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Her state andmy chin, I say in my most confident tone, “You don’t know that either”

She crosses her ar” The pity in her regard intensifies “He told me so himself yesterday”

If she’d impaledher another glance, I walk out of the bathroom

Igor and a few guards I don’t know are waiting outside Dania exits onas if butter won’t melt in her mouth

The guards follow us quietly back to the hall Alex and Mikhail stand e arrive at our table Taiters ju out our chairs The appetizers have been served The others wait until Dania and I have been seated before picking up their eating utensils

“Is everything all right?” Alex whispers ina thumb over my shoulder

A shiver runs down my arm “Yes” I force a smile “Perfectly”

“I was starting to miss you,” he says in a husky voice

“Wine?” Mikhail asks

“Vodka, please,” Dania says

Feba gives her an approving nod

Mikhail flicks his fingers, at which a waiter approaches and pours vodka for Dania and wine for oes on about the sine that’s paired with the starter, but I tune him out All I can think about is Dania’s cruel words

There’s a kernel of truth in Dania’s argument Two, actually

One: will I forever be Alex’s puppet? He likes being in control Will he let me haveAlex by being in his life? Igor ihtseeing True, Igor believed I’d selfishly asked Alex to take ested we stay home, Alex still took the risk for my benefit, and that makesa negative i hi hiet?

Throughout the five-course dinner, the questions keep churning in my head I don’t remember what I eat and drink, or what the women talk about When it’s time for the keynote speech about nuclear power, Alex considerately translates forsaid in my ear

The content of the speech goes in one ear and out the other What sticks isconviction that this potential joint venture is important to Alex because he believes in affordable heat for everyone, including the less fortunate communities

It feels like forever before we say our goodbyes, which takes a good hour as Alex has inally for the first time

“What’s wrong, kiska?” Alex asks, draping an arm around my shoulder