9. Apology

After dinner, dessert is served.

It’s light, so I can easily finish it. It’s a tart and sweet passion fruit mousse, which is one of my favorites. Igor is the only one who doesn’t have dessert. Instead, he sits at the end of the table sucking on the end of a cigar with a glass filled halfway with whiskey in front of him.

I only glance at him because I want to gauge the mood. After Leo made that comment in Russian, things became more awkward at the table.

I don’t speak Russian, so I have no clue what he said.

Waiting for everyone to rise from the table is the painful part. Although nothing much is said, nobody makes a move to stand, which means I’m stuck here for a few more minutes.

“The Italian princess doesn’t think she’s too much for us anymore,” Leo says, surprising me. He puts emphasis on the word Italian. “What happened? Your plan didn’t work out for you?”

I don’t answer him. I stare at my empty glass bowl and try to keep my expression light and neutral. If he wants to amuse