Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 100716 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 504(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 336(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100716 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 504(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 336(@300wpm)
I step closer, my voice trembling with fury. “It is a little too late to worry about me getting burned, wouldn’t you say, Mother?”
She scoffs as if my anger isn’t valid. “People will talk, and they will judge. Then once their curiosity rises to a point they can’t ignore as to why you picked her out of all the women in the world you could have settled down with, they will dig and dig and dig until all aspects of both of your lives are on display for the world to see. Is that what you want, Arkadiy? Do you want your dirty laundry aired for the masses to sniff?”
Just the prospect of my secrets being shared would usually have me backing away instantly with my hands held in the air, but it isn’t as easy to do this time. Mara fascinates me, and every red-blooded man knows obsession is the most potent drug on the market.
As my mother stands, her eyes flashing with determination, I suck in the scent of Mara’s shampoo, hopeful it will cool the fire raging inside me when she says, “This is not about your happiness, Arkadiy. It is about the image you agreed to present on behalf of our family when you made the decision you did years ago. Certain things are expected from you. Being involved with a single mother won’t fulfill those expectations. It could ruin everything.”
She places her hand on my shoulder, her expression softening as she vainly tries to display she cares about me. “I’m not asking you to step back solely for myself. This could destroy Riley as much as it could you. Don’t put her through more pain than necessary. She’s been through enough.”
I pull away from her touch, my heart pounding. I’m not shocked she is placing the entire burden of our family’s secrets on my shoulders. She has done it my whole life. But this is the first time she’s used Riley to get me on board with her plans.
Usually, she acts as if she doesn’t exist.
“Ark—”
“I need time,” I interrupt, my tone announcing I’m not making a suggestion. It is a demand.
“Time is not in your favor. Ballots—”
“I. Need. Time,” I repeat more forcefully.
“Fine.” My mother sighs, her shoulders slumping before she heads for the door. Never one to leave without having the last word, just before she exits, she says, “I just want what is best for you. You’re my only child, and I don’t want to see everything you’ve worked so hard for stolen from you because you’ve forgotten that being the head of the family means you sometimes have to make difficult decisions.”
I watch her exit, equally furious and confused. I know what she is asking is too much, but I can’t shake the feeling that she is also right.
I’m also super curious to discover why she left Riley out of the equation while referencing how many children she has.
20
MARA
“You should try it on.”
Even with my heart racing a million miles an hour from being snuck up on unawares, I keep my balk hidden. I doubt a day will pass when I won’t have to suppress the urge to squeal, but the more I work with Ark’s team, the more developed my skills are becoming.
I shouldn’t be so hard on myself. Even long-term employees struggled to hide their fright when Ark’s mother arrived out of nowhere for an impromptu visit at the beginning of the week. They scrambled in all directions, leaving me as the sole employee to officially welcome her.
She didn’t accept the hand I held out to her in offering so a woman as refined and influential as her wouldn’t be subjected to my annoying stutter. She dismissed my welcome with a gesture nowhere near as friendly and with her chest puffed out like a rooster.
The air stretching the material of her couture blouse deflated like a popped balloon when Ark halted my exit by snatching up my wrist. He gave me no indication I should be fearful of the repercussions of my cowardice when he told me he would meet me in the kitchen, but I must not be competent in his expressions, because I haven’t seen hide nor hair of him since Monday morning.
It is now Friday afternoon.
I stuff away my pathetic whine for a more appropriate time when the person who snuck up on me reminds me that they’re still present. “The color will contrast beautifully with your skin tone, and it will make your eyes even more dazzling.”
I finish taking in a one-of-a-kind Wilfred Iwona gown before spinning to face the voice. I’m not surprised by Riley’s arrival considering her high placement on Ark’s team, more relieved.
Riley and Rafael were the only two people who didn’t glare at me with disdain when I was introduced as the newest member of Ark’s team at the commencement of my placement. They smiled with their eyes before joining me in the kitchen for the impromptu brunch Ark had instigated but failed to attend.