Page 54 of Wicked Villain

My eyes snap wide. “Oh my God. I’ve never met anyone who went there.”

“Oh, you have; he just hasn’t said so.” She giggles. “Lev went to Harvard, too.”

Interesting. I would have never guessed that. And I suppose that’s one more thing I’ve learned about my husband. “I didn’t know that.”

“Lev’s not real big on talking about himself. I’m guessing you’re not… at college?” she asks carefully.

“My dad wouldn’t allow it. I finished high school at home, and he didn’t see the need for me to do anything else.”

Her smile fades. “Sorry. I think you would have been great doing an art degree.”

“Thanks, me too.” I perk up at the chance to talk about my former dreams. “I wanted to go to Central Saint Martins in England. Or NYU. But I guess life had other things in store for me.”

“You never know.”

I appreciate her optimism.

“Maybe.” I give her a gentle nod.

“Want to hear about the piece I’m working on for the college newspaper? It’s a summer special and very juicy.” She wriggles her brows with mischief, and I find myself laughing.

“Juicy?”

“Oh yeah.”

“Go for it.”

She starts telling me about the piece. Her idea of juicy is very juicy indeed. Apparently, during the breaks, the students can write whatever they choose, so she chose to do a dating special. On the professors.

When she’s done giving me all the hilarious details, she tells me about her course, then more about herself. She’s twenty-one, so older than me by a few months.

She’s also currently secretly dating a guy her father would hate, and she loves fashion. No surprise there.

Best of all, she’ll be here for the rest of the summer and she loves visiting Lev because he spoils her rotten. I can’t imagine him spoiling anybody.

As time goes by, I loosen up and talk, too. I talk about art, the charity, and my mother.

Soon, I forget we just met today. It’s like I’ve known her for years. I also forget she’s Lev’s cousin.

I’m probably opening the door to another trap, but I decide to take the risk.

If nothing else, Anushka is a great distraction for me.

She leaves just before seven. I expected Lev to be home by then, but there’s been no sign of him.

At eight, Zoya comes to find me. I’m in the library reading an art history book. She gives me a stiff smile when she sees me sitting at the table.

“Just wanted to let you know Mr. Karsavin won’t be home tonight. He’ll be away on business for the next few days,” she informs me.

I’m incredibly grateful for a few days away from Lev. But is this how it’s going to be? Instead of my husband telling me himself where he’ll be, he’ll get his assistant to do it?

“Thanks for letting me know.” I dip my head. “Is he away a lot?”

“Yes. He often works late, and sometimes he’s away on business for a few days.”

“I see.”

“He’ll be back on Friday. He says he’ll meet you at Bellomo’s for dinner.”