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Forty-five minutes later, I’m fully dressed and I’ve applied a little mascara and lip gloss. For the sake of time, I’ve blow-dried my hair and pulled it back into a ponytail. I think the jeans, silk blouse, and jacket ensemble should do the trick.
I head out onto the landing and peer down to see Sebastian and a younger version of himself having a rather intense discussion in Russian complete with pinched brows and flying hand gestures. Nicolaus’s hair is a little wavier than Sebastian’s straight locks, but the color is the same chestnut brown. And the eyes, which suddenly flick up to me, are every bit Sebastian’s.
His expression softens a smidgen and the discussion ceases. Sebastian glances up at me but is still frowning as if I’ve disturbed a very important discussion.
“Hello,” I say with a little wave as I ascend the stairs.
“Hi,” Nicolaus replies, smiling now. I’d say he was equally as handsome as Sebastian but at twenty-one, he’s yet to completely lose the boyish look. While they have a similar build, Nicolaus hasn’t quite filled out with the same muscle mass as his brother and is about half an inch shorter.
Sebastian meets me at the bottom of the stairs. He pecks me on the cheek and then presents me to his brother.
“Nick, this is Dr. Madison Graham,” he says as he slips his arm around my waist.
Nick shoots out a hand in greeting. His grip is solid and tips me forward slightly.
“Wow,” he says in a thick Russian accent. “Bash told me you were beautiful, but he did not do you justice.”
“Down boy,” Sebastian jokes, gripping Nick by the shoulder.
“Very nice to meet you, Nick,” I say. “So, Bash tells me you’re a sophomore at Cornell University. How are you liking it?”
“Ah, it is a big waste of time and money,” he says rather heatedly. He then directs his gaze at Sebastian but speaks in English. “I can learn everything I need to know about running a business by actually running a business. Not sitting in a stupid classroom listening to ancient dribble. If you want to run a business you run the business not talk about it.”
And now I know what they are arguing about.
“You know Ekaterina wants you to finish your degree, Nick. It’ll break her heart.”
“No, I have had to spend too many years thinking about momma. I have to put me first now.”
“This is about your education and how you establish your credibility in the business world. We have to be the face of this company,” Sebastian says, “you and me.”
“No, you be the face,” Nick counters, “and I’ll learn from the ground up, working in the back of the scenes.”
In the background, I mentally correct him.
“Nick, you’re not dropping out of college, that’s final.”
Nick fires back in Russian. The next few exchanges are conducted in their mother tongue. But I get the gist of it. Sebastian comes across as the more sane, rational voice while Nick is getting angrier and louder by the moment.
Any second now, he’s going to blow and then go storming out of here into the cold. I scan the room for his coat. I have a feeling he’ll be needing it soon.
“Fine,” Nick says throwing his arms up. He turns and heads for the door.
“Nick,” I call out.
Apparently surprised to hear me, he turns and waits as I grab his coat. I hustle back over to him with it. “We really wish you wouldn’t go, Nick. But if you must, at least wear your jacket, it’s cold out there.”
He rolls his eyes, but a smile tugs at his lips. “You sound like my mother.” He takes the jacket. “Thank you.” He casts one last baleful look at Sebastian and then slips out the door.
“Idiot,” Sebastian says.
“He probably just needs to blow off some steam. Once he calms down you can try talking some sense into him.”
Sebastian shakes his head. “I worry about him. All he wants to do is take the shortcut everywhere. He just doesn’t get it.” He rakes his fingers through his hair and looks at me with a despondent expression. “He’s flunking out, his grades are shit.”
“Oh, no. Is it too late to get him some help?”
“He doesn’t need any help,” Sebastian says, walking toward the kitchen. “On his standardized test, he scored in the 90th percentile just like me. He’s just a lazy and immature kid who needs a boot up his ass.”
