Page 35 of Preferential Treatment

Her frown deepened. A moment later, it resolved. “Ah.” She nodded knowingly, not a trace of judgment in her expression. “Something for Kate Pasternak?”

“Yes.” Mikhail didn’t discuss his personal life with her, but Sarah had managed enough of the details of his last two arrangements—payments, reservations, gifts—in addition to the current one with Kate, that she certainly understood the nature of the relationships.

“Do you need an answer right away?” Sarah asked.

He shook his head. “No.”

“Then I’ll do some research, figure out what looks plausible.” She paused. “And legally above board.”

“Thank you.” He returned his attention to his phone, bringing up Kate’s texts again.

I’m always good for you, Knyazhna.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

“What are you grinning about over there?” Anna asked, shooting Kate a bemused, but suspicious look.

Kate hastily tucked her phone into her back pocket. While Mikhail had a few free hours in Shanghai, she’d been sending him on a silly scavenger hunt—giving him commands like, find something green and round, and, find something small and hot.

For the first, he’d sent her a picture of an arched bridge over green water. The arch was reflected in the still water, which in turn reflected light against the underside of the bridge, creating the illusion of a perfect green circle. For the second, he’d sent a picture of cubes of meat being grilled on skewers at a street vendor’s cart. It was a fascinating way to see a part of the world she’d probably never be able to visit.

For her most recent command, Find something tall and thorny, he’d sent a picture of himself. He was stone-faced, as always, but there was a glimmer of humor in those dark eyes.

You’re not thorny, she’d replied.

I thought it said horny, he’d answered back.

It was such a stupid joke and Kate should have seen it coming from a mile away, but the fact that it had come from Mikhail had caught her completely by surprise, and she’d nearly laughed out loud right there at Anna and Jason’s table. She was lucky she’d managed to restrain herself to a manic grin. She’d been halfway through a reply when Anna had caught her.

“Nothing,” she said lamely.

“It’s a man,” Theo said with bored certainty.

Anna brightened, leaning forward. “Really? Who? What’s he look like?”

“It’s not a man,” Kate lied with such obvious transparency, she might as well have said, “It’s definitely a man.”

Everyone laughed at her, even Jason. She gave him a wounded look. Et tu, Brute? But he just shook his head, grinning through that thick black beard.

“Alright, fine, it’s a man. But it’s not serious.”

“Is this the friends-with-benefits guy who was blowing up your phone last week?” Naomi asked from the other side of the table.

Kate glared at her. “Wow. That was a complete violation of our roommate agreement.”

Naomi’s eyes went wide. “What? I’m sorry, I didn’t—”

“You broke the seal of confession.” Kate shook her head sternly.

“She’s not a priest,” Theo put in, amused.

“What happens now?” Anna looked cheerfully between Kate and Naomi. “Is she defrocked?”

“How do you defrock a roommate?” Jason asked. “Wouldn’t that be eviction?”

“She can’t defrock me,” Naomi objected. “I’m on the lease.”

Kate silently patted herself on the back for her artful diversion while everyone else debated a suitable analogue. When the conversation began to peter out, Kate gestured impatiently at the game board in the middle of the table. “Are we going to finish playing, or what?”

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