Page 145 of His Prince
I stare at him and then purse my lips. “I would rather do this when I’m not in the tub.”
He doesn’t seem bothered by it, just pulls a cookie from his coat pocket and stuffs it in his mouth. Crumbs litter the floor,and I bite back a scathing comment. As much as he annoys me, I can’t help but be glad that Mila and Daniil never hurt him. He’s the only family I have left and I refuse to lose him too.
“I no longer want you to be head of security.”
Ivan stops chewing and meets my stare.
“You firing me?”
“Yes. And no. I’d like you to take over the business in my stead. We both know you’re shit at security and much better at running the businesses than I am.”
“But you?—”
“I don’t want it. I just want to live with Angel, here on the grounds. Maybe even raise a family with him one day.”
“You’re too old for that,” he grumbles.
“Fuck you. I’m not too old. But that doesn’t matter. Do you accept or not? I have no desire to continue on as the head of the family. I hate it. Hate it all. I want to take my money and retire.”
“You really think you can retire? You are always busy.”
“Yes, I can and I will, with Angel by my side. Almost dying has put things in perspective. I no longer care about all of this.”
Ivan stares at me intently, almost as if in disbelief, but then he nods, swallowing the rest of his cookie and straightening his jacket.
“And who will take over as the head of security?”
“Casey.”
Ivan shifts on his feet. “I don’t know who that is. But if that is what you want, we can begin the transition when you are better.”
“I want to begin it now. Whatever you need, let me know. I want to wash my hands of this entire business.”
“The blasphemy,” Ivan begins, but then sighs when he sees the look on my face.
“You know I’ve been done for a while now. Just accept it. It will be easier for us all.”
He stares down at his body and then adjusts his glasses. “I do not have the physique of a mobster. No one will take me seriously.”
“Yes. You do not look like one. Which is why you will have to surround yourself with men who do. They will inspire enough fear while you intimidate with your mind. You are smart and sensible when you use your brain. I have faith in you.”
He snorts and then starts to choke, his eyes watering, and I let my face sink under the water, done with this conversation. It’s lukewarm but I want to sit in here long enough to smell good for Angel. He deserves that much.
When I reemerge, Ivan is gone and Nina is staring at me with a towel in her arms.
“Get. Out. You are no longer a fish, but a man. Dinner is almost ready and Angel is going to be heading back soon.”
I grumble as I push my weakened body up and dry off. When I’m done, Nina helps me shave and then we move into my closet. As I enter the bedroom, I see the work that Felix and Gael have done to the entire space. It’s nice, romantic even, with fairy lights draping from the corners, a table set up with candles in the middle, roses and flowers in vases along the windowsills and the desk.
If I saw a string quartet I wouldn’t be surprised.
“Well done,” I say when I reappear from the closet wearing sweatpants and a clean white t-shirt. It’s the best I can do. My pants don’t fit me right now. I’ve lost too much weight. But in a few months, I should be back to normal.
“We’re happy to do it, Boss,” they murmur. “Nina will be back with the food in a bit.” And then they disappear, leaving me to wait for my husband to show up.
And I do. I fucking wait, pacing and sitting, trying to catch my breath as I move.
I’m as weak as a kitten.