Page 37 of Beautiful Deception

“I’m upset with you.”

“I can see that. Why?”

“Last night. The party. The cake. You ruined it. Why did you do that? You’re going to make this household look terrible. You’re going to make Mr. Smirnov look bad.”

“How did you even find out about that?”

“Mr. Smirnov told me over breakfast when you were sleeping in. Need I remind you – you’re not allowed to sleep in?”

“I slept in an extra five minutes. I don’t think that really counts.”

“It does,” she snaps, grabbing the swifter away from me. “Now. Leave my sight. I don’t want to look at you.”

“I didn’t ruin the cake, Mrs. Green.”

“Then who did?”

Natasha’s name is on my lips but I tamp it down. If Viktor marries her, then she’ll move in and I can’t upset the woman of the house. I’ll be fired for sure.

It’s better to just stay quiet.

Mrs. Green huffs. “That’s what I thought. Go clean the kitchen. You didn’t do a good enough job last night.”

I do as Mrs. Green instructs, knowing it’s just easier to comply than to fight. That’s how I’ve always lived my life. If I didn’t, I would have been screaming at my dad every night for years.

As I move about my day, I can’t stop thinking about what will happen tonight. Viktor wanted to talk to me about the events of the previous day. What if he’s going to fire me? I almost drop the laundry basket in my arms at the thought of it. Already, I’ve saved up four thousand dollars. Since Viktor is paying me under the table, I haven’t declared taxes on the money. I know it’s wrong but I need every dollar I can get right now.

I still pay for my dad’s motel room but that’s just two hundred dollars a week. Everything else I’ve left for him to figure out. If he needs food, he can make his own money to get it.

I’ll need more money if I am to find my own place someday. If I am to support myself long term without Viktor’s help. Right now, I don’t have to pay for rent or food. He supplies all of that. But I know I won’t be able to work for Viktor forever and when that day comes, I need to have as much money as I can to buy food and shelter.

I’m so distracted by what will happen tonight that I almost leave the chicken in the oven to burn. Mrs. Green scolds me once more.

Viktor returns home and Mrs. Green serves him dinner while I hide out in the kitchen. I’m not ready to face him yet.

Dinner goes by way too fast and then before I know it, Viktor is calling me into his office.

Mrs. Green shakes her head disapprovingly as I leave her in the kitchen. I don’t need her judgment right now, making me feel worse.

“Inessa,” Viktor says, sitting behind his desk. He looks so powerful. So handsome. Except, I shouldn’t think that about him. He’s not my man and he never will be. Even if he knew I was a Bratva daughter, he would never marry me. I don’t have money or connections. Nothing to offer him.

“Have a seat.”

I sit down with trembling legs.

“You’re nervous. Why?”

“Are you going to fire me?” I blurt out before I can stop it. “I just need to know.”

“I’m not going to fire you. You don’t need to worry about that.”

I sag in relief.

“But.”

His one word makes me sit up straighter.

“There’s something I need to talk with you about,” he continues. “Finn told you about what I really do for work. I’m going to be honest with you and I trust that you can be loyal to me and not tell anyone else. Not even Mrs. Green.”

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