Page 41 of The Fixer

All these ups and downs— ignoring the issues I was supposed to deal with was coming back to bite me in the ass. Iknewthat Aleksander was toying with me. He gave me an inch, then set me back a mile. This was his way of lording over me, reminding me I was never going to be truly happy. Those short moments were brief glimpses into a life I could never have. “Let’s go, I guess. I can’t imagine what Aleksander could possibly want. He won, he knows it. I know it. What’s the point in playing anymore?” I’d done exactly as Aleksander Makovich predicted. Even when I tried not to, I moved to the spot he wanted. I accepted that this was my lot in life, but the one thing he couldn’t control was my relationship with Sascha.

But he could end it.So easily, Makovich could rip Sascha from my life.I would kill myself if that happened.

Did Aleksander Makovich plan forthat?

“It’s pouring out. Are you sure you don’t want some clothes?”

Blinking at this, I shook my head; whenever I talked about Aleksander with someone other than Sascha, somethinghappenedto me. I relied so much on him to stabilize me.

If only I were a dozen years older.If I couldn’t handle a meeting without him, I had a problem. Relationships required a sense of autonomy. After all, it wasn’t Sascha who negotiated with Ukraine’s Prime Minister. It wasn’t Sascha that dealt with unruliness and dissent with Makovich’s shadows. I couldn’t play this game better than Aleksander, but Ihadto play it better than I had been these past few weeks. “The rain will do me some good.”

My murmur earned me a face scrunched with dismay. Malda didn’t protest as I walked out of the living room, though.

“Hey… you’re my friend, right, Malda?” Pausing at the archway, I glanced over my shoulder under heavy lids.

“To an extent, yes. Why?” Watching me curiously, unfiltered wonder glimmering in her deep, brown eyes, Malda pursed her lips.

“I don’t know what this is about, but if Sascha tries to come after me… stop him. I need to handle Aleksander by myself.”

Her eyes narrowed into slits, and she nodded curtly.

With this assurance, my heart finally slowed. My lungs filled with fresh air instead of recycling shallow, hot huffs. Turning back to head down the hall, I left my ‘friend’ behind as I headed to her car.

True to her word, it was raining, but not very hard. The cool air welcomed me, enveloping me and dousing the furious flames licking my cheeks. Lifting my face to the dark clouds hanging low and thick overhead, I took as huge a breath as I could fit in my chest.

“Miss Cherinivsky…”

Frowning at the man waiting by the open car door, I tilted my head in question.

He blushed, lowering his hat and ducking his head.

At least I can get a tiny one up on Aleksander. He won’t expect me half naked.And to be honest, it was pretty nice to wear only underwear and a sports bra. I felt naked ? like there were no secrets about myself that he could hang over me. I felt confident ? because this is what he gets. There were no fancy clothes trying to cover up any uncertainties I had.

I should do this more often.

28

Sascha

Itwirled my keys as I wandered in the general direction of my car, but my mind was flung far, somewhere else. The drizzling rain settled on my hair and beard, making everything smell and feel so fresh. Despite the gloom around me, I was in a good mood; in a few hours, between my last two classes, I’d be meeting with Marchik to discuss ‘retiring’.

My phone buzzed faintly in my jacket pocket, and I paused my walking to fish the device out. Shouldering my briefcase to cover the screen, my keys jangled and glinted tantalizingly. The number wasn’t one I recognized, but my thumb tingled as it dragged the ‘Answer’ button along the screen. “Hello? Sascha Matheson. Who is this?” The hairs on the back of my neck bristled lightly, but I ignored it to continue to my car.

“Aleksander Makovich.”

Damn— fuck—instantly, a scowl dragged down the corners of my mouth, and I covered it with my hand.

“It’s been a while, Sascha.”

His deep timbre rattled the bones in my face, rippling down my neck and through my beard. “What doyouwant? Why do you and your father play games with me when you’re trying to get Ophelia’s attention?” My voice roughened in exasperation. “Honestly, the best way to get a girl’s attention is to talk to her directly, not plow through everyone she knows trying to figure out what she likes.”

Aleksander chuckled lowly through the line. “I’ll keep that in mind. This isn’t about Ophelia.”

I reached the very edge of the parking garage, and I inhaled deeply to swipe my hair back with my free hand.

“I’m calling you because I’m facing a dilemma, and everyone I ask has given me shit answers. I thought that since you’re the mostsagelyperson I know, it wouldn’t hurt to try.”

“Let me get my robe.” My bland response earned me the beginnings of an uncomfortable silence. Rubbing my hand down my face, I grunted lowly. “What do you want, Aleksander?”