Page 8 of Echoes of Sin

“I doubt that will happen. You have a home and a job, he might have more but it’s clear you can support yourself and your daughter.”

“He could still take her, shared custody,” I said, imagining Karina going off on fancy vacations and finally telling me that she wanted to live with her father. How could I compete?

“No matter how much money he has, he’s the one who had unprotected sex and never followed up. How were you supposed to tell him about the consequences of your night together?” Lara added.

“You think that will matter to him? I don’t. He’s got this whole master of the universe thing going on and I can admit it’s damned intimidating.”

“I’m just saying that if he finds out he has a kid in another way, he’s definitely going to be pissed and he probably will take it out on you somehow.” The sympathy on her face was too much.

It made me angry, actually. “I don’t give a damn if he’s pissed off or not. If he cared at all, he would have called or texted or even emailed me. He might have been a million miles away in Russia, but it’s not like he was on a remote desert island. He didn’t do any of that, which tells me everything I need to know.” I was inexperienced that night, but I should have spoken up. I didn’t think about it at all until I missed my period, twice.

“I’m not saying that you have to care, but you do have to be prepared for what he might do when he finds out about Karina, because believe me, he will find out.”

“I’m hoping that his life is in the city, and not Winter Valley.”

“Yeah, well, we also hoped for your period to come. We hoped he would call. Neither of those things worked out too well.”

“Dammit.” She was right and we both knew it.

“Your best play here is to keep being the Ice Queen you’re known for being. You don’t get personal with anyone, not even Ruben or that sweet receptionist Marnie, so keeping your distance should be easy.”

I shook my head. “He said, see you soon, before he left my office. It was like he completely forgot that he ghosted me, which was bad enough. But then finding out I was pregnant just made it even more cruel somehow.”

“Was it a sexy see you soon or like hey, let’s grab coffee?” She used two different tones and I glared at her. “Right. It’s Ilya and those smoky blue eyes. I’m sorry to say, sister, but you are in big trouble.”

I shook my head because I refused to believe that Ilya returning to New York meant anything other than a small challenge. Dealing with him would be difficult, without a doubt, but that was it. “He’s a client just like all the others,” I said, more to myself than to Lara. “He can try to get close, but the Ice Queen won’t let him. I’m freaking out for no reason. It’ll be fine,” I said, and shook out my arms to let the tension go. “I’ll keep it professional when I have to engage with him. Nothing else has to change.”

“Yeah, keep telling yourself that, Brooke. I hope that lie makes you feel better.”

I hoped so too.

Chapter Five

Ilya

I should be doing at least one thousand other things to make sure I was starting off on the right foot, but instead I was parked in my car and watching Brooke as she strode towards the building that housed Montrose Accounting. She was more beautiful than ever in gray slacks that showed off long legs making purposeful strides towards the glass doors. The soft pink sweater was feminine and flattering and the matching pink heels made me smile for some reason.

I’d taken a liking to Brooke almost instantly back at college. She wasn’t like the other girls, and not just because she was a scholarship kid from a middle-class family. Brooke was smart. No, that was not accurate, she was intelligent and did not hide it like most teenage girls did. Which only made me wonder what in the hell was she doing working for a guy like Ruben instead of a bigger firm—or even running her own accounting practice. Back then, she’d been determined to succeed and was ambitious, and now she was working so far beneath her level that it made me wonder even more about her life.

Whatever had happened, it was definitely my good fortune that she was at Montrose. It was just another perk of returning to this glorious city and this country where anyone could make something of themselves. With a wide smile, I pressed the button on my car to make a call.

“Montrose Accounting, this is Marnie speaking. How may I help you?”

“Good morning, Marnie. This is Ilya, a new client to the—”

“I know who you are, Mr. K.” She laughed and continued typing. “How can I help you today?”

“I’d like to speak with Brooke, please.”

“One moment,” she said, and the line went silent before jazz music sounded.

A few seconds later, the music ended. “This is Brooke.” Her tone was open and friendly yet professional.

I smiled. “Brooke, it’s Ilya.”

“Ilya.” She said my name like it was a bad oyster. “What can I help you with?” She was all business, which I could respect, except it wasn’t what I wanted.

“I’d like to meet with you to discuss my accounts.”

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