Defiant. Sweet. Alluring.
A business deal gone wrong brought me to her doorstep.
She's everything I shouldn't want; everything I was against after watching my mother's obsession destroy her.
Still, I can't stop myself from craving her.
I should know...
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I RAN INTO LEV IN the hallway, and he visibly shrank when he saw me.
Good. He knew what he did wrong.
I scowled at him. I'd never gotten close to punching my head of security as I was now. "You better have a fucking good reason as to why you left Ariana alone by the pool. Why weren't you by her side when I found her?"
"Sorry, Boss. Igor happened. He wanted to speak to your wife, and he asked Anastasia and me to give them some privacy," he quickly explained, averting his gaze.
"And you left her side."
"Yes, Boss."
"Hm." I took a step toward him, reveling in the way his shoulders stiffened. "Maybe I have things mixed up here, but I could've sworn I was the one who signed your paychecks. Correct me if I'm wrong."
"Boss, I–" He swallowed the rest of his word, gulping in fear when he saw the look in my eyes.
"Did I ask you to speak?"
He shook his head.
"Did I ask you to leave my wife's side?"
Another head shake.
"And you still disobeyed me either way." I tilted my head to the side. "Do you want me to make an example out of you, Sokolov?"
His eyes rounded into saucers. He knew I wasn't fucking around when I used his last name.
"Perhaps I've given you too much leeway?"
"No, Boss. I'm sorry. It won't happen again."
"It won't," I agreed.
"Y-You're not gonna fire me, are you?" He stammered, panic flying in his gaze.
I ignored his question. "If I were you, I'd start praying Igor didn't do anything to Ariana, because if he did, you'll be joining Yuri in a grave." I brushed past him, continuing toward the party room. "And Lev?"
"Yes, Boss."
"I don't want to see your face for the rest of the weekend."
"But, I'm your head of security. I'm supposed to protect—"
"This is me being generous right now, Sokolov. You've already failed me tonight. Don't push your luck."
A released a sigh of concession. "I have a note for you from Igor."
I faltered in my steps.
"That's why I left Ariana by the pool. He said he had a message for you. I didn't go too far when he was speaking to her."
"What does the note say?" I asked without looking back.
There was a crinkling of paper before he spoke again. "Are you sure about this union? Ivanov isn't pleased that you abandoned his daughter for an outsider."
