Page 117 of Cashmere Ruin

Suddenly, I’m overcome with the urge to pinch myself. Out of all the proposals a gal might expect, this certainly takes some kind of cake. Though what kind, I’m not sure. “That’s… wow.”

“Is that a good wow or a bad wow?”

“It’s a great wow.” Now that the initial shock is fading, I feel a smile slowly spread across my lips. “Seriously, I can’t even… Why? How?”

He shrugs. “Your idea was good. I want to invest.”

Invest.God, I can’t wrap my head around this. The only investment anyone’s ever made in me were bets forMost Likely To Fall Over During Cheerleader Tryouts. Needless to say, I won those guys some money.

“So Professor Simmons and the ‘others’…”

“They’re your R&D department,” he explains, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “You’ll have full access to the facilities, complete control over the project, and round-the-clock assistance. And of course, you’ll be paid.”

Okay, now, Ireallyhave to pinch myself. “P-paid?” I stammer.

Without a word, Matvey hands me a folded piece of paper.

At first, I think I must be reading it wrong. Then I wonder if there isn’t a mistake—an extra zero. Or three.

Then I pinch myself, hard.

Breathe, April. Just breathe.“Matvey, this is too much. I can’t… If you needed help, you only had to ask. I would’ve gladly done this all for free.”

“That’s out of the question.”

“But—”

“April.” Two strong hands descend on my shoulders. I have no choice but to tilt my chin up and let myself get captured by those ice-blue eyes. “I’m not doing this for you. I’m doing this for my men. It’s the right decision.”

I force myself to swallow back tears. All my life, no one’s valued me, and now…

Now, someone’s asking me to do what I love. Someoneneeds meto do what I love, and they want to pay me handsomely for it.

“You don’t need to hire me just because we’re together, you know. If you want to take my idea and… and ask someone more skilled, I’ll understand.”

“Is that what you think this is?” Matvey asks, a trace of impatience in his words. “I’m not in the business of mindless nepotism, April. If I was, I’d be dead and buried.”

“That’s not what I meant!” I hurry to clarify. “It’s just… Don’t you want the best person for the job?”

“I do. And I’ve already got them.”

This isn’t real. This can’t be real.“Matvey…”

His hand comes up to my cheek, catching a stray tear rolling down. “You don’t have to do this,” he says eventually. “You’re allowed to say no, April. But I hope you won’t. I hope you’ll take this job, you’ll take the money, and you’ll take the opportunity to sign your name on your first line of clothing. I know it’s not dresses and gowns, but…”

“No!” I shake my head. “No, it’s perfect. I… I just can’t…”

I stare at the number in my hands. The ridiculously high number. It’s silly to worry about money now, with Matvey backing our family’s every need, but it’s hard to shake it off—the insecurity.

“It’s still too much,” I whisper.

“No, it’s not. You’re worth it.”

You’re worth it.How long have I waited for someone to say that to me? How many sleepless nights? How many Band-Aids? How many silent tears evaporating on a tulle hum?

“Why me?” I murmur as a last resort.

Matvey’s lips twitch upwards. “Why not you?”

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