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I get up early, too excited to stay asleep. I lay out the clothes I’m going to wear today, go into my en-suite bathroom, and run a hot shower. I strip down and jump in, letting the hot water wash the last of Arseny off me. I wish I didn’t have to, but if anyone smelled him on me, I’d be in deep shit.
Once I smell like coconut and blueberries, I hop out and wrap a towel around myself. I go to my room, sit in front of the mirror, take my circular brush and hair dryer, and dry my hair into large, bouncy curls.
It takes me a while to get it done before I dress in a pencil skirt, a button-up blouse, and a smart blazer. I put on black heels to match the whole outfit.
I pull my bedding off the bed and chuck it in the hamper for the maids to wash. They shouldn’t ask too many questions. My room now smells like my perfume anyway, instead of hot, sweaty sex as it did last night.
I put on some hoop earrings and apply some light makeup before I step out of my room and head downstairs. As I walk, I nearly bump into Kyle, who smiles at me.
“You look nice. Are you going somewhere special?” he asks.
“Meeting with Father. He wants to hear my ideas on something.” I smile back, feeling proud.
We walk to the dining room and sit down for breakfast. The scent of cooked sausage and bacon wafts in through the door when a maid walks in with my father’s paper and puts it in his place. He comes downstairs not long after that.
He kisses my head and sits down. “Good morning, Elena. Kyle.”
“Morning, Father,” we chorus.
Always Father. Not papa, or daddy, or dad. Just Father. It kind of sucks because it feels like there’s no emotion behind it, even though I love my father dearly.
The maids bring out plates of food and set it in front of us. I suddenly feel nervous, realizing this is my big shot. My hands shake slightly as I cut up my food.
Ethan walks in. “Good morning, everyone. Sorry, I’m late for breakfast.” He turns to the maid. “I’ll also have coffee, black, no sugar.”
“I’ll bring a pot, Mr. Sokolov,” the maid says, batting her eyes at him.
He smiles and sits opposite me while Kyle is next to me. Father opens his paper and starts to read it over as we eat. He’s buttered a piece of toast and scooped his egg onto it so he can eat while he reads.
“Elena, I hear you’ll be joining us today,” Ethan says as a maid brings him a plate with bacon, eggs, and sausages. He takes a slice of toast from the plate in the middle of the table and butters it.
“Yes, Father is letting me sit in on a meeting to see if I have anything to contribute.” He’s trying to rattle me. I know my brother. He’s old-fashioned and believes a woman’s place is as a homemaker.
That might have been good enough for Mother when she was alive, but I’m not settling.
“Just remember your manners. I tried to dissuade Father from this terrible idea, so I suggest you sit tight, keep quiet, and learn how it’s done.” He starts to eat.
“If I’m there simply to witness, then I see no point in going. Father said he wanted my opinion, and I’m going to give it.”
“Elena…”
“Ethan,” my father says with a warning infliction to his words. “I have asked for Elena’s opinion because she has some good ideas. If you are uncomfortable, you can sit out of the meeting.”
“Not at all, Father,” Ethan says quickly, but he gives me a dark look.
I simply look at him for a moment before I go back to my food. I wonder if Ethan bought the butchers without telling Father. Maybe that’s why he’s acting so resistant to me attending the meetings. He doesn’t want me to find out.
I finish my breakfast and sip on my coffee as my father folds his paper and finishes his breakfast. “I have a business to attend to after the meeting, so I suggest you three come in Ethan’s car. Darius will meet us there.”
He stands up, and we stand with him. I’m hesitant to go with Ethan in his car, but what my father says goes. Kyle lets me sit in the front and even holds the door open for me like a true gentleman.
Ethan gets in the driver’s side and glances at me. “I’m sorry for giving you a hard time.”
“It’s okay. Next time, though, don’t expect me to go easy on you.” I smile at my brother evilly, and he grins back.
“I hope you know what you’re doing, little sister,” he says as he starts the car.
We drive to my father's downtown office, and we all go straight to the boardroom, where a group of elderly men are sitting with my father. We sit on the opposite side of them, with Darius sitting closest to my father, who has arrived before us.
