I frowned. Shouldn’t he be asking how Ryan was doing?
“I really miss him,” I said honestly. “I was hoping he could come for a visit soon?”
Richard frowned. “I don’t think that’s a good idea right now. I’d like to see you get settled in here first.”
“It’s been almost two weeks,” I said defensively. “I don’t know how much more settled I can be.”
Kingston snorted, and I realized I needed to reign in my anger if I wanted to win this argument.
“I think it would help me adjust,” I said more sweetly.
Richard sat back in his chair. “I’ll be honest with you, Katya. I was concerned when I heard you would have turned down an opportunity at one of the best ballet schools in the country if Ryan didn’t get to go with you. After speaking with his parents, I realized that the two of you have a very codependent relationship. Have you ever been apart before?”
What the hell? Was this guy seriously psychoanalyzing me right now? How could he judge me when he couldn’t even see through his fake fiancé?
I took a deep breath before I spoke so that I didn’t say anything that I’d regret. “Ryan and I have a very healthy relationship. We’re just as close as the two of your sons are to one another. How often are they apart?” I challenged him.
“Except I’m not fucking my brother,” Kingston said under his breath.
I forgot Kingston and Maverik missed Ryan’s confession because they were late to our first dinner together. They still thought Ryan was my boyfriend, not my best friend. I didn’t care what they thought, so I let it go.
Richard raised an eyebrow at me, but I didn’t think he heard what Kingston said. If he had, he didn’t react. “His parents say that the two of you haven’t left each other’s sides in years.”
“We have some separate classes,” I said defensively. “We don’t spend all day at school together, just all of our free time and practice time.”
“Regardless,” Richard said dismissively. “I think it would be good for you to develop a sense of self-identity without him.”
I fumed. Any progress I had thought I made with Richard was completely wiped away. I didn’t even have to look over to see the smirks on both boys’ faces. They thought this was funny?
“Why don’t the two of you invite some of your classmates over so that Katya can make some new friends?” Richard suggested to his sons. “I’m sure she’s getting bored being trapped in the house all day by herself.”
“That’s okay,” I quickly interjected when I felt the heat of glares from both boys. “I’ve been busy practicing to audition to a ballet school out here. I’ve been emailing different places and asking my old instructors for references, so I need to be ready if a school is willing to meet me.”
“Oh, that won’t be necessary,” Richard told me. “I’ve enrolled you at Bedford Academy with the boys. They’ve promised to have a ballet program in place for you by the fall.”
My jaw dropped. “They didn’t have one before?”
“No,” Richard said with a frown. “I let them know it was a huge oversight on their part and provided funding to get it started. They just had general dance classes that wouldn’t have been sufficient for your needs.”
“Um, they’re going to hire an instructor for one student?” I asked cautiously. This seemed insane. Just how much did this school charge for tuition?
Richard waved his hand. “They’re in negotiations with some ballet schools in the area who will be willing to loan instructors on certain days of the week.”
“Wouldn’t it be easier for me to just go to one of those schools? It’s not just about the instructors, it’s about working with other students as well,” I explained.
“We’ll see what they come up with,” Richard said dismissively. “But remember what we talked about in reference to your academics.”
I nodded, still confused about what was going to happen. More importantly, why was Richard so invested in me? Sure, I was the daughter of his fiancé, but it wasn’t normal for him to care this much, right? Bringing me here for the summer because he thought it would make Nina happy was one thing. But now he was bribing a school to make a special program just for me? It would have been far easier for him and the rest of his family to simply leave me in New York. Nina certainly wouldn’t have objected.
“That reminds me. Maverik,” Richard called to his son. “I need you to take Katya to Bedford Academy tomorrow for her evaluation. Introduce her to some of the teachers and show her around.”
Maverik turned his heated stare towards me, and a chill ran down my spine. I didn’t want my future at this new school to be in jeopardy because Maverik was pissed he was forced to babysit me. This was his opportunity to get back at me for the pranks.
“I’m sure I would be fine on my own,” I assured Richard.
I could still feel Maverik’s eyes on me, but I kept my head held high and ignored him. I wasn’t going to let a spoiled rich boy intimidate me.
“Nonsense,” Richard told me. “I’m sure Mav would be happy to do it. Right?” he said forcefully to Maverik.
Why was Richard so determined to force the boys to interact with me? He couldn’t be oblivious to the fact that they hated me.
“Of course, Dad,” Maverik growled. “I’ll take very good care of sweet little Katya.” He bared his teeth at me, and I was immediately worried.
He was going to spend all night planning something horrible to do to me - I knew it. But instead of shrinking back, I leaned forward and narrowed my eyes
