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“I know that,” I bite back. “Who’s coming home?”
“Alex. He’s bringing his mom, too,” Felicita tells me, and I feel the numbness make a return. I fight hard to keep my focus. The pounding in my chest distracts me.
“Why is she coming? Doesn’t she have a life?”
Felicita sighs. “She’s coming to visit her grandchild. She wants to spend some time with us. She’s going through a messy divorce. Leave the woman alone.”
I left her alone. I just don’t fucking understand why she can’t give me the same courtesy.
Måns’ heavy steps announce his return. He doesn’t look us in the eyes. I’ll have a word with my men once my head is clear. I need to strategize and reconsider my behavior.
Once again, I fucked up. This gym costs too much money for me to destroy it the way I did. I’ve left it in shambles.
Måns hands my sister a set of keys, and he quietly departs the room.
“What are you planning?” I ask her.
She suggests, “Let’s go somewhere together. Away from all of this.”
CHAPTERNINE
IVY
It’slike the Fourth of July, but the Katantian version, out there.
I’m hiding under Smolyakov’s covers.
“Bitch, get out of my bed! Danai and Malena are already downstairs waiting for us,” Smolyakov informs me. He’s pacing around the room, making final adjustments to his outfit. I didn’t even bother with a concept. I put on a pair of jeans and a random blouse. My hair’s a mess again.
“Do we really want to go? It’ll be another snob event,” I tell my friend.
He groans in frustration. “Stop lying to yourself. It’s a celebration. Free food, free drinks, and free dick. What else can I ask for? Get the fuck out of my bed. Now.”
I drag myself into an upright position. “Fine.”
“Damn it. Fix your hair. Fix your look. Where are you going like this? I know you treat the Queen of Katantia herself, but you can’t go out like this! They’ll think you’re homeless or worse, a prude!” Smolyakov leaves his bedroom. When he returns a couple of minutes later, Danai and Malena appear by his side. Astounded, they go to work on me. Danai disappears for a couple of minutes only to return with a dress like what she’s wearing.
They help me into the clothes, sorting out my shoes as well.
In ten minutes, I look like a revamped version of myself with my thigh-length tight dress and heels. My insides still feel like trash, so my frown remains the same.
“Now, this is a look!” Malena comments. “Hotter than the IG thots!”
I sigh. My head hurts from all the coffee I’ve had.
“Bitch, fix your face. Whatever’s going on in there….” He points a finger at my brain. “Isn’t worth it. You live in the best country in the world. You work however you please. You owe zero money. You’re the shit. Get that in your little brain, and let’s go. I’m tired of your moping around!”
The women agree with him.
I grab my bag, and I follow them downstairs, where our car is waiting. Danai’s husband doesn’t seem the least bit irritated at the delay. He greets Smolyakov and me with his usual warm smile.
The ride to the palace is endless. My toes hurt already, and I haven’t even walked them properly.
Danai and Malena gawk outside of the car’s windows, squirming in excitement at the fireworks. There are drunks everywhere, and I feel like I’m back home on St. Patrick’s Day. Green is everywhere since it’s the color of Alex’s team. There’s no music in our car since Smolyakov despises the sound of anything other than his Tchaikovsky. The noises coming from the outside fill our ears with chaos. American music blasts, frantic Katantians chant along. There’s sex all over the place. Of course, there would be. It’s Katantia, after all.
They’re celebrating Alex like he’s their hero.
In many ways, he is. Alex Winters makes their queen happy, and he keeps their country in the news. Despite all the superficial attention he earns daily, he is a good man. In the few times that I’ve met him, he was inquisitive about his family’s progress in my care.
