Page 29 of Plus-Sized Bratva Prisoner

“I think we should start eating together. We don’t even talk. How are we going to get to know each other so that we can make the world believe we are really together if we don’t even talk?”

“Yes, fine. I’ll be at dinner.”

He nods, his jaw clenched, and his eyes narrowed towards me.

I know he’s annoyed about my mood. I just didn’t factor in living with him or being under house arrest with him while we pretend to be on honeymoon.

I’ve sort of been spending the last few days trying to ignore him because I don’t know how to deal with living with someone I don’t even know, but he follows me around, trying to talk to me, trying to get to know me.

I guess we’re having dinner together tonight, then.

I sigh and turn away, walking to my bedroom.

He’s right, though. If we want to make it convincing, we do need to know a little about each other.

I grab my book from the dressing table and flop down onto my bed. I don’t like sitting around and doing nothing, but at the same time, this is actually exactly the rest my body needed. It feels so weird to have time to read during the day, and just kick back with my feet up.

My body might go into shock because of it. I chuckle.

Th only responsibility I have while we are ‘honeymooning’ is studying. I have time off from the internship and both of my other jobs. Which is terrifying for me.

He wanted me to quit the other jobs, but I can’t do that yet. Because it means I would actually be fully trusting that Yefim will keep his word and I’ll be earning more money once I graduate. I’d rather wait and be sure that everything is going according to plan before I start taking that kind of risk.

***

At dinner time one of the housekeepers comes through to call me. I had actually drifted off to sleep and managed to rest for two whole hours. I can’t believe how good I feel after a little extra sleep. It just goes to show how much I’ve been pushing myself and how bad it would have been in the long run.

I guess I should really give Yefim a chance, try to get to know him better, because overall, this deal isn’t bad at all.

I give my hair a quick brush-through and pull it into a high bun, then head down to dinner.

Yefim is already at the table. He stands up when I arrive and goes around to pull my chair out for me.

“Thank you,” I say as I sit down, and he pushes it in behind me.

“Tia, I want to have all of our meals together. And I want to start going through some business plans with you as well. We need to do this properly if it’s going to work.”

“I know, I understand. I will be here at every meal.”

“And you are willing to look at business plans with me? I was going to go through some tomorrow morning after breakfast.”

“Yes, of course.”

He nods, satisfied.

The chef brings in a dish of mushroom risotto. It smells incredible.

“Oh my word, I love mushrooms.”

“Is that so? I will make note of it,” Yefim replies.

We sit together in silence for a moment before I resign myself to the fact that I need to try and make a little effort.

“What’s your favorite food?” I know, it’s so lame. Asking someone their favorite food or favorite color feels like I’m back in elementary school—but I know nothing about this guy. I have to start somewhere.

“Burgers. So American, right? But back home they made the burgers differently. Here—I just really like them.” He chuckles at himself.

“And what do you do when you aren’t at work? I mean—for fun?”

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