She eyes the stack of items. “What’s all this stuff?”
“Gifts.”
“For who?”
“For you.” I nod toward her building. “Lead the way.”
“Alexei, you don’t need to…”
“Lead the way, Zoya.”
She sighs, clearly knowing she’s not going to win this argument. She walks to the entrance, and I follow, carrying everything. The bear keeps bumping into doorframes. Zoya lives three floors up in a cramped building with tight stairways andpeeling walls. Once we arrive at her place, she turns the key but keeps the door mostly closed.
“Okay. You can leave everything here. Thank you for…”
I push past her gently, walking inside.
“Alexei!”
Chapter 4
Alexei
Iplace the items on her compact sofa and take in the miniature kitchen, the combined living room and broadcast area, and the single bedroom I can see through a partially open doorway. Everything is tidy but tight and clearly used daily.
“Your place is very cozy,” I say.
She locks her arms across her chest. “Keep rude comments to yourself. You’re barely permitted to be here.”
I turn to face her, taking a deep breath. I catch vanilla and a sugary scent in the air, reminding me of her. “It smells incredible in here. Really nice.”
She blinks, clearly caught off guard by the compliment. “Oh. Um. Thanks?”
“Go ahead.” I indicate the collection. “Unwrap those.”
“Alexei, I don’t need…”
“Open them, Zoya.”
She hesitates, then walks over to the couch. She picks up the boxed Birkin first, carefully removing the ribbon and opening it.
And right before my eyes, she freezes.
I watch her face as she processes what she’s seeing. Stacks of hundred euro bills packed tight, filling the entire bag.
“What the fuck,” she whispers.
She moves to the cash arrangement next and discovers the additional bills shaped like flowers, and her fingers tremble.
“How much money is here, Alexei?”
“Is the amount important?”
She laughs, then sets down the bouquet and starts unbuttoning her dress.
Wait. What?
“Wait.” I lift my hands. “What are you doing right now?”