24

A proposal

"You know, Margaret? I have to admit I'm surprised."

"Why?"

"You're jealous, and that means you feel something special for me," his voice sounded excited, and my heart beat faster.

"Unfortunately," I admitted.

"I try to do things the best I can, Margaret."

"I'm not sure about that, Nikolay," I swallow when I feel the warmth of his body in front of mine.

"Margo..."

"Yes?"

"Marry me."

I turned to look at him incredulously, and unable to avoid it, I remembered that time he had asked me the same thing as a condition to pay off Mike's debt.

"Why are you asking me this?" I stop looking into his eyes; he can't be serious. "Nikolay, if this is another one of your jokes..."

"Why would it be?" he interrupts me with a harsh voice. "Margaret, I think it's the best option for us now, don't you realize?"

I shook my head incredulously. What did he mean by "the best option"? It was clear that Nikolay didn't want to tell me anything, and that feeling I had before, that he was hiding someth