The first dress Irina put me in was already an improvement. It was black and made of satin. It was an A-line, off-the-shoulder dress and had a slit so far up the leg that I’d have to make sure I didn’t flash anyone. There was a dip down the back, and Irina helped me tighten it so that it fit a little better. Opening the curtain, I stepped out and, for the first time, Aleksei’s mouth dropped open.

“Holy shit. Now that’s more like it. Marek would lose his mind. That’s way better. Much ...