Chapter Sixteen

Y A N A

Oh, my god. Does Sofia know about me? Has our cover been blown?

What gave it away? Is it the fact that she can spot poverty from a mile away?

Panic is rising in my throat like bile, but I swallow it all back when I feel Mikhail’s hand on my shoulder. It’s his way of telling me to calm down, or at least not to blow it. Either way is fine, because it did a good job of reminding me that my future rests on this, the biggest interview of my life.

“First of all, we had to keep it a secret because I asked him to.” I glance at Mikhail and twist my hands. “I just felt like it was too good to be true. I didn’t really want people saying I’m unworthy or anything, and I realize now that that’s wrong of me.”

To my utter relief, Sofia’s expression softens. She actually reaches over to pat my hand. “I understand, my darling. I just wish we knew about you more. We were so happy when he told us.”

Thank god. I thought she was going to scalp me.

“Well, that can be arranged,” I say lightly,