5. Professor Volkov

Robin

The next day I decided to go see my grandmother. It had been awhile since the two of us saw each other. Not because I didn’t want to see her, but because school kept me busy.

We spoke on the phone a lot so that was pretty good. But it wasn’t the same as seeing her in person.

I walked into the room and smiled. Abuela didn’t waste any time in telling me what she was really thinking.

“You look tired.”

I sighed. “You always say that.”

“Because it’s always true. You work too hard.”

I sighed again. “I promise that I’m okay.”

The look on Abuela’s face was unreadable.

“You worry over me too much.”

“Abuela—”

“What happens is going to happen, Mija. I think you should accept that.”

My throat tightened. “But I can do something. I am doing something.”

Her dark eyes softened. “Ay, Robin. You’ve always had such a big heart. But this is life, mija. We do not control it.”

“I’m going to get you some great treatment,” I promised my grandmother.

Abuela sighed. “You are so stubborn. Just like your mother.”

“Yes, but you were the one who raised the two of us, so who is to blame?” I teased, giving her a cheeky grin.

She gave me a playful look. “I might be sick, but no talking back to me.”

The two of us talked for a while before I decided to tell her about my ex-boyfriend.

“By the way… I broke up with Victor.”

“Thank god!”

I blinked. “You’re not surprised?”

She scoffed. “Surprised? No. That boy was an idiot.”

“Abuela!”

“What?” she said, shrugging. “I knew from the first time I met him that he was a pendejo.”

I snorted. “You thought he was an asshole this whole time, and you didn’t tell me?”

“Would you have listened? No. You had to learn for yourself.”

“I wish you had said something. It would’ve saved me a huge headache, Abuela.”

“As if anyone listens to their elders anymore. You had to find it out for yourself.”

I sighed. “Yeah. I guess I’ll have to trust you more, huh?”

“Maybe. But not too much.” She chuckled. “I can’t have you turning into a copy of me.”

“I’m not sure anyone could do that.”

“True. And don’t try, either. One of me is enough for this world.”

I smiled. “Fair point.”

“Mija, I don’t need any of your praise. Just the truth.”

“I’ll just be over here learning from your wisdom.”

“You better. And next time, listen to me when I say someone’s not right for you.”

“Message received, Abuela.”

“Good. Now, no more talk of that boy. I’ve had enough of him.”

The two of us sat in silence for a while.. At least I have some of the money right now to be able to afford a part of the treatment. Well, the beginning of it, I should say.

Abuela cleared her throat. “Do you remember when I taught you how to make tamales?”

My eyes lit up. I loved it when Abuela told her stories or talked about old times.

“How could I forget? I had to do all the cooking.”

“I was an old woman, and you were young. It was you who should do more work.”

“I try my best.”

“And you always huffed whenever I corrected you.”

“Because you corrected everything! ‘Too much filling, not enough masa, fold it tighter, Robin!’”

“And yet, who makes the best tamales now?”

“I hate when you’re right.”

“It happens often, mija. You should be used to it by now.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“Of course, and then you would take bites whenever I turned my head. Sure, you thought I wasn't looking, but I was.”

“I did no such thing!”

“Mmm-hmm. And the missing pieces just vanished into thin air?”

“Maybe the kitchen spirits were hungry.”

“Ay, Robin, you and your excuses.”

“They’re not excuses, just… creative explanations.”

“Whatever you say, mija.”

“Yeah, I know you caught me every time.”

“Caught you? I knew before you even picked up the first tamale, mija. You think I couldn’t hear you sneaking bites?”

“I was quiet!”

“Quiet? You were louder than a rooster in the morning. I heard that crinkling of the masa.”

“Well, I thought I was stealthy. You know like a ninja.

“You are nothing like a ninja.”

“True but I was hungry!”

“Yes, but you could attempt to be like a ninja as you said.”

“But you made the best tamales.”

“Still do. You just don’t have the patience to follow my methods.”

“I have plenty of patience! I just... don’t have the same magic you do.”

“It’s not magic, mija. It’s practice. And care. It’s how much you put into it.”

“I’ll try my best.”

“Do more than try!”

“Thanks, Abuela. You’re right again.”

“Of course I am. It’s what I do.”

***

After class, the dean came in.

“Excuse me, sorry to interrupt, students, but we just got a new hire that we want to introduce to all the students. Professor Volkov, please come in and say hello!”

I didn’t think it was the Mr. Volkov I knew, but then Micah walked inside the classroom, causing my heart to sink.

What the hell?

My surrogacy client was a new professor at this school? I only hoped he wasn’t going to be my professor, but right now, I didn’t even want to touch on that subject.

All the students, male and female alike, were looking at Micah Volkov like he was the most attractive man in existence. The truth of it is, he was the most attractive thing I had ever seen! Imagining all these other women looking at him like that did fill me with a pang of jealousy, but I tried to ignore it.

There was no reason for me to be jealous. He was my surrogacy client and nothing more. The man had made it clear that this was to be kept completely professional, and I understood that. I couldn’t allow my immature feelings to get in the way because I desperately needed this job.

The Dean of the school kept talking, but I wasn’t taking in all his words. I was ignoring him, unable to think of anything other than the fact that this was the man’s baby I was supposed to be carrying for him.

Swallowing, I tried to make myself as unnoticeable as possible. Luckily, Micah didn’t seem to notice me and left the room with the dean.

“Now you can leave class. Thank you!”

I hung back, not wanting to run into Micah. If he knew I was a student at this school, then things could get awkward. He might even decide to cancel the contract that I so desperately needed!

“Hey Robin,” Victor said to me, reaching out to grab my arm.

I pulled away. The last person I wanted to touch my was my cheating ex who couldn’t get enough of that slutty cat-shifter. He had some nerve touching me and trying to act like we were together. What the hell was going through his mind?

“What the fuck do you want, Victor?” I asked, glaring at him.

“You need to stay away from that man,” he growled, his eyes flashing with anger.

“What man?” I asked, trying to play dumb.

He rolled his eyes. “Micah Volkov, which you know. Don’t play stupid, Robin. We both know you are not a stupid woman.”

“I was for being with you.”

His jaw tightened, giving me a chance to delve into my thoughts.

I balked. Was he talking about Micah Volkov?

If he was, then I couldn’t fathom why he was, to be honest.

“Why the hell do I have to stay away from him?” I demanded to know, not wanting to be told what to do by this man of all people. Not like I was going to do what he wanted, anyway.

“Because that is my Uncle and he is bad fucking news,” he snapped.

I paled.

Wait, Micah was his uncle?

This wasn’t good.

If he ever found out about the surrogacy, then the whole school was going to know, and then Micah might decide not to go through with it, meaning my grandmother’s surgery could be at risk!

“Just leave me alone,” I stammered out, hoping that he wasn’t going to notice how uneasy I was.

Victor tried to say something, but I ignored him, walking out of the classroom and determined to put as much distance between the two of us as possible.

I could keep this secret.

It was just going to take a lot of work on my part.