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The attendant soon returns and sets down a jug of water and the desired espresso, alongside a glass of clear liquid for Alexei.
She notes my interest and grins. “Vodka. He is Russian after all.”
It makes me laugh. “He certainly is.”
As I stare at the menu, I can’t concentrate because so many things are running through my mind right now and the fact she is waiting patiently heaps the pressure on a little and I say with a sigh, “Just tell the chef to surprise us. It would be a lot easier.”
“Good choice, madam.”
She takes the menu and I say quickly, “Do you work all the time, or do you get days off with your family?”
I realize I’m prying into her personal life, but this whole set up intrigues me.
She doesn’t seem to care, though. “I have rostered days off and am part of three crews who alternate. We mainly work for Alexei but occasionally crew for other members of the family when the hours don’t work out.”
“It sounds an interesting job. You must have seen some amazing places.”
I kind of envy her because she enjoys seeing the world in luxurious surroundings.
“I love my job,” she positively beams. “But home is Moscow.”
I stare at her in surprise. “You don’t sound Russian.”
There is not a trace of an accent in her voice and if anything, I would say she’s American.
“I married a Russian.” She winks. “We met on board. He is one of the pilots.”
“So, you travel together. That’s amazing.”
She nods. “It is.”
I don’t know why that makes me so happy and I’m guessing it’s because it removes her from Alexei’s bed, and I hate how shallow I am. He doesn’t owe me anything at all and it’s no concern of mine who he sleeps with.
She leaves me alone and I lean back in my seat and picture life after Alexei Romanov. For some reason, I can’t picture it at all and I realize I am getting in too deep, despite my terms and conditions at the beginning.
As I stare out at the darkness, I feel at home. Yes, darkness is my friend because it’s never been any different and probably never will. If someone is out to kill me, I wish they would get on with it because waiting for it to happen is like living in hell.
CHAPTER13
ALEXEI
The minute I open the door, I know something bad has happened from the grave expression in Gleb’s eye and the two glasses of vodka waiting on the desk. He is sitting in the one opposite my usual chair and he stands respectfully as I cross the room to take my seat.
“Tell me.” I say roughly because there is no point in wasting words.
“I am sorry to be the bearer of sad news, Alexei.”
Gleb’s face is set in stone and my heart is thumping so hard he can probably hear it.
I stare at him with a hard expression, and he says reverently, “I’m sorry to inform you that your father passed away suddenly this afternoon.”
I say nothing and stare at him in shock as I struggle to process his words.
The seconds drag like hours as I try to understand what this means and then I nod to the glass on the desk and we take one each and hold them high, whispering, “May his soul rest in peace.”
I drain the glass, but it does fuck all to help with the pain I’m feeling right now. I sit down heavily as Gleb refills the glass and I shake my head.
“How did he die?”
