she’s never said no. I’m taking that as a yes.” He slides the ring on my finger—it fits—and then wraps one arm around my shoulder. “I hope that all of you will celebrate with us as we plan our wedding. It’ll be in your hands whether Adriana marries the President of Russia. . .or just another guy.” He leans closer to the camera one more time. “I think we’ll be just as happy either way.”
He’s waving when the camera cuts off.
I cannot believe my eyes when they start showing me the responses online. They continue to roll in, even while we’re all at dinner.
“You have got to be kidding,” I say. “People love me, in spite of me. Alexei’s just that charming.”
“I think you might not be giving yourself enough credit,” Kristiana says. “I was watching you up there too, and I wanted to be as cool as you. I think you may have made some real fans tonight in your own right.”
“I thought you looked awesome too,” Mirdza says. “But then, I always do.”
When I go to bed that night, I can’t help staring at my new ring.
“I was worried you were going to say no,” Alexei says.
“Yeah, right.”
“I was.” His eyes soften. “Do you like the ring?”
“I hate that Mirdza knew just what I would want. I hate it even worse that you said it on live television.” I can’t help my smile. “But I do love it.”
Alexei’s smiling as he slides under the covers.
