Page 95 of Rule 3: Never Fake Marry the Coach's Son

“Respectfully,” Coach says after a few awkward moments have gone by, and tension floods the room with the force of a broken pipe sending out noxious chemicals. “My son and Dmitri are very devoted. I did question their romance, but I, um, have reason to believe that they are in an authentic, um, romantic relationship.”

His cheeks pinken. I’m sure he’s remembering the massage room incident.

“You do?” Tanaka frowns.

“They are very caring to each other.”

“Mr. Volkov’s romantic history has been well documented. The whole country is discussing immigration fraud. The Blizzards are becoming synonymous with deception.”

Shit.

“You understand why this is problematic?”

Everyone nods frantically.

“My other companies’ managers are complaining. This tarnishes my brand. The government already scrutinizes foreign businesses.”

My veins pulse. My head whirls. Every muscle aches.

Tanaka glares at Coach. “I do not like how this team is being run.”

Coach sits back. His lips press into a tight line. His fingers wobble, then he rapidly removes them from the table and places them on his lap.

I leap up. “Is my fault!”

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

Oskar

Dmitri lurches to his feet, trembling with a crazed expression on his face that I immediately despise. “Is not Coach’s fault. Is not Oskar’s fault. Is not Daniela’s fault. Is not—”

“We get the point,” Tanaka interrupts. “I suppose you want to tell us that it’s US immigration’s fault for having visa rules?”

Dmitri grimaces.

Daniela clears her throat. “Dmitri’s agent put him in a terrible position.”

Tanaka cuts her off with an irritated wave of his hand. “What is it you say in this country? Two wrongs don’t equal right?”

“Something like that,” Vince says. He seems less scared than the others. Tanaka doesn’t pay his bills. He’s probably regretting ever taking the Blizzards as clients.

Tanaka sniffs. I used to be excited about working for a famous tech billionaire, but that time has long passed. His words are less inspirational than angry. When I leave for grad school, I definitely won’t miss these meetings.

I hate the way he makes Dmitri feel. Dmitri’s emotions bounce off of him, violent and fearful, and I want to calm him and tell him it will be all okay.

But will it? Maybe not.

Tanaka is right about one thing: the media is enjoying ripping Dmitri and the Blizzards apart.

But my marriage to Dmitri feels more and more real every day. I want it to stretch on forever.

“I asked Oskar to marry me,” Dmitri says.

“Because Oskar was your boyfriend,” Daniela jumps in. “Your secret boyfriend.”

“Um, yes.” Dmitri’s face reddens at the lie.

And despite the fact that you could say this whole thing was a lie, Dmitri isn’t a liar. Not really. He’s thoughtful about his opinions and he’s not afraid.