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“What do you mean, no? It's important.”
Unwavering, he crossed his pale skinny arms over his chest. “No means you cannot see the boss. Get back inside. Now.”
Huh?
Tiny sparks of irritation fueled my veins. I clenched my teeth, glaring with a wish that I could tackle him to the ground and make a run for it. I needed to strike where it would hit the most. If there was anything I had learned about my father’s men, it was that a bruise to their ego did more damage.
I moved my feet forward. “And who put you in charge, huh? You're just a boy.”
He cursed in Russian and took a menacing step towards me. His pupils narrowed to slits and his hand reached for his belt. My eyes flickered to his waist. A dagger was sheathed there.
My heart dropped to my stomach. I should have known no one who ever worked with Alexei remainedjusta boy. The young man could be an eleven-year-old, and being groomed in such a hostile, toxic environment, he would still know how to wield a dagger.
I touched the wrong button.
“You little—”
“Arseni! Don't.”
Both our heads snapped to the side. An older woman, in her mid-sixties, with silver hair, twinkling gray eyes, and in a housekeeper’s uniform pranced towards us with a disapproving shake of her head.
She waved her hand, swatting him away as if he were a fly.
“Come on now, move away from the young lady.” Her Russian accent was smooth but thickly laced with every word.
The look in his eyes said he was unimpressed and not interested in moving an inch. “The boss's orders. She staysinside,” he growled with his eyes locked on mine.
“Nonsense.” With a tsk, her hand fell on my wrist, and she pulled me away with a force unnatural for a woman her age. My legs moved before my brain did.
“Alexei has a soft spot for his poor old housekeeper. He'll listen to me. Now, move young lad. I'm sure you have more important work to do than standing post by a door.”
Very reluctantly, he shut the door with a loud angry bang and stomped down the hall. I glanced over my shoulder, strutting beside the lady.
Dangerous or not, he really was a boy.
“Never mind him dear,” came the fruity voice beside me. “The boss gives him a small assignment, and he gets in over his head. That one. Will do anything to prove himself and earn his respect.”
A small chuckle left her lips, and she shook her head. She'd scolded him and talked about him nevertheless fondly. It made me think they had a better relationship than I thought.
“I'm sorry,” my voice was feeble and barely audible. “But where are you taking me?”
Her brows furrowed. “To see the Alexei? I overheard you tell Arseni you had something important to tell him.”
“Oh.” I swiped my tongue across my lips.
Quietly, we walked down the hallway, my heart beating rapidly as we passed more doors and tasteful art designs on the wall, I didn't have the time to inspect.
I stole a glimpse at her smiling face. “I didn't, uh… I didn’t get a name.”
“Sarah-Jane Konstantin. But Sarah's fine.”
So, this was Sarah. I couldn't say I expected her to be an old lady, but… I guessed I could stick with this nice version.
“And I see the dress fits you quite well.” I pulled the flimsy sleeveless cotton fabric, desperately trying to get the hem below my butt cheeks.
I wouldn’t have said itfit quite well.Uncomfortable sounded like a much better description. The short summery jumpsuit, which she referred to as a dress, was not my style. It showed too much…skin.
“You changed the dresses in the wardrobe,” I murmured.
