Page 48 of The Pakhan's Arranged Bride

“Don’t be silly. Wear whatever you want to wear.”

***

Ulyana walks into my office ahead of me, wearing the same blue jeans, but she’s changed into a very feminine white lace shirt and paired it with her white sneakers.

She looks fresh and beautiful. Her hair is braided down her back, clasped with her silver butterfly clip.

I walk proudly behind her, knowing that she belongs to me.

She sets her purse down on the coffee table and sits down, picking up a magazine.

“Good morning, sir, Mrs. Karamazov. Would either of you like coffee?” my assistant says, standing in the doorway. Tiara is a mousy girl with a timid personality.

“Yes, please, two sugars,” Ulyana beams.

“Same for me,” I say.

Tiara does a polite nod and leaves.

When I hear footsteps coming into the office a little while later, I think it’s her and don’t lift my eyes from my work.

But when a man clears his throat, standing in the doorway, both Ulyana and I look up in fright.

“Nez!” Ulyana shouts, leaping to her feet and running straight for Nestor. She jumps up and wraps her arms around his neck and he hugs her tightly. “Hey, kiddo,” he says, holding her off the ground in a massive hug.

“What a surprise,” I say, standing, laughing at how excited she is.

“I arrived this morning, thought I’d stop by,” he muses, setting his sister back down on her feet.

I walk around the desk and shake his hand, slapping him on the shoulder. “It’s so good to see you,” I say.

“I came here to ask for your house keys so I could surprise my sister,” he chuckles. “But I guess I don’t need those anymore.”

“You should have told me you were coming.” She playfully punches Nestor in the arm.

“That would have defeated the whole purpose of surprising you, Yana,” he laughs, grabbing her wrist and pulling her into a half-hug.

Watching her with him, playfully happy, excited to see him and full of love for her brother—it softens my heart and makes me smile. She’s so beautiful, so kind and sweet and gentle.

I want to experience more of this side of her.

Since she arrived here, I’ve been struggling to connect with her. She keeps me at a safe distance, driving me freaking crazy, but also teasing me with possibilities.

Last night was incredible.

I really hope it’s changed things between us for good. From here on out, I want her guard to be dropped. I want her to feel safe with me. When she is with Nestor now, I can see her just being herself. I want her to be like that with me as well.

The smile on her face now—I want to light her eyes up like that.

Nestor and Ulyana sit on the sofa in my office, chatting away and catching up. My assistant brings another coffee in for Nestor.

I give them space to bond while I carry on with some work.

After an hour or so, Nestor stands up and rolls his shoulders.

“I suppose I should do some work while I’m here.” He groans a little and turns to me. “Do you have time to go over a few things?”

“I’m going to go for a walk. I need to get some fresh air,” Ulyana stands up, taking her cue to leave us to talk business.