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Konstantin tenses up like every joint has become ice. A large, muscular man in a spotless black tailored suit approaches and lowers his head when he sees Konstantin.
“Konstantin Yurevich, Alla Antonovna is here to see you.”
My gaze follows Konstantin’s as he looks at someone standing behind a wall of men in suits, and right away, I know what they are.
Bodyguards.
I know exactly who’s waiting for us.
“Is that?” I ask.
“Yes.” His jaw works as if he’s chewing something terrible. “My grandmother.”
28
EMILY
I’ve never seena woman as tall as her.
If it weren’t for the faint lines all over her face, I wouldn’t have guessed she was a day older than forty from the way she carries herself like a haughty queen.
One look and I know she’s definitely related to Konstantin. They share the same strong jaw and grim-set eyes, though her left one is cloudy from a cataract.
She adjusts her flowing, beaded tunic-style shirt over her wide-legged pants. The outfit makes her look bigger and more imposing than she already is.
I have a feeling that even if I were taller than her, she’d still find a way to look down on me.
“Dobriy den, Alla Antonovna,” Konstantin says. He stands like a steel rod has been shoved into his spine. “I didn’t think you’d come so soon.”
She flips her long, elaborate gray braid over her shoulder. “You knew I’d be here the second I heard from Gerasim Petrovichwhat you were up to. Leave.” She turns her eyes towards me. “I want to speak to this one alone.”
“Alla—”
“Don’t make me repeat myself.”
I’m stunned at the way Konstantin purses his lips and dips his head like everyone else does to him. He gives me a look that swims with concern, and my heart rattles faster.
Remember, I tell myself.This has to look real.
She’s the one both of us need to convince.
I do my best to straighten out my hair and make sure that I don’t have any signs of what Konstantin and I just did earlier. Is my face still flushed? Can she see just how much of a mess I was earlier?
Alla’s eyes zero in on me. The ferocity of her gaze nearly sends me stumbling backward. Konstantin is no more than a few yards away, but I feel like I’m alone on an island with this woman.
I clear my throat. “Nice to meet you, Alla. I’m?—”
“Your name isn’t important to me,” she says coldly. “I’ll forget it by nightfall.”
I wither under her tone. “Are you angry at me?”
“Does a dog feel anger at its fleas? No, my anger is reserved for my stupid grandson.” Her stabbing attention darts briefly to him before returning to me. “And thisridiculousidea of his.”
Heat makes the back of my neck sizzle. “Ridiculous?”
“Do you take me for a fool?” she smiles, but the smile never reaches her eyes. They continue to glare at me, as if I’m nothing more than a speck of dirt on her shoe. “I know my grandson’s worth. And it isfartoo valuable to be wasted on the likes of you.”
My jaw drops. I hadn’t counted on her words to hurt as much as they do. From the way Konstantin looked at her from the distance, I knew that this was going to be a tough battle to convince her that this fake marriage is real.
