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“Yes, yes” Mikhail pulls off his leather gloves “However, you didn’t tell me that you’re back”

Lena appears on cue, rushing across the foyer to take Mikhail’s gloves and coat

“Dania,” Alex says, acknowledging her with a nod, but he doesn’t kiss her cheek when she tilts up her face

I don’tof her eyes

“I hope you don’tsweetly up at Alex

“Not at all,” Alex says, returning her smile It doesn’t reach his eyes “You remember Katerina”

Dania and Mikhail turn their attention to me

Mikhail givesin s “Of course How are you, Kate?”

Lifting ood, thank you for asking How about you?”

Raising his ar tilt of his lips, “As you can see”

“It’s lovely to run into you again,” Dania says to aze over me “Nice?”

“Thank you,” I say, ar-sweet tone “You look… formal? Are you on your way to an event?”

Lena, who’s taking Dania’s coat, sives her a hard look, she quickly busies herself with hanging the coat in the closet

Dania chuckles “This is ”

Alex holds out an are “Shall we?”

He leads the way

Looking around, Dania falls in behind hied around here It’s about time a woman redecorated this stuffy old place”

“Dania,” Mikhail says with repri his taste”

“I know Alex’s taste,” she says, swaying her hips as she follows hie “It’s modern, like his house in New York”

The jab hits me hard, just as she intended It’s meant as a reminder that she’s seen the inside of his house, and more specifically, the inside of his bedroom It was before he knew ht noould

“Would you like a drink?” Alex asks,for them to take a seat on the sofa “Vodka?”

“Tea fordown next to her father “I’m parched”

Alex takes a seat on the couch and pulls me doith him To Lena, who stands in the doorframe with her hands folded in front of her, he says, “Tea and vodka, please” Looking at me, he asks, “What would you like, Katyusha?”

“Tea is fine, thank you,” I say