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When I don’tfor the front of the house

I stand frozen to the spot, gaping What’s gotten into him? I understand that he’s under enormous stress, but that’s not a reason to behave like a jerk I want answers, but now is obviously not the time to press him

Dragging in a few deep breaths, I bite ue and march to the stairs as Alex crosses the foyer Just as I reach the bottoor enters Alex pauses in his stride

“You have visitors,” Igor says, closing the door behind hiate”

Alex pinches the bridge of his nose and tilts his face to the ceiling “Fuck What shitty ti”

Igor shifts his weight “Shall I tell them to come back later?”

Alex blows out a sigh before facing Igor again “No” His jaw bunches as he looks at the door as if he can see through it “Mikhail will consider turning the at ht expression, “You’d better hang around for a while longer before you go to our room”

I balltreated like Alex’s subordinate He may be one of the arch, but I’m still my own person I’ve worked hard for my independence and confidence I won’t let him undermine those qualities just because he has more power than I do

Before I can openfour cars pulling up in the driveway Like us, Mikhail and Dania travel with bodyguards A man exits the first car to open the back door of the second vehicle A slender, pale leg is exposed as Dania gets out, her skirt riding a little too high She unfolds her body gracefully and brushes a hand over her hip to straighten her skirt Dressed in a red figure-hugging two-piece withheels and a fur coat draped over her shoulders, she’s the epitoal as she waits for her father to coear with caps depicting a labyrinth logo, which I presume to be Mikhail’s emblem, they make their way to the door

It’s too late to escape, not that I’d leave her alone with Alex I trust her as far as I can throw her Her bathroos clear in my mind

Alex extends a hand when Mikhail reaches him Except for the stiffness of his shoulders, he doesn’t betray his stress His face is composed and his manner controlled—a practiced mask “Mikhail This is an unexpected surprise”

Three guards stay outside Four step inside the house before Igor closes the door They stand at attention near the entryway, blending in with the furniture

Mikhail shakes Alex’s hand “You couldn’t make it to dinner, and we haven’t heard frolance at his daughter “Dania insisted we check on you She orried” Dipping his chin, he studies Alex “We both were”

“We were in the States,” Alex says “I told you”