“Oksana is leaving for Moscow for a few days. It will just be the two of us. What do you want me to do, Martin?”
He rang her at nine the following morning with his answer. His airy tone betrayed the fact he was speaking on behalf of Gabriel.
“It’s fine with me. In fact, it might be good for future business.”
“And if he tries to seduce me?”
“Improvise.” After a pause, Martin added, “If you think you can handle him.”
“If I can handle you, I can handle Arkady Akimov.”
“I didn’t realize I was beinghandled.”
“I suppose I’ll have to try harder next time.”
“Please do.”
Isabel planned to telephone Arkady with the news at midday, but he called her five minutes after Martin rang off. He didn’t sound at all surprised when she accepted his invitation, though he was quite obviously pleased.
“My driver will pick you up at your apartment at seven,” he said, and abruptly rang off.
He didn’t bother to ask Isabel for the address.
45
Féchy, Canton Vaud
Arkady’s garish villa sparkled like a yuletide tree, but in its cavernous ceremonial rooms the atmosphere was one of sudden abandonment. Isabel imagined the driver had mistakenly delivered her to Gatsby’s mansion in West Egg the morning after Myrtle’s tragic death in the valley of ashes. Indeed, she half expected to find Arkady as Nick Carraway had found his enigmatic neighbor—leaning against a table in the hall, heavy with dejection or sleep. Instead, Arkady received Isabel cheerfully in his formal drawing room. Like his office upstairs, it was impeccably decorated, though here the piano was a Bechstein Concert B 212 rather than a Bösendorfer.
He lifted an open bottle of Montrachet from a crystal ice bucket and poured two glasses. Handing one to Isabel, he kissed her lightly on each cheek. The shock was like a spark of static electricity.
“You look lovely, Isabel. But then, you always do.” Arkady raised his glass. “Thank you so much for accepting my invitation. I was afraid you wouldn’t come.”
“Why?”
“Because your last visit here was...”
“At times unpleasant,” said Isabel.
“But lucrative, yes?”
“Incredibly.”
“I hope Martin has looked after your interests.”
“He’s been very generous.”
“Does he know you’re here?”
“What do you think?”
“I think you called him the minute you left my office last night and asked him what you should do.”
“Are you listening to my calls?” asked Isabel playfully.
“Of course.” His smile was disarming. “And we’re reading your text messages and emails as well.”
“Is that how you discovered my address?”
