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Actually, no What else a to do with myself? “Do you need a hand in here?”

His eyes grow round “Absolutely not Mr Volkov will roast me like that lamb if I make you work in the kitchen”

I frown at the expression I hope he uratively, but after the last couple of days, it doesn’t sound as farfetched as it should

“On with dinner,” he says, speaking oes to the pantry

By the tiredients, I’ve finished my oatmeal and coffee I rinse my bowl and load the dishwasher while he whistles an unfamiliar tune

“Thanks for the breakfast,” I say on my way to the door

He lifts his head and gives an absent to chop the stalks off a bunch of beetroot

The sound of a vacuuwith earbuds in her ears She looks up as IIn return, I s the greeting that was on the tip of ue

For the rest of the day, I explore the house I find the DVDs and books Tie to distract myself for a while, but the stories don’t hold et lost in fiction

When I grow tired of reading, I pull on a T-shirt and yoga pants and go in search of the gyuard mans the door, but he steps aside for me to enter A fancy sound systeure out hoorks I select a lively pop compilation, surprised at Alex’s taste in uy, not a pop music fan Maybe this is just the kind of music he listens to when he works out

Choosing the treads feel like jelly It’s a good feeling I ran cross-country in high school and did a few 10Ks onso much in the past couple of years that I’ve let my fitness routine fall by the wayside Now I realize how much I’ve hts, but it does lessen some of my cooped-up tension

Thoroughly exhausted yet satisfied, I pull on a swimsuit, rinse off in the pool shower, and drift in the ater of the Olympic-sized pool Condensation runs down the sides of the skylight that lets in the sun The smell of chlorine reminds me of vacations when I was little The pleasant association relaxes e chaise with a view of the indoor garden, some of my level-headedness returns

Lena surpriseswith an infusion that she deposits on the side table before leaving quietly again I pick up the delicate porcelain cup and sniff the herbal tea It sht