Page 22 of Beautiful Deception

I don’t even let myself see him, even though it pains me.

A week goes by without any problems. Viktor doesn’t complement me again. Things are cool and civil between us. Mrs. Green accepts that I need a recipe to cook the food properly and finally allows it.

Everything is going well.

That is until Natasha Morozov arrives at the house.

“Who is she?” I whisper to Mrs. Green as we make dinner. Filet mignon and seasoned and roasted potatoes.

“From my understanding, Mr. Smirnov’s girlfriend. He told me he was inviting her over tonight for dinner.”

“Did he say that she’s his girlfriend?”

She shoots me a disapproving look. “Not in so many words but why else invite a young, beautiful woman over to your house?”

I sneak a peek at Natasha in the living room with Viktor. She’s effortlessly beautiful in a seductive kind of way. I can’t make out what she and Viktor are saying but I can see her smiling.

Viktor is smiling too.

For the past week, I’ve only seen his stern, closed off expression. It’s refreshing knowing that he has the ability to smile.

“Focus,” Mrs. Green snaps at me. “We need to finish this dinner.”

Once we’re done, it’s time to serve the meal.

Viktor and Natasha are at the dining table, having an intimate conversation judging by how close she is to him. For some reason, that bothers me.

She barely gives Mrs. Green a glance as she sets down the plates but when I pour the wine, her eyes find me right away.

“Who’s this?” she asks.

“This is my maid, Inessa, and my housekeeper, Mrs. Green.”

Natasha’s beautiful face turns twisted. “Your maid is younger than I thought she’d be.”

“Inessa does a good job. She’s a fast learner. And she helped make this meal. Let’s enjoy it.”

“Mmm.” She looks me up and down. “Well, I’m not sure I feel comfortable with you having such a young woman living in your house. Especially after we get married.”

I stumble as I head back to the kitchen. Married?

“I didn’t know Viktor is getting married,” I say to Mrs. Green when it’s just the two of us in the kitchen.

“Mr. Smirnov,” she reminds me.

“Sorry. Did you know he was getting married?”

“I didn’t but now I do. And what does that matter?”

It matters because I didn’t like the way Natasha was looking at me. She clearly doesn’t like that I’m Viktor’s maid. I can’t be out of this job. It’s the best thing that has happened to me in a long time.

Mrs. Green starts on the dishes while I press my ear to the kitchen door so I can listen in to Viktor and Natasha’s conversation. Is it wrong of me? Yes. But I need to know what my future holds.

“She’s so young,” Natasha says.

“Twenty.”

“Like your sister.”

---