Page 60 of Wicked Proposal

“Yeah.”

“I understand. Believe me, I do.”

“I—I might be coming into some money soon,” I blurt. “I’m not certain it’ll pan out, but if it does…”

“We’ve got a spot open right now,” Mr. Garcia says. “Usually, you’d have to be put on our waitlist, but like I said, Diane’s a friend. I can hold your spot until the end of the month.”

“You’d do that?”

“Of course. It’s the least I can do.”

It’s the first lucky break I’ve had in ages. I hadn’t even realized how badly I needed it.

“Thank you,” I croak. “Really. I just… Just, thank you.”

By the time I’ve dried my eyes and made my way back to the classroom, Eli bounds up to me, his shyness completely gone.

“Mommy!” he squeals. “I made friends!”

“That’s wonderful, baby!”

“Can he stay?” a little girl with cornrows pleads. “Please?”

“Please, Mommy?” Eli joins in.

I want to sayyesso bad. “Not today, munchkin. We need to get our ducks in a row first. Lots of paperwork to do.”

“Then can I stay after the paperwork?”

“If everything goes smoothly.” It’s the most I can promise without lying. “Now, say goodbye to your new friends. We’ll be late for lunch with Aunt Kallie.”

I watch Eli part with a whole gaggle of kids. It makes my heart crack in my chest—that I don’t know if I can give him this.

We drive back to the apartment. Kallie’s supposed to meet us at the bagel place two blocks over in half an hour. I unbuckle Eli, pick him up?—

—and see a black Maybach parked right across the street.

20

YULIAN

No one has ever made me wait.

As CEO, I command respect. Aspakhan,I inspire fear.

No one dares to cross me unless they’re very stupid or have a death wish. Meetings happen when I say so; executions take place when I arrive. No earlier, no later.

But Mia Winters has kept me for half an hour under her window.

And she isn’t answering her goddamn phone.

Considering the people we’re dealing with, it wouldn’t be strange if they already got to her. If the reason she went radio silent on me was because she was feeding the fish in the Hudson.

And yet, my instincts tell me that’s not the case.

Mia is alive and well.

She’s just ignoring me on purpose.