64

I can’t hold back and slam my palm on the table when I see one of Kirill’s men calmly walk in and sit at a free table with a perfect view of us. It’s the same guy who drove us from the base. I think his name is Mikhail.

The man sits down and flashes me a radiant smile, even winking.

“Is that your bodyguard?” Marina asks, staring at the big guy, just as shocked as I am.

“What the hell, Kirill?!” I call my fiancé, ready to give him a piece of my mind. “Why is your goon following me around?!”

“What did you expect?” the man replies calmly. “After your morning statements about cheating with whoever, get used to Misha’s company now. Maybe you’ll finally become friends.”

“Are you completely out of your mind?!” I yell so loudly a few of the café’s customers turn to look at me. “You’re such a pig!”

I hang up and feel steam practically shooting out of my ears from rage. The bastard! He goes off to his harem, and sends his watchdog to guard me!

I hate him!

“Vicky, let’s just ignore him,” Marina says, fully understanding my state as she takes my hand and squeezes it. “If he wants to hear what a jerk his boss is, then let him listen!” she yells loudly on purpose. Mikhail even lets out a confirming snort, spreading his hands as if to say, well, it is what it is.

When our order arrives, I’ve calmed down a little and ignore the man, quietly telling Marina everything she still didn’t know. My friend is openly shocked by my story, fuming and puffing indignantly in a funny way.

“God, if only you knew how much I don’t want to see that bastard,” I sigh heavily, staring out the café window.

The weather outside was wonderful—sunny and warm. Nature had fully awakened, delighting everyone with its greenery and the blooming of everything possible. People, cheerful and eager, had finally left their homes and poured out onto the streets. Everyone seemed to have that lovely spring mood, except inside me there was… whatever it was. A complete swamp, sucking me into its stinking mire, deeper and deeper.

“Don’t want to see him, you say…” my friend’s eyes flashed slyly—meaning only one thing: a plan had just formed in her head. And I wasn’t entirely sure it was a good one. “Well then, you won’t see him!”

“What have you come up with now?” I ask suspiciously, glancing sideways at the guard dog at the next table. He was pretending not to notice us, typing something on his phone.

“You said the kids are staying at your parents’ again tonight, right?” the blonde asks, stirring her coffee with an annoyingly smug tone.

“Well, yeah. Mom helped out. In her own way—trying to do what’s ‘best’!” I roll my eyes.

“Then tonight we’re having a girls’ night out!” Marina’s eyes gleam mischievously in anticipation.

“It won’t work,” I lower my gaze in disappointment, losing my spark and all hope. “Did you forget that Kirill’s bloodhound is watching us? I’m scared they’d drag me out of any club faster than I could step inside.”

“Oh, Vicky!” Marina’s beautiful face twists in a patronizing smirk. “If you had studied like normal kids, and not in your fast‑track program, you’d know how high‑schoolers and college students can have fun using nothing more than what they’ve got!” She lifts her index finger with its perfect French manicure as if delivering a lecture. “Believe me, for a good time, a club is far from necessary! We’ll have our fun ourselves—first, we just need to stop by one very magical place!”