I wipe at my eyes, sniffing rather unceremoniously. “Ivan… All I want is to come home.”
He smiles softly and leans down, kissing me deeply. I slide my arms around his neck and kiss him back. I hold myself against him, and he wraps his arms around me. We simply stand there in silence, holding each other.
When we part, I start crying harder, and he smiles. “Those are pregnancy hormones. Those I’m familiar with.”
I slap his arm playfully and look at Kira. “I have to go.”
Kira smiles as Ivan takes my hand and places my wedding band back on my finger. I look at it sparkling in the light and grin at my sister. “I’m going home.”
“I’m…” Kira starts, then pauses. There’s a strange look on her face then she widens her eyes. “I’m going into labor.”
Chapter 28 - Ivan
I tilt my head to the side. I don’t know if I like this art. Suppose you could call this art. The weird painting on the wall of the nude guy bothers me, and I wave to the interior designer. “This is a no.”
“It’s all the rage right now,” she says gleefully, and I stare at her. She backs down. “But we don’t want trendy. We want uniqueness. I’ll get rid of it.”
I smirk and go back into Tori’s office. The Sorvino Volkov Firm is coming along nicely. Tori is interviewing potential employees soon, and I know she’s looking forward to that. I glance behind me as I hear Tori and Ana’s voices. They are walking arm in arm, each carrying a brown bag. I head back out to meet them in reception.
“Luigi’s just invited me to this random birthday dinner, like. He is such a nag. He’s always asking what my plans are and if he can take me out.”
“Do it,” I hear Tori tell my daughter, I know she’s been helping them see each other for a while now, and I frown.
“I think that’s a terrible idea,” I say to them as they walk up to me. “I think Ana should set her sights elsewhere.”
They stare at me, and then it is an onslaught from the two of them.
“Don’t you think my brother is good enough?”
“You have zero say over who I want to see or don’t want to see.”
“Luigi and Ana are perfect for each other.”
“Even if we’re not, I decide, not you.”
It goes on for several minutes before I hold my hands up in surrender. “You’ve both made very valid points. I am a terrible person who should not decide things.” I look at Tori. “Except for the artwork on your walls.”
“I told her to get rid of the hairy, naked man,” Tori says with wide eyes. “Did she not?”
“She did after I asked,” I smirk.
Tori smiles evilly. I love that smile. She’s gotten so much more confident, and I know she’s excited both for the arrival of our baby and to start working in her own firm.
Anastasia rolls her eyes. “You two love birds carry on. I am going shopping and then to a birthday dinner, apparently.”
Tori smiles and hugs her. “You be safe, and if he’s an ass, tell me, and I’ll kick his ass.”
“I’ll…”
“You’ll nothing,” they both shout to me.
I hold my hands up again, and Tori waves Ana off before she turns and holds up the brown bag. “I have lunch.”
We sit side by side at the table in boardroom one. Tori unpacks the lunch for us. Two containers of an Italian pasta dish.
“From your sister?” I ask curiously.
“From the bistro, but no, she’s home with the baby today,” she smiles and hands me cutlery. I lean over and kiss her deeply, dropping my hand to hold her belly. Then we start to eat.