Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83195 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83195 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
The mistake they made was bringing Cinita back to New York and stepping into Ivanov territory.
I didn’t need a deal to go wrong or any other excuse to execute them.
It’s just what I do.
And I do it very well.
CHAPTER 27
Lena
Itwirl the pasta around my fork. My brother’s spoken about his latest research and potentially moving to the UK. He’s excited, and I’m happy for him but selfishly not for myself.
The server offers us more wine, but my brother hovers his hand over his glass, satisfied with only one. I do the same.
“Are you still working the bar job?” Archer asks.
I shake my head. “No, I quit a few weeks back, actually.”
“Oh. Did something happen, or did you just want to focus on singing?”
I swallow. As if I could possibly tell my brother about the incident. He’d drag me out of this city himself.
“I’m earning enough from singing now.”
“And living by yourself as well. That’s impressive, Lena. I’m proud of you.”
I offer a small smile because he genuinely means it. He’s four years older than me, but he’s always had this air about him that he’s capable and knows what he’s doing in life. It’s exactly why I’ve looked up to him.
“What do you think about the move to the UK?” he queries. “It wouldn’t be for another six months, but we always spoke about it when we were kids. Remember how we used to watch that British show and wish we lived in London?”
I snort a laugh, remembering how we’d try our best British accents. It was horrible then, and it’d be bad even now. “I think it’s great for you. Not so much for me since Mom and Dad will be stuck with their least favorite child.”
His expression twists. “You’re not their least favorite. They just don’t understand your singing yet, that’s all, but they will one day. You know I’m proud of you, right? The first thing I did when I came to town was purchase a ticket for tomorrow night’s performance.”
“I could’ve just got you tickets,” I say with a smile. My brother calms me, and I’m so happy to hear about his progress, but for me, as much as I love my current show and crew, I know I don’t want to settle. “I’m still trying to hit Broadway in Manhattan. It’s just tricky getting there, but having the off-Broadway shows as experience, I’m confident enough to pursue it. I want to keep moving forward too. Make Mom and Dad proud.”
He puts his hand on mine, comforting me. “You know you should only be doing it for you.” That’s easy for him to say. “I don’t know what the opportunity is like in London, Lena, but would you consider coming with me?”
It takes me a moment to register what he’s asking. “I couldn’t just leave everything here,” I say, a little stunned. I hadn’t thought about opportunities in the UK because I’d only ever aspired for New York.
“I know, but aren’t you kind of lonely?” he asks, and the question catches me off guard. Is that how he sees me? “You don’t really have anyone here. I don’t know, it scares me that your old housemate is super unstable and an addict. And I’m not saying all of your friends here are like that. I just worry about you. We used to be thick as thieves before I went to college. It’s just an offer.”
“I appreciate that, but I don’t think I’m done here yet,” I say adamantly, but it plants the seed of doubt. Am I lonely?
He raises his hands in the air. “Fair enough. Is there a particular something you’re staying for besides your career? Or someone?”
I choke on my next bite. “Oh gosh, please don’t tell me you’re doing the big brother thing again. You tried to run off all my boyfriends when we were younger.”
“That’s because they were idiots,” he says, as if letting me in on a secret. I laugh. “So there is someone?”
I pick at the garlic bread thoughtfully. No. Yes. Maybe.
I certainly know Alek wouldn’t be the type my brother could chase off. In fact, I never want them sitting in a room together.
I smirk at that thought. It’s the same as Anya is with Alek, I suppose, in the way my brother is with me. Protective.
We might come from different worlds, but I understand that.
“No. Just focusing on my career at the moment,” I say, but I don’t think he entirely believes me. I don’t even believe myself.
Alek is not my boyfriend.
But he’s not nothing either.
No matter how hard I fight it.
CHAPTER 28
Lena
Dinner with my brother went well. I didn’t tell him about Alek because there’s nothing to tell. And even though I love and trust Archer, I know he’ll tell our parents. The last thing they need is fuel to add to the idea that I’m already making reckless decisions in my life.