Keep earning my keep

I find out that when he said there was a lot to do, he wasn't lying. His house is in a state of neglect, and we spend a good part of the day cleaning it up. Later in the afternoon Yuri comes to me.

"Tatyana." He says. "Do you know how to cook?"

I glance over at Sasha. The look on her face is priceless.

"A little bit, why?" I respond.

"Can you make borscht?" He asks me.

"Yes." I tell him.

"Then go and do it." He says, motioning to the kitchen with an open palm.

I head over and get to work. My mom taught me how to make borscht. It's not that hard. When I'm finished, the three of us sit down for dinner.

"Not bad." Yuri tells me after trying it.

I thank him, and we return to quietly eating. When we're almost done, Yuri speaks up again.

"Tonight." He says, looking at Sasha. "I'd like you to come to my bedroom."

She freezes up. "I don't know." She says.

"Don't know?" He asks. "You stay in my house and eat my food..."

"I'll do it." I interrupt.

"Why not?" He asks Sasha, ignoring me.

"It's just that I've never..." She says meekly. "I've never done that. Well, before..."

I grab him by the arm. "Just let me do it again." I say to him. "I promise I'll blow your mind."

He looks me up and down again. "Alright." He says. "You can do it tonight, but she's gonna have to earn her keep eventually."