Chapter 23

Lana's POV 

Oh, good morning, Lana," Evelyn said, her smile sharp and forced. She didn't wait for a response, breezing past Lana with already calculating eyes fixed upon the entryway. "You don't mind if I make some changes here, do you? I want everything to look just right for dinner with Nikolai tonight."

Lana set her head at a polite angle, swallowing the smart-alecky reply that leaped to her lips. She returned her attention to the children, who were chattering happily at the table. She had already filled in on her plan for the day: Nikolai had asked her to take the kids out on a road trip to give him and Evelyn some space for the evening.

Just as she was mulling over their schedule, her phone buzzed with a notification-a transfer alert. She checked it and saw the amount, a generous sum from Nikolai.

"Looks like your dad wants us to have a really fun day," she told the kids, showing them her phone.

Max's face beamed. "Are we going somewhere special?"

Lily jumped up, clapping her hands. "Yay! Can we go to the lake?

"Yes, of course," Lana said, smiling. "We'll make a whole day of it-how does that sound?

The kids cheered, and Lana felt a tingle of excitement too. It had been a while since she'd spent a day like this with them, where they could all just let loose. But beneath that excitement lay another feeling-one far more unsettling, yet impossible to turn her back on. She couldn't get rid of the image of Nikolai and Evelyn together tonight, sharing dinner across the perfectly set table. At that thought, her heart twisted, and she couldn't fathom why.

"All right, let's get you two ready," Lana said, her voice a bit too chipper, as she shooed them upstairs to change.

Finally, when the kids were dressed and ready to go, they all piled into the car, giggling and chattering about all the places they wanted to visit. Lana grinned as she listened, occasionally throwing in her own suggestions, but her mind kept drifting back to Nikolai. She despised the fact that he had so easily commandeered her thoughts as of late. More than his incisive gaze or handsome face, there was something magnetic about him, something that stirred her in ways she hadn't felt in some time.

"Earth to Lana," Mabel's voice suddenly yanked her out of her reverie; she turned to find her friend smirking at her from the passenger seat.

Hmm?" Lana blinked, realizing Mabel had been talking to her.

Mabel shook her head with a grin. "I was saying, you're awfully quiet for a road trip. Usually you're leading the charge, singing along with the kids and all that. What's on your mind?"

Lana forced a laugh. "Nothing, just thinking about the day ahead.

But Mabel wasn't buying it. "Really? Because you've been zoning out since we left the mansion. Let me guess-you're thinking about someone tall, dark, and handsome?"

Lana rolled her eyes, trying to mask her embarrassment. "I'm just doing my job, Mabel. That's all."

"Uh-huh." Mabel gave her a knowing look. "Come on, Lana. It's written all over your face. You're totally smitten with Mr. Sinclair.

Lana's cheeks crimsoned, but she tried to laugh it off. "You're ridiculous."

"Maybe," Mabel said, shrugging. "But I'm not wrong. You wouldn't be spacing out if you weren't at least a little interested.

She kept her eyes on the road, a small flutter of nerves in her chest. She knew Mabel was right; she couldn't deny it. She had developed a crush on Nikolai, and for all her effort, she could not seem to rid herself of it.

The kids leaped from the car and ran yelping with excitement to the edge of the lake. Lana and Mabel trailed behind, casting about for a spot under a shady tree where they could keep Max and Lily in view.

"So, Lana," said Mabel, her voice low and conspiratorial, and a grin spreading across her face. "You really should just go for it."

"Go for what?" asked Lana, feigning innocence.

"With Nikolai," Mabel said, because it was apparently obvious. "You clearly like him, and from what I can tell, he seems to at least care about you."

Lana shook her head quickly. "Mabel, he's..he's my boss. And he's. he's with Evelyn." She hated the way Evelyn's name tasted bitter in her mouth.

Ugh, Evelyn," Mabel muttered, rolling her eyes. "Yeah, she's pretty awful. But just because he's with her now doesn't mean that'll last. I mean, you're basically part of the family, Lana."

"I don't know, Mabel." Lana sighed, feeling the weight of her conflicted emotions. "It's just complicated."

Mabel patted her on the shoulder. "Hey, love's always complicated. Just think about it, okay?

Before Lana could respond, a loud cry erupted at the lake. Her heart lurched, and she turned to see Max lying on the ground, clutching at his knee and wincing in pain.

"Max!" she called, hurrying over with Mabel not too far behind.

Max looked up at her, his face pale, trying to keep the tears from tumbling. "I fell, Miss Lana," he whispered, his voice shaking.

"It's all right, Max," Lana said gently, dropping to her knee beside him. She took a look at his knee-skinned, but thankfully not bleeding too badly. "It's just a scratch. You're going to be okay."

She pulled out a small first-aid kit from her bag and gently began cleaning his knee, talking softly as she worked. "You are just so brave, Max. Look at you, handling this like such a champ."

Max gave her a wobbly smile, some of the fear in his eyes receding. "Thanks, Miss Lana."

Lana smiled back, her heart softening at the sight of him. The nights she had spent tending to Max and Lily were periods of purpose that seemed to have been missing for so long. She couldn't help but wonder, as she placed a final piece of tape around his knee, if this was what belonging feels like.

After ensuring that Max was fine, she led him back to the waiting Mabel and Lily. Lily immediately gave her brother a big hug, and they sat down and took a little picnic, laughing and talking as they enjoyed the warm afternoon.

But as Lana continued to watch the children, her mind returned to Nikolai. What was Nikolai doing at this very moment? Was he happy now with Evelyn, or was there a part of him that felt as torn as she did?

Mabel leaned into her once more, her face alight with a teasing grin. "There you go, spacing out again. Just go for it, Lana."