Adelina couldfinally stop complaining about how Luna dressed. He chewed at theinside of his cheek. Maybe she can help?He’d need to talk to her about this anyway, just to explain why hisfriends were so weird.
The music suddenlychanged, the tempo becoming more exuberant. He figured that meant theceremony was about to start. Luna’s guests, all turning to look atthe back door in unison, pretty much confirmed his hunch.
The attendants openedthe door and he saw her. He forgot all about his friends with tieswrapped around their necks. He forgot all about the show Oliv wasunwittingly putting on.
He barely even noticedthe ceremony.
Adelina took asmall sip of champagne to hide her smile. For such bigstrong men, these two seem awfully nervous to be in a moving limo.Every time the vehicle came to a turn, they’d grab at armrests.
And Eth seemed asif he weretasting alcohol for the first time. He actually sniffed the flutebefore tasting it. Weird or not, every single guy in the group wasimprobably hot. The girls too... ‘Adelina!’
“Huh?” She cameback to reality.
“Hon, I need you tohelp with some of Gleb’s friends,” Luna said. “A couple of themdon’t quite have their dresses on right.”
Adelina rolled hereyes. “Yeah, I think a few folks might have noticed. I think someof the guys from our side may not even have noticed that a weddingtook place.”
“I know,”Luna sighed. “I’m trying to convince Momand Dadthat Gleb’s not some Russian gangster and Oliv shows up lookinglike she’s dressed for a shift at the strip club.”
“Why isshe wearing a dress backwards and flashing her boobs every time shetakes a breath?” Adelina asked. They have clothes inRussia; I can Googleit if you don’t believe me.
“Most of them arescientists, not debutantes,” Luna explained. “They certainlydon’t do it for the money and they don’t get invited to manyformal events.”
“Must have costa bundle to get them all here for the wedding on such short notice,”Adelina observed. Explain that, Sis. She’d inherited her father’spenchant for ferreting out the truth.
“My ancestorsfled to the East during the Revolution,” Gleb told her. He smiledmodestly. “We weren’t so foolish as to flee empty-handed…”
Adelina absorbed thatand the hairs on the back of her neck began to stand up. Gleb’sancestors. Luna had decided to keep the Morales name but herhusband’s name was…
“Romanovs fleeing tothe East…” she nearly whispered.
Luna put a hand on herlap. “Addie, there are tons of Romanovs out there. Can you keepthis between us so he can keep on being just another guy with aninteresting name?”
“Even most of ourfriends have no idea,” Eth added. “They don’t know who hereally is. There might be some who would still want him gone.”
Adelina was speechless,so she simply nodded her agreement. She didn’t remain speechlessfor long. “I have to admit, little sister, you really found aprince!”
“The implicationbeing that I first had to kiss a lot of frogs?” Luna asked sweetly.
“…” Adelinareplied, smiling even moresweetly.
Luna was actuallylooking at her with her mouth hanging open but it was an act. “Didyou just see that?” She looked at Gleb. “My sister keeping hertrap shut when I feed her a perfectly good straight line! That’snot just discretion. That’s superhuman discretion!”
Gleb nodded. “You’rethinking about the offer?”
What offer is he…Adelina’seyes widened. Given how his friends liked to dress… Thisbetter not turn into some Euro-royaltyswinger thing!
“We can set upa summer position for Gabriella,” Luna told her. “It involvessome game-changing tech, so she’ll need to sign an NDA.”
Well, now I feel like a bit of a jerk, Adelinaadmitted to herself. I’m thinking the worstand they’re just thinking of Gabriella.
“Look, youdon’t have to answer now.” Gleblooked out the window. “We’realmost at the hotel. Talk it over with Gabriella and, if you want toat least explore the idea, we can take a quick flight tomorrow afterbreakfast.”
“Um, OK, Iguess…” Adelina said. Way to sound like you appreciatethe gesture, dummy! “Sorry,I’m just a little surprised at this. I’ll have a chat with hertonight.”
The limo slid to a haltand someone opened the door for them. Adelina looked at the guy who’dopened the limo. He had a tie wrapped around his neck, for somereason, but he seemed hyper-alert, eyes looking everywhere, head on aswivel.
Funny how I didn’t even realize he hadsecurity until I knew who he really was. Now I can’t help but seeit. She followed them inside.
They’d come inthrough a back entrance. Security, I suppose.So they had to walk through a long dingy hallway to reach theballroom.
They found therest of the wedding party at the sign announcing the‘Romanov-Morales’ reception. Us plebs usually don’thave to sneak in through a smelly back hallway.
They lined up, Adelinastanding next to Eth, and then they paraded inside. There were theusual cheers and shouts, the clapping…
Just like sheremembered from her own wedding. He does seem pretty nice, shethought. I really hope he’s the good man he seems to be. Shestopped herself there.
No sense dwelling onpast mistakes.
Unsurprisingly, they’dopted to forgo a strictly formal agenda. There would be an hour atthe start for the two groups to mingle.
Especiallyunsurprising, given the mission. She draped her silk jacket over theback of her chair and started looking for her first target. Somewoman named Chelan.
She didn’t turn outto be the one from the front row. Instead, Chelan was a blondfirebrand with at least a couple of drinks already in her belly…her rippling, six-pack of a belly.
“Change thedress?” sheexclaimed. “Is good now; I don’t need to fix!” She was about tosay something else but then her eyes grew wide and she stood a bitstraighter.
“Chelan,” Glebgreeted her as he came to stand by Adelina. “Thank-you for beinghere to celebrate with us!”
“Thank you forthinking of me,” Chelan said, resting her right hand over her leftcollarbone.
“This is my newsister, Adelina. She’s offered to help some of our friends with thelocal customs. I would appreciate it if you gave her your fullcooperation.”
Chelan nodded deeply.It was nearly what you would call a bow in some circles. She turnedto Adelina, tilting her head to the side. “What needs to be done,my lady?”
“Oh!” Adelina wasflustered. “I’m not sure I count as… I just…” She shut hermouth and regrouped. “Let’s go to the ladies’
