“You don’t need to hire me just because we’re together, you know. If you want to take my idea and… and ask someone more skilled, I’ll understand.”
“Is that what you think this is?” Matvey asks, a trace of impatience in his words. “I’m not in the business of mindless nepotism, April. If I was, I’d be dead and buried.”
“That’s not what I meant!” I hurry to clarify. “It’s just… Don’t you want the best person for the job?”
“I do. And I’ve already got them.”
This isn’t real. This can’t be real. “Matvey…”
His hand comes up to my cheek, catching a stray tear rolling down. “You don’t have to do this,” he says eventually. “You’re allowed to say no, April. But I hope you won’t. I hope you’ll take this job, you’ll take the money, and you’ll take the opportunity to sign your name on your first li
