Page 197 of Dark King Daddy

She had called me on Wednesday after winning the restoration commission. I had been halfway through a meeting with Anton when I heard her say, “I got it,” and then say it again because she couldn’t quite believe it herself.

Anton had heard enough to start grinning. We had abandoned the meeting and taken her to lunch.

I still thought about her face when the waiter brought champagne. She had kept reaching for the drawings in her bag, trying to show us things between courses.

“You know you’re allowed to celebrate without giving a presentation,” I said now.

“I don’t think that’s the case,” she replied, with a twinkle in her eye.

I bent over the paper.

She shifted the stool to make room for me.

We stayed there for several minutes. She explained what the entrance had looked like before someone partitioned it into offices. I asked about the stair. She showed me an old photograph, pleased that I had noticed.

My phone vibrated. The electrician could come that afternoon. I showed her the reply.

“My hero.”

“Finally.”

“Don’t become difficult. It’s provisional.”

I bent to kiss the side of her neck. She lifted her shoulder, laughing, and tried to keep drawing.

“I have to get dressed.”

“A shame.”

“Work boots. Hard hat. Very glamorous.”

“You could keep the shirt.”

She looked down at it.

“I was going to.”

“I need twenty minutes at headquarters,” I said. “Then I’ll meet you at the gate.”

“Twenty minutes with Arkady?”

“The business will take five. The insults take longer.”

“Tell him I’m expecting him tonight. He still hasn’t answered my message.”

“He’s coming.”

“He can tell me himself.”

I smiled.

She pointed her pencil at me. “And you can be on time, too.”

“Yes, Ksenia.”

“I like that tone. Use it more.”

She caught my wrist before I could leave and pulled me back for one more kiss. No joke this time. Her hand rested against my cheek, her thumb moving once along my jaw.