Page 44 of King’s Promise

“I have my orders, Nikolay pays me.” She gives me a stern look. “Now, dress pretty; high heels, take your finest trench coat, and there is a gift on your dresser.”

“A gift?”

“Yes, now go, get out of here.” She steals my tea, of which I’ve only had six sips.

“Now?”

“You need to look like it’s your wedding day, it’s that amazing. I wish I had a romantic man like Nikolay.” For a minute I wonder about her personal life. I don’t want to pry but I’d like to know more about her. My inquisitive nature is never aslseep.

“What about you? Have you ever had a great love?”

“The greatest, he was in the military. I love a man in uniform.” Her eyes stare off as she recalls the past.

“What happened?”

“Oh, we fell in love, we traveled all over Europe, got married, had two kids, and he works in one of Nikolay’s warehouses. He was so handsome, he’s still a handsome man today.” She shrugs with a sigh. “We’re older, what can I say?” Her smile wanes and the nostalgic glimpse she had a minute ago have faded.

“Surely you can have romance,” I reply. I mean, is that it? One turns sixty and life is over?

“Still in love, just not young enough to go dashing about like we did when we were your age.” She pats my hand before she stands to empty our cups in the sink. “Now, get going, and have a great time. I want to hear all about it tomorrow.”

I leap off my bar stool to give her a hug. “Thanks, Hazel.”

“Get out of here,” she replies without hugging me. She doesn’t have to; I know she cares about me. Who else would look up the recipes with me online and try them out to get them perfect? She’s not one to use her cell phone for anything more than a phone call.

I heed her advice and mentally prepare for a night of what, I have no clue, but I hope it will be special. It’s been a long year, and it's only May.

My fiancé, a romantic? Give me a break. He’s anything but. However, it doesn’t prevent me from taking the steps two at a time to get to the mentioned gift. What could it be? My heart races as I throw my bedroom door open with gusto.

On the dresser is a small box. I know that color of blue from tabloid rags featuring ads for expensive things I can never afford. I run to the coveted gift, lift the lid, and to my surprise and joy I discover oval diamond earrings suspended three inches from the post, which is a nice diamond in and of itself.

I let out a whistle, these cost a fortune, and I regret, for a second, spending so much of Nikolay’s money today. I hold the jewels to my ears and look at myself in the mirror. They catch the sun’s rays streaming in my room and I’m infatuated with the magnificent colors of a rainbow dancing in front of me.

I gently tuck them back in the box. Nikolay must be thinking of me, why else would he go to the trouble? He’s a busy man, I see him for coffee or tea in the morning and dinner, other than sex, where he callously leaves me alone. He’s never going to spend the night with me, and I don’t dare to let myself think he’ll ever compromise.

* * *

It’sthree fifty in the afternoon when I walk down the stairs. I remember Grace Kelly, who my grandmother loved from the old movies, and hope I’m elegant enough to meet Nikolay’s expectations.

The earrings move with me and tug at my earlobes. My black, elegant cocktail dress and heels are from a designer to the stars. I carry the trench coat over my arm, my passport is secure in my fancy purse. Hazel’s never given me bad advice. I wish my mother could be my friend and help me, however, she lives more in the old world we left than the one we’ve built.

“Marvelous, Anya.” Hazel beams her approval.

I thank her as I reach the marble floor.

“I have the night off, so have a great time.” She turns to leave out the back as Nicolay appears with Pavel. Nikolay’s presence commands my attention. His square jawline and cleft chin remind me he’s as solid as his facial features. He’s still taller than me wearing four-inch heels

“You look lovely, Anya,” Pavel murmurs. His eyes no longer scrutinize me, I assume he’s accepted me into the fold.

“Thank you, Pavel.” I had my eyelashes extended at the salon and look up through them to view my fiancé. Warm sensations wash over like a low tide and my blood warms in my veins.

“I’ll be back in a minute.” Nikolay brushes past me and zips up the steps. He returns a minute later. I can tell he shaved, and changed, his cologne is fresh, and his eyes are bright reflective of his mischievous grin. “Follow me.” He puts his arm out and I slip mine through it as he escorts me to the waiting car.

“How was your day?” he asks when we’re on the road.

“Great, Katerynia and I had fun shopping. I put a dent in the credit cards.” The ends of my mouth curl up as I remember some of the purchases.

“It’s fine. You could buy a house with them.” He glances out the window as the sun sinks in the sky.

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