The simple domesticity, juxtaposed with the reality of who Dmitri is, the life he leads apart from the billionaire CEO, husband, and father, is the compromise we live in. Our sanctuary is the paradox he is.
“Collins & Sterling will be lucky to have you,moya lyubimaya.”
The major law firm represents everything I’ve been looking for: global reach, unimpeachable ethics, and a reputation built on case law, not firepower. They specialize in high-stakes corporate litigation, and I know they want me because my relentless drive, my experience, and my unnerving ability to handle pressure make me a desirable candidate. But what they don't know is how I gained that coolness under pressure.
“No doubt they were impressed by your experience and intelligence, but most partners only read about it in sealed documents.”
“That's why we chose them. It has to be a challenge, and it has to be legitimate.”
That’s the whole point of our elaborate plan. After thebratvacouncil meeting a year ago, we have been making plans to ensure things change and that our world shifts to accommodate the structure of our worlds coming together.
The danger will never disappear entirely. I will always be married to a man who rules a Russian crime syndicate with an iron fist and does what he must when required. To ensure I willnot be subsumed by it, we weave a protective layer of legality and influence around me, my career becoming a fortress.
We knew, especially after we married, that working for Smirnov Corp. made me vulnerable. My name was intrinsically linked to his operations, making me a prime target for anyone looking to destabilize Dmitri, as Andrey had attempted to do.
Both of us know I will always be his weak point, but I am also his strong point. And when I follow my dreams to become a powerful and respected lawyer with an unimpeachable reputation in the legitimate world, my public profile becomes my shield; attacking me suddenly requires a far greater political and legal cost. The high-profile legitimate world will watch me, andthatis the protection Dmitri depends on.
I remember the night we began our plan.
“Do you think you can change the game for me?”
“I cannot change the game, my Clara. I am the game. But I can assure you that every move I make protects your position. You are the queen to my king. I will engineer a world where you are protected and untouchable.”
And that's what he's done. The resources, the connections, the strategic advising he’s poured into my career plan are staggering. This interview wasn't just a possibility; it was an inevitability we orchestrated.
“And now that you’ve seen the firm firsthand, what are your thoughts?” he asks, pulling me back to the present.
“It's efficient. They're good. But their managing partners are weak on international negotiations because they're stuck on old corporate structures.” I pause, the lawyer in me analyzingthe situation. “I could dominate their international regulatory division within six months.”
Dmitri chuckles, a deep sound that vibrates in his chest, but Mila sleeps on. “That’s my girl. Good. You will dominate them, and then you will take the experience and all their best practices, and you will build something better.”
For a time, we watch the joyful chaos that is Rockefeller Center during the holidays, with the giant tree, the music, the crowds, and the skaters. He chuckles again.
“I would never in a million years have guessed you would appreciate something so—” he pauses, obviously at a loss for words.
“Touristy?” I offer.
“Celebrational,” he counters with a small, amused smile.
I shrug. “I don’t, usually. But I remember seeing this place on TV as a kid and wanting so badly to come here. Our small townwas too far away, and my dad worked too much and made too little after Mom left. I didn’t get to see it in person until I got into Columbia. Even now it’s still magical, with the lights, the music, the people skating. I know it’s ridiculous and commercial, but…”
I shrug again because I can’t find the words to explain. I brush a strand of hair back from my face, and the lights catch the diamond on my finger. It glimmers, a bright, defiant star against the backdrop of our complicated life.
“The key,” Dmitri continues our earlier conversation, his voice low, “is the practice you open. It must be a perfect shield, a firm so clean and brilliant that anyone who questions your loyalty oryour sources is immediately dismissed as a fool. You will have a legitimate reason to know everything and everyone.”
I look at him, at the face that holds both the promise of brutal violence and the deepest commitment. This man who is my supportive husband and who has, with his strategy, given me the autonomy I crave and demand by building a structure that maximizes my potential and my security. It's the only way a man in his role, a man who lives in the shadows, can truly support a woman in my position.
“So, I'm your long-term insurance policy?” I tease.
His arm tightens around my shoulders. “You are my everything, Clara. You are my center. This firm, their power… it is your legacy, protected by mine.”
He hands Mila to me, transferring her warm, little body into my arms. She molds perfectly against me, instantly finding the comfort of her mother. I can still faintly smell Dmitri on her, over the baby scent and laundry soap.
I raise my head to look into the fierce eyes of my husband. Dmitri has given me a sword, and the possibility of a brilliant career beyond the shadows of his world.
“I love you,” I tell him. It is a statement of fact, a promise, an acknowledgment of the extraordinary life we have built.
“And I love you, my brilliant girl.” His gloved hand cups my cheek, his kiss as fierce as it is loving and desirous.
