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Alek nods, pleased with my selection. “Good choice. The food here is really superb.”
“So you come here often?” I innocently ask, reaching for my water.
“Yes,” he reveals casually. “A lot of my friends and I have used this place as a…” He quickly backtracks. “We enjoy their infamous pelmeni. Speaking of which, you must try them. I think you may know this dish as dumplings.”
Alek never backpedals. He’s always guarded with what he reveals. But his mistake has cost him as he let it slip that he and his friends frequent this place. Could some of those friends be a part of The Circle?
“Will I meet more of your friends?”
Alek smiles, gently reaching for my hand on the tabletop. “Yes, you will. You will be introduced to my world because now, you are a part of it.”
I blink once, stunned by his admission. If anyone bar a psychopath were to utter those words, I would be swooning, but coming from Alek, I can’t help but think he has an ulterior motive. “I will take care of you. I know all of this is very…” He searches for the right word. “Weird. But you will soon come to think of Russia as your home. As well as me.”
The evident sincerity in his tone once again throws me for a loop.
“I will try my best, but it’ll take some time.”
“I understand. I wouldn’t expect it any other way. Saint was right about you.”
I gulp, as hearing his name still hurts.
“He said you were different. And you are.”
“Is that why you treat me differently?”
Alek arches a brow, tightening his grip on my hand. “Differently?”
I have to watch my words. “I can’t help but compare your treatment of me to how you treated Zoey. You’re…kinder to me.” I choose that word to praise him because what egomaniac doesn’t like their ego stroked?
It works.
“You and Zoey are miles apart. You are a fine wine while she is…street food.”
This food analogy turns my stomach. Street food? Common? Easy? Basic? Is that how he sees her?
“I thought…what is the term you Americans use? Slumming it?” he proposes, looking at me for confirmation.
I nod slowly, insulted for Zoey.
“Ah, excellent. Slumming it would be fun. And it was at first. But Zoey was uncouth, and in the end, I wanted a lady. Besides, you are a challenge, and I like challenges. There is something quite extraordinary about you.”
His compliments are meant to leave me with the warm and fuzzies, but they only have me more confused. “Thank you. I think.”
My comment wasn’t supposed to be funny, so when a low chuckle leaves Alek, I stare at him like he’s an alien. “You are really one of a kind.”
Robert returns with our wine and carefully pours our drinks. “Have you decided what you’d like to order?”
Alek releases my hand. “Yes. Thank you. We will have a serving of the meat pelmeni. And I will have the steak. Rare. And the red beet salad.” He closes the menu and passes it to Robert.
I don’t know why I assumed he would order my meal for me, but him allowing me to do something simple like place my own order feels liberating. “I’ll have the cabbage soup. Thank you.”
I pass my menu to Robert who nods with a big smile. “Wonderful choice.” It seems we’re suddenly best friends because I am someone of “importance.” From his reaction earlier, I think it’s safe to assume he hasn’t seen one of Alek’s “girlfriends” before.
He makes himself scarce, leaving me alone to make small talk.
But what does one say to someone imprisoning them against their will? How’s the weather seems completely ludicrous.
A small thought scratches at the surface that once upon a time, Saint was also my captor, yet I had no issues talking to him.
