She sighs. “You’re not even around. There’s no reason I can’t.”
That’s it.
I reach over and pluck her phone from her hand, handing it to Viktor. In Russian I tell him to keep it until they get home, then she can have it back.
“You can’t just take my things.”
I lean into the car, capture her chin in my hand, and force her to look at me. “I can do whatever the fuck I want, Charlotte. That’s how this works. That’s the rule.”
She stares at me, the softness of a few minutes ago now hard ice.
“When the dresses arrive, put them away in the closet. The black dress, the first one you tried on is for tonight.” I let her chin go. “And leave your hair down.”
Silently, she turns to look out the front window. Without even looking, she pulls the seatbelt across her body and snaps it into place.
“Get her whatever she wants for lunch, then home,” I say to Viktor, in English this time so she can understand the directions.
She turns her head to look out the other window, her best attempt to shun me, I suppose.
“I’ll see you tonight, Charlotte.” I close the door, confident she’s more likely to flip me off than send me off with smile.
I wait until Viktor turns the corner before heading back into the boutique.