Page 27 of Cookie: Part One
What the fuck did he saaaayyyyy?!
But I can’t even think right now because I can hear the whispers and tension filling the room in a slow drip.
“Vho is she?”
“Vhere did she come from?”
“Do you sink she’s Pakhan’s new voman?”
“Vhat spell did she put on ze Pakhan?
Ugh, what the hell is their problem? I go to ask Grandpa Viktor, but the sharp sound of heels clacking against marble floors like a dramatic movie has me pausing.
Click...click...click...
The heels announce her before I evenseeher…the snake looking girl.
She’s wearing a sleek, cream silk dress that hugs her petite frame, the kind of pretty that gets photographed at fundraisers. I glance at her, squinting like I’ve seen that face, trying to put my finger on it.
“Dedushka(Grandfather),” she says softly, bowing her head and Grandpa gives her a nod.
“Veronica,” he answers coldly.
“I just vanted to come over and greet you and your… guest…” she pauses and turns to me. “I don’t believe vee have met,” she adds, voice smooth and formal. “I’m Veronica, Mikhail’sfiancée,” she enunciates.Oop…
DUN DUN DUNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!
I can hear the dramatic music in my ear as my eyes shoot to Mikhail’s and I notice he’s watching me, casually sipping on his champagne like I didn’t have a bomb dropped on me, and I turn back to her.
Oh… okay.
“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Constance, Grandpa Viktor’s favorite adopted grandkid. But you can call me Pechenye…”You know, just like your fiancée does when he’s digging me out.I want to say, but I just hold out my hand and she throws me a fake smile.
“Vhat a pretty nickname.”
“Thank you! Yourfiancéegave it to me,” I beam, and her smile falters.
Just for a second, there is barely a twitch in her cheek, but I catch it.
“Oh… I sssseee.” She sneers her eyes flickers in a weird ass way that makes me jump back. She’s good though. Real good, I’ll give her that. Her face doesn’t crack, just firms up like she’s the cockroach guy from Men in Black, trying to smile by pulling a string behind her ears to keep it in place.
But right now, I just slide off Grandpa Viktor’s lap and beam.
“I think I’ll go check out the food,” I smile sweetly.
“Go on, but once you’re done, come back so vee can play spades,” Grandpa smiles kindly and I nod, strutting off past her and all the stiff mother fuckers who are whispering in Russian. As I pass Mikhail, I don’t look at him. I just breeze right on by his ass like I’on even know him.
I notice his jaw tightening out of my peripheral, as Nadya and Dimitri whisper something to him, seeming to calm him down, but it’s none of my business, so I keep pushing out of the room. However, I don’t even make it to the stairs before I hear a familiar, annoyed sigh.
“Connie.” I glance to the side and see Alik and Pyper falling in step beside me.
“What’s the sitch?” I ask, feeling my age at the old Kim Possible reference, picking up a glass of champagne looking at the both of them.
“God… I take my eyes off you for one second,one, and you’re already ze topic of discussion.” I raise my brows at her accusation.
“What I do?” I sip on them both, hopingmaybeit will ease the remaining dull ache in my body and throat from Dimitri, Mikhail, and Nadya going in on me.
“Go over to Pakhan is zhis environment is vhat you did…” Alik shakes his head. “Gaining ze attention in front of zhis family is not a good zhing especially vhen it has to do vit Pakhan. Not to mention you had vords vit Veronica of all people… ” Alik, shudders. “Vhat did she say?
