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Sofia knew Ekaterina Goncharova for a liar when she insisted on not being called “Mrs. Goncharov.”
“It is much too formal for me,” she explained with a sunny smile.
Sofia raised her eyebrows at the woman’s elegant black dress and perfectly styled blonde hair and knew it wasn’t formality she objected to.
“Very well,” was all she said. “This way, please.” She felt Ekaterina’s eyes on her as she led her to Mario’s office, and again when she did not leave the room but stood beside Mario, listening carefully.
“I will be brief,” Ekaterina told them. “I wish to invest with your business.”
“For your husband’s benefit?” Mario asked, just as suspicious as Sofia.
“No.” Her eyes darted back to Sofia. “For my own.”
By the time Ekaterina left after agreeing to send a few of her husband’s potential clients to Mario in exchange for a share of the profits, Sofia understood that anyone who saw her simply as “Mrs. Goncharov” would be making a very dangerous mistake.
“I hope you do not think too harshly of me,” Ekaterina said the next time she came.
Sofia looked up from her desk, her eyebrows drawing together. “What does it matter what I think?”
“Well, I would like to be at least somewhat friendly with my new colleagues,” Ekaterina replied.
“Or you want to find out if I dislike you so you can get rid of me,” Sofia shot back. “Kill the snake in the egg, as the saying goes.”
Ekaterina only smiled at her. “Indeed. Your Mario is wasting your intelligence by making you a secretary.”
“He is not my Mario,” Sofia said sharply. “And I am not just a secretary, Mrs. Goncharov.”
“My mistake,” Ekaterina said lightly. “And what did I say about addressing me?”
Sofia barely managed not to roll her eyes. “Good day, Ekaterina.”
In response, Ekaterina departed with an approving smile that ignited a warmth in Sofia’s chest.
When Sofia finally saw Ekaterina with her husband at a party, she watched his every move. What kind of man must he be that Ekaterina would resort to such means for her own money? Mr. Goncharov, however, was nothing but civil toward his wife and seemed pleased whenever someone complimented her.
Sofia finally saw an opportunity to satisfy her curiosity when Ekaterina slipped outside, the flicker of her lighter on the villa balcony the only thing visible in the dark. Placing a cigarette of her own between her lips, she followed Ekaterina out into the night.
Ekaterina did not seem surprised to see her. “Sofia, how nice of you to join me!” Before Sofia could respond, Ekaterina leaned forward to light her cigarette. The flame illuminated her blonde hair and shimmering dress and showed Sofia an intent, hungry look in her eyes.
“Ekaterina…” she breathed.
Ekaterina lowered the lighter but kept her gaze on Sofia as she squeezed her hand briefly. “Please, you must call me Katya.”
“Katya.” Looking into her eyes, Sofia found the courage to ask the question that had been haunting her. “Does your husband treat you so badly that you wanted to come to us?”
Katya’s face crumpled briefly before she regained her cool, elegant mask. “Of course not, but every woman should have a way to earn her own money. It’s the smart thing to do, the same way you don’t bother with men at all. Isn’t that right?”
“I suppose so,” Sofia muttered, avoiding Katya’s expectant look. She saw Katya crush her cigarette on the balcony railing and reach out her hand again.
“Don’t be so grim. I have something that might make you happy.”
Sofia hovered in a moment of indecision, then put out her own cigarette and took Katya’s hand.
Katya led her to a small powder room and closed the door behind them. Sofia could feel her pulse in her ears.
“I wore this tonight, but it does not suit me.” Katya reached up and unclasped her pearl necklace. “But I think it would look lovely on you. Let’s see.” She placed her hands on Sofia’s shoulders and turned her toward the mirror. The back of Sofia’s neck burned, and she was sure Katya could feel it as she fastened the necklace.
“I was right!” Katya said. “How charming you look!” Sofia refocused on the reflection in the mirror, the two of them standing together with the pearls that had just been on Katya’s neck now around Sofia’s throat.
“Thank you, E- Katya.”
Katya beamed at her in the mirror. “If we were in Russia, I would call you Sonya.”
Sofia turned around, putting their faces close again. “Is that what Sofia is in Russian?”
“Oh, no!” Katya laughed. “Sofia is the same in both countries. Sonya is a – how would you say it? – a pet name. It means you are dear to me.”
Sofia felt the warmth in her chest begin spreading through the rest of her body. “You can call me Sonya if you’d like.”
“Give you a Russian name?” Katya was still laughing at her. “That doesn’t seem like a very good idea.”
“It could be between the two of us. When we’re alone.” Sofia cringed internally as she heard how ridiculous the request sounded.
Katya didn’t seem to think so, though. Her eyes softened as she fingered the pearls on Sofia’s neck. “All right. Sonya.”
Soon they would have to rejoin the party and the rest of the world. For right now, though, Sofia could savor the secret of being Sonya. Katya’s Sonya.