Todos os capítulos de Too late, dear husband; Mrs Grant is done: Capítulo 21 - Capítulo 30

MIREYA SARAI ORLOVI got to the Regal twenty minutes early because I wasn't about to let three months of chasing Marcus Lindqvist end with me walking in flustered. The lobby was all marble and quiet money, the kind of place where nobody raises their voice above what's necessary. I found the conference room number Elena had texted me, smoothed my jacket, and pushed the door open before I could talk myself into being nervous about it.Nikolai was sitting at the head of the table like he owned it, which, as it turned out, he basically did.I stopped so fast my folder nearly went sliding off my arm. He didn't even look up at first, just kept turning a page, a pen loose in his fingers, unbothered by the fact that I was standing there gaping at him."What are you doing here?"He finally looked up, in no hurry about it. "I'm the business partner.""You're not. Marcus Lindqvist is the business partner — that's the whole reason I've been trying to get this meeting for three months."The young

MIREYA SARAI ORLOVI heard Cyril crying before we even reached the front door, and it wasn't the ordinary fussing of a tired toddler. It came from somewhere deeper than that, raw and worn out, the sound of a kid who'd been at it a while and had no plans to stop.Nikolai didn't run, didn't say a word, but his stride lengthened enough that I had to hurry to keep up with him.Inside, the nanny was kneeling on the living room rug beside Cyril, who had her face buried in both hands, her whole body shaking. August stood off to the side, his face tight."I'm so sorry," the nanny was saying. "I've tried everything, she just won't—"Cyril looked up and saw me, and the crying cut off like someone had flipped a switch. She stared at me for a second, still catching her breath, and then she was up and running, arms already stretched out before she reached me.I caught her and she wrapped herself around my neck so tightly I could barely breathe, her whole body pressed into mine, one shaky breath af

MIREYA SARAI ORLOVI arrived at Nikolai's office at nine o'clock sharp, prepared. I'd gone through every page of the partnership documents August had forced on us, made my notes, built a list of questions and a longer list of reasons this whole arrangement was a terrible idea. I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of watching me lose my temper.I walked into the lobby like I owned it, because in every way that mattered to me, I owned myself, my time, and I wasn't going to let him forget it.The receptionist looked up as I approached, young, blonde, a little nervous around the edges. "I'm here to see Nikolai Moreau." I stated immediately I walked in and she picked up the phone, said a few words I couldn't hear, then hung up with a smile that had clearly been practiced in a mirror. "Mr. Moreau is in a meeting. He'll be with you shortly." I nodded at her and plopped on the chair, waiting.The lobby was quiet, the one that made you notice every small sound, the hum of the air con

MIREYA SARAI ORLOVI sat down on the other side of the desk.It wasn't my chair. It was just a chair. But it felt wrong, like I'd been demoted, like I was the visitor now and Nadia was the one who belonged.I pulled out my laptop and opened the project files, keeping my eyes on the screen instead of either of them."Where were we?" I asked.Nikolai turned a page in the document in front of him without looking up. "The acquisition strategy. We were discussing the timeline.""Right." I pulled up my notes. "The timeline is too aggressive. We need at least six weeks for due diligence.""We don't have six weeks." His voice stayed calm, the voice of a man who already knew how this conversation would end. "The seller is already talking to other buyers. If we don't move fast, we lose the deal.""Moving fast is how you make mistakes.""Moving slow is how you lose opportunities."I looked up at him. He was already watching me, that same unreadable expression on his face, like he'd known I'd loo

MIREYA SARAI ORLOVNadia was still smiling at me, waiting, like she expected me to be happy for her.The silence stretched long enough that I could hear the clock ticking somewhere out in the hallway. August had gone very still beside me. I kept my own expression composed, but from the corner of my eye I was watching Nikolai, waiting to see if he'd let her announcement stand or correct it in front of all of us.He set down his fork."That's not true."Nadia's smile faltered. "What?""You're staying for a few weeks." His voice stayed calm, final, the kind of voice that didn't leave room for negotiation. "That's what your father asked, and that's what I agreed to. Nothing more."She let out a small, uncomfortable laugh. "But I thought—""You thought wrong."Her eyes flicked to me, then to August, then back to Nikolai, a flush creeping up her neck. "I see.""I'm glad we cleared that up," he said, already reaching for his glass like the matter was closed.She pushed back her chair hard en