Page 47 of Poisoned Roses

“Why all the questions?” She asks, her scrutiny a little unnerving. She is my mother and sees things I’d rather keep to myself, and she doesn’t wait for my answer. “This woman, the ballerina.”

“Tia.” I add, almost distracted by the mention of her.

“She is very beautiful.”

“What’s that got to do with anything?” I shrug. “I have met many beautiful women.”

“But none you asked to marry you. Tell me, Titus, what are they making you do?”

The chef brings in my usual order of scrambled eggs on rye with a side of bacon and interrupts the moment with a stroke of good timing. I will not answer her and I doubt she expects me to and if anything, it makes me understand her situation a lot more. We are no different, really, any of us. My father, her and I. All puppets of the State with Boris pulling the strings.

Tia is an unexpected complication in my execution of that because now we are apart, it’s as if something vital is missing from my life and I can’t think straight all the time I’m wondering where she is now.

After breakfast,I head to my den and a meeting with Simeon. Our usual start to my day and one that throws up many interesting facts.

He sits before me with his customary dark expression and I ask, “Any news on Nadia Solomin?”

“None.” He growls, “She has disappeared without a trace, which makes me wonder if she has help.”

“As in?”

He shrugs. “I’m not sure. The mystery is a distraction we don’t need right now, but ignore at our peril.”

He shakes his head. “Leonardo’s death convinces me he was executed and I wonder why? Then there is Nadia. Two members of the Bolshoi who have been eradicated. One murdered and the other missing. My first thought was to blame Fedorov, but what if it’s something else, or someone else entirely?”

I nod thoughtfully as my mind works to piece together the puzzle and I come up with nothing.

“Tatiana is at the Bolshoi.” He states simply, and my heart jumps at the mention of her name.

“Vladimir is responsible for her safety and has reported she arrived a few minutes ago after stopping for coffee.”

“Did she eat?” I’m not sure why I’m asking. Probably because I’m aware she has no food in the apartment.

“He ordered one of everything from the store. She protested but appeared grateful.”

I smile, happy knowing she has at least eaten, and that also surprises me. Surely, that is her business, but like the control freak I am, I take her involvement in my life personally. She is under my protection and I will make certain she is well cared for, no matter how much she fights against me.

“Her schedule?” I ask, reluctant to move off the subject of my latest obsession, and Simeon smiles, a mischievous glint in his eye.

“Rehearsals all day. The next performance is in three days, then they are booked to tour the Middle East.”

Something tightens in my soul as I picture Tatiana in another country. Free of Russia. Free from me.

“She will remain here.”

He lifts his eyes and I snap, “She has a wedding to attend. It’s obvious she can’t be in two places at the same time. After the wedding, she can join the tour if that’s what she wants. Until then, she stays with me.”

He nods, but I don’t miss the amusement in his expression and I sigh inside. Even Simeon senses something is different since she danced into my life and I say impulsively, “Ask Vladimir to collect her and take her to my apartment after work. We have a dinner to attend with um–”

“Clarissa Smirnov?” Simeon adds helpfully and I nod.

“Of course, thank you for reminding me.”

He laughs softly. “You’re welcome.”

As he leaves, I turn my mind to business. It’s always business and yet knowing that at the end of it will be a pleasant evening with my fiancée, I feel a lot better than I did just five minutes ago.

CHAPTER 26

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