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Understanding dawned on her face. “Romanov is yourmemento mori.”
That’s exactly what it was. It meant I only had one job before I died. I would answer blood with blood.
29
KATYA
Right before spring break, a miracle happened. Kristoff agreed to let me to stay on campus. It seemed like Baran’s lobbying had paid off after all. Of course it came with a few conditions.
“Let me get this straight,” I reiterated, with my butt perched on top of Kristoff’s desk. “I can stay at the dorm because Baran wants me to monitor my roommate? A roommate he married?”
I wasn’t sure how I felt about being used as a spy. No, scratch that. I knew exactly how I felt—insulted, because the only reason Kristoff had agreed to my request was to help Baran out. I was beyond miffed but had suspected Kristoff’s sudden agreement to let me move out would have an ulterior motive. He always had one, but I was fine with it. Anything was better than living under the same roof with him, as the tension between us seemed to grow every day. Every time I saw him, I wanted to jump him. The barely veiled heat in his gaze told me he felt the same. He just wouldn’t act on it. At least, not again. I ached for him, yearned for his touch, like some horny teenager. It was embarrassing. So when he said he’d changed his mind about me living on campus, I had jumped at the opportunity.
He steepled his fingers and leaned back in his chair.
“That is correct.”
When he didn’t elaborate, I sighed. “Tell me again why Baran got married? I thought he was allergic to marriage.”
Kristoff smirked. “It was a shotgun wedding. I think you jinxed him when you suggested he should just marry another woman to avoid being forced to marry the girl he supposedly impregnated.”
Some men in this house led lives no novel could encapsulate.
“So he agreed to be forced to marry this new girl, Lily, to avoid being forced to marry the chick from Istanbul?”
Kristoff arched a brow. “No one can make Baran do anything he doesn’t want to. It’s more likely that he married this girl because he saw an opportunity. You know, one stone, two birds.”
In a conniving way, that did seem to make sense after all. “I understand why he changed his mind, but what about you? Why this sudden interest in meddling in Baran’s marital affairs?” It wasn’t like Kristoff at all. Not unless he was benefitting from this somehow.
He eyed me closely, and my cheeks pinked. Damn, my body reacted to him instantly. It was so embarrassing because he didn’t seem phased by me at all.
“If you stay here, I will end up fucking you.”
I blinked. Smooth he was not. Honest, yes. I had no words for that.
“It goes without saying that you would do your own laundry,” he continued. “And the cooking, and every other thing students do on campus. There will be no Olga to take care of those needs.”
He looked a bit too gleeful for my liking.
I huffed. “You can wipe that smile off your face. I can take care of myself, you know. I didn’t always live in a house that served homemade croissants and freshly brewed Brazilian coffee for breakfast.”
He nodded. “I’m sure you will make do. Yuri, on the other hand, may not enjoy going back to microwave mac ‘n cheese or cardboard pizzas.”
Right. I’d almost forgotten about the second part of Kristoff’s conditions. Yuri would join me on campus.
I jumped off the desk. “Thank you.”
Another nod, this time accompanied by a tense jaw. “I hope you find what you are looking for, Ekaterina.”
I already had. Sadly, he didn’t want me in return.
***
It took me a week to get somewhat settled into my new room. After Yuri had carried all my luggage in and I’d introduced him to Lily, the reality of my new life hit me. I’d never admit this to anyone, but I missed the mansion and the guys. I missed Olga preparing breakfast and keeping everyone on their toes. I missed the chance to encounter Kristoff in the gym, the library, or even accidentally when turning a corner.
Halfway into the second week of my stay, I finally felt like I was settling in. Lily was easy to live with. Thankfully, she wasn’t a slob and didn’t have drunk friends coming by at all hours. I’d heard stories from Yuri—apparently, those things happened regularly. I couldn’t imagine Baran ever letting some guy slobber all over his wife. For all his easygoing attitude, he clearly was possessive of her. Why else would he bribe me to keep an eye on her? I liked Lily and the romantic in me hoped they would work it out. Maybe she would even confide in him what had been bothering her this last week. I didn’t know her very well, but I knew something was going on in her life.
I turned off the shower and put a towel around my hair. I debated if I should ask what was on Lily’s mind when I came out of the bathroom.
