“How have things been going with the business?” Emma asks. She prefers to call anything related to thebratvaas ‘the business.’
“Things have been quiet since we dismantled Callaghan’s organization. We gave most of his territory and land back to the city and they have plans for it,” I begin to explain. “Dmitri has done well with all of our security since the ambush and he and Maksim are working on a project for one of our properties in the Seaport District.”
“I’m glad. I also think that Dmitri needs to get a girl. He’s getting grumpier by the day,” Emma says with a chuckle.
I can’t help but laugh. “Like me, my brothers will find themselves a girl when the time is right.”
Emma snuggles into my side and is soon asleep. I’m looking forward to tomorrow for more than just Emma’s graduation.
The next day I find myself pacing the foyer while waiting for Emma to come downstairs. I’m wearing my dark gray three-piece suit with a pink tie. It’s Emma’s favorite of all my suits, and pink is her favorite color. I want today to be perfect for her.
“I’m ready,” she says from the top of the stairs. I turn to look up at her, and I swear my heart stops for a second. Emma could make a paper bag look stunning, and she wears her sundress and sandals like they were made just for her.
I will my cock to stay down as I offer Emma my arm and escort her to the car. The flight to Ithaca is less than two hours, and that’s followed by a short drive to the Cornell campus. Ilya and Igor are with us for personal security.
I’ve got a front-row seat to watch Emma walk across the stage and receive her diploma. Emma has a job waiting for her at Boston University that she’ll start next week. She also has a long-term goal of starting a food research foundation, and I’ll make sure that happens for her.
We get back on the plane, and there are roses and champagne waiting for us. Emma brought her dinner dress with her so we wouldn’t have to go home to change. She knows me well, because if we had to go home to change, we wouldn’t make it to dinner and there are people waiting for us at the restaurant.
I pour the champagne after takeoff and hand Emma a glass after she finishes changing. As always, she looks completely stunning in her dress that’s the same color as my pink tie. I have to adjust my hardening cock to keep it from jumping out of my pants.
“To you, Emma,” I say as I raise my glass. “I’m so very proud of you.”
“Thank you, Ivan. Thank you even more for loving me,” she says.
I watch as she raises the champagne flute to her lips, but doesn’t take a drink.
“Is everything okay?” I ask her.
“Maybe. I have something I need to talk to you about,” she says, putting her drink on the table between us.
We sit down, and Emma pulls out a box from the side pocket of her seat. She places the box on the table and slides it in my direction.
“I know we have dinner with family when we get back to Boston, but I wanted this moment to be a private one between us,” Emma explains.
“Uh oh,” I tell her as I start to open the box.
“It’s nothing bad. At least…I hope it’s nothing bad,” she says nervously.
I look at her in confusion as I lift the lid off the box. When I look at the box’s contents, I’m greeted by an ultrasound photo and a positive pregnancy test. I look back at Emma and see tears gathering in her eyes.
“Are you happy? Is this okay?” Emma asks, reaching for my hand as her tears start falling. I immediately stand and pull her into my arms.
“You’re having my child. Our child,” I say to her, taking her face in my hands and kissing her deeply.
“Babies,” she corrects. “I’m having our babies,” she says, holding up two fingers. My eyes go wide with shock.
“Twins?” I ask her while I try to process this information. She nods, and I fall to my knees to kiss her stomach. I notice only now that she’s a little firmer around her abdomen.
“Ivan, I want to keep this between us for now. It’s too early to share the news with everyone else,” she tells me.
“Of course. We can tell people whenever you’re ready,” I say, taking her glass and downing her drink.
I’m wearing what feels like a permanent smile when we walk into the private dining room at the restaurant. Everyone in our circle is here to help celebrate Emma’s graduation. Emma sits at the head of the table while I sit to her right. Normally, it would be the other way around, but Emma deserves it tonight more than any other night.
The chef created a custom menu blending Russian and Irish cuisine. Before we sit down, I pulled the waiter aside and discreetly told him to serve Emma and myself non-alcoholic drinks this evening. If she can’t have alcohol right now, then the least I can do is not drink alcohol with her.
As dinner winds down, I stand up and raise my glass in the air, tapping the side with a fork to get everyone’s attention. When everyone’s eyes are on me, I smile.
