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Vladimir doesn’t even love you, a voice argued.
But I love him. She swallowed. He deserves my loyalty.
And what about your little sister, whom you’ve always protected? What does she deserve?
Bree covered her face with her hands. She was stuck, frozen, equally unable to betray either of them. And time was running out.
If only fate could make the decision for her…
“Breanna.” She jumped when she heard Vladimir’s voice behind her. “I’m sorry if I’ve neglected you today.” He put his arms around her, nuzzling her neck. His voice was humble, as if he thought he was to blame for their estrangement. “I should work tonight. Paperwork for the new merger has piled up, and it all needs my signature by tomorrow.”
Twisting her head, Bree looked back at him, her heart breaking. He’d just told her exactly how to get Kasimir’s document signed. Was it fate?
“But let it wait until tomorrow.” Smiling down at her, he kissed the top of her head. “Shall we have dinner?”
But by the end of the night, Vladimir’s smile had turned to bewilderment. They slept in the same bed, a million miles apart. When Bree woke up alone the next morning, January 2, she realized two things.
Today was her birthday. She was twenty-nine years old.
And the whole meaning of her life came down to this one choice. Which of the people she loved would she betray?
Sitting up in bed, she looked at the gilded clock over the marble fireplace. Over half the time since Kasimir’s ultimatum was gone, and she’d done nothing. She’d neither tried to trick Vladimir into signing the dreadful contract, nor confessed the truth and begged him for help. For the past day and a half, since midnight on New Year’s Eve, she’d always felt one breath away from crying. So she’d pushed him away, to keep him from seeing into her soul. In response to Vladimir’s innocent question yesterday, asking what she wanted for her birthday, she had answered so rudely that she blushed to remember it now.
She couldn’t tell him what she really wanted for her birthday.
Freedom from this terrible choice.
Bree’s knees trembled as she slowly climbed out of bed and fell blearily into the shower. She got dressed in a black button-down shirt and dark jeans. She combed out her long, wet hair. She pulled it back in a severe ponytail.
Cold, she told herself as she slowly pulled on her black stiletto boots. My heart is cold. I am an iceberg. I feel nothing.
Tucking the document Kasimir had given her beneath her black shirt, she went down the wide, sweeping stairs in Vladimir’s
eighteenth-century palace, as if she were going to her death.
After so many gray, snowy days, brilliant sunshine was pouring in through the tall windows, leaving patterns of golden light on the marble floor. She’d been happy here, she realized. In spite of everything. She’d loved him.
Looking back now, Bree saw it had been enough. They’d been happy. Why hadn’t she appreciated that happiness? Why had she fretted, worried, groused about Vladimir’s one major flaw—that he didn’t want her to ever leave him? What kind of stupid flaw was that? Why hadn’t she just fallen to her knees in gratitude for all the blessings she’d had—so unappreciated then, and now so swiftly gone?
Creeping softly to the open door of his study, she peeked inside. Empty. Holding her breath, keeping her mind absolutely blank, she swiftly walked inside and stuck the page in the middle of the pile of papers she’d seen him working through yesterday. She would distract him today, and if luck was on her side, he would sign it without reading it. She felt confident he wouldn’t suspect her.
&
nbsp; He trusted her now.
As Bree left the study on shaking legs, she hated herself with every beat of her heart.
Perhaps having his company stolen wouldn’t hurt him too badly, she tried to tell herself. Hadn’t Vladimir insinuated that it had become a burden? “Money is just a way to keep score,” he’d said. Perhaps he would someday understand, and forgive her.
But even now, Bree knew she was lying to herself. Even if he was able to accept losing Xendzov Mining—even if he started over and built a successful new company, as Kasimir had—she was making herself his enemy for the rest of his life. The fact that she’d done it to once again save her sister would not gain her any points, either. He would despise her. Forever. Everything between them, every good memory, would be lost.
Bree walked heavily down the gilded hall, past the arched windows. She heard the sharp tap of her stiletto boots against the marble floor. Brilliant January sunlight reflected off the white snow and sparkling Gulf of Finland. She looked out the windows, and saw sun as warm as his touch. Sky as blue as his eyes.
Suddenly even walking felt like too much of an effort. She stopped, staring at the floor, her heart in her throat.
“Breanna. You’re awake.”
Blinking fast, she looked up. Vladimir was coming down the hall toward her, looking impossibly handsome in a white button-down shirt and black slacks. An ache filled her throat as she looked into the perfect face of the only man she’d ever loved. The man she was about to lose forever.
