Page 30 of Scarlet Promise

“I’m your number one support person.”

“Between you and Albert, I’m supported up the wazoo.”

“Is…is that a compliment?” she asks.

I pet Albert. “Sure is. Albert’s my favorite support animal, and you’re my favorite support friend.”

She laughs. Then she covers the phone to say something to someone.

“Are you at work?” I ask. “In the office?”

“Today. I had to be here for a meeting. It’s over. I’m now doing slacking off.”

“Isla, don’t get into trouble.”

“This business would fall apart without me. I do all their calls and research for grants from home. Saving whatever for a super-rich charity is hard work.” She pauses. “Are things with Demyan good?”

I sigh. “Not so much. Demyan’s got me under twenty-four-hour surveillance, and I haven’t even left the mansion. I can’t pee without him getting a report on how long I’m in the bathroom. It’s a wonder I don’t need to fill out a permission request to go.”

“It’s not that bad,” Isla says. “Is it?”

“Worse. I hate it. There’s a bodyguard outside my bedroom door.”

“Well, we’ll have to fix that. Don’t want the bodyguard getting too bored. We need a girls’ night soon. Or even a coffee.”

“I know,” I mutter. “I know Demyan means well, but he’s driving me insane. He’s angry, snapping at me, and then acts all contrite and sweet. The last one is as bad as the anger. I think it’s anger, thinly veiled. And on top of it all, I haven’t heard from Ilya. At all.”

“Maybe Demyan’s blocked him from calling.”

“No, I don’t think Demyan controls the cell phone providers.”

I even checked to make sure Ilya’s number wasn’t blocked. I also set up my security on my phone. Demyan can’t get into it unless he steals my face.

Before, I never bothered doing that. It seemed annoying, and what did I have to hide? If someone stole it, I could shut down service to it.

And I don’t have any secrets. Plus, all my photos are in the cloud and on my computer.

But now?

Demyan’s made me protect my phone from him.

He means well, but he’s pushing a wedge between us.

“Maybe he’s busy,” she says. “It’s Ilya. He’ll contact you.”

“I guess. I just want to know he’s okay. I’ve called him numerous times, and he hasn’t called back.”

“Really?” Isla asks, making my heart sink like stone.

“Really.” I take a shaking breath. “Do you think it’s me? That he’s angry at me? Or did Demyan say something?”

“Ilya? Mad at you? I doubt that. He could never be. Not past a tiff anyway. I told you, he worships you.” She pauses. “Demyan… Well, he might have said something to him, but why would Ilya listen?”

“He’d listen if Demyan told him it’d be in my best interest.”

“You need to talk to him. Going over and over this without talking to him is crazy.”

“He won’t answer the phone, and I can’t go there. The bodyguard?” I remind Isla.