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It isn’t a question, but I answer anyway. “Yes, sir.”
“Resourceful, aren’t you?” he drawls.
I straighten my spine and lift my chin. If doing an end run is going to get me fired, then I’d rather go down with poise than cowering before this powerful man who most people wouldn’t dare disobey.
I level my gaze on him. “I like to think so, sir.”
Surprise and a hint of amusement flash in his eyes. His lips twitch, but that impassive mask remains firmly in place. I don’t envy Tarina one bit for having to work directly with this man. Her boss. He’s impossible to read. Any moment he could bust out laughing or fire me. I can’t tell which he’s leaning toward.
“We can use resourceful people around here. Just remember that you have a job to do tonight. Don’t let Mr. Kozlov distract you from your work.”
“I won’t, sir.” I sag a little with relief. He’s not firing me.
“Good.” With one last scrutinizing glance, he moves past me. “Miss Ives! I see you lurking in that doorway.”
Tarina steps into the hall, exasperation and disdain stamped across her features. She looks amazing in a flowing blue dress that matches her eyes. Her blond curls piled high, expose her long, elegant neck. None of which Mr. Hyde seems to notice as he berates her over some insignificant detail—one she’s already fixed from the look of things.
What a tyrant.
CHAPTER 36
Dimitri
“I’m not going to explain the club’s capacity to you again,” I tell the new manager at Riot over the phone, while unsuccessfully trying to tie my tuxedo bowtie in the mirror. “I don’t give a fuck if there’s a line around the block or halfway across the city. They can wait.” I hang up.
Why is everyone so fucking incompetent tonight? All I want is to finish getting dressed and head to Leonidas so I can be with Arianna. It’s already after ten at night. I meant to be there earlier. At that thought, I shoot off a text to my wife letting her know I’m running late but am on my way.
“Maks!” I bark. He steps into the room. “Fix this?” I gesture to the bowtie, wishing Arianna was here because she always knows how to do these fancy things.
“Sure thing, Pakhan.” Maks straightens out the mess I made and has it tied correctly in seconds.
Glancing in the mirror, I study his handiwork. “Where the fuck did you learn to do that so well?”
He smirks. “Liam Baron.”
Of course his fancy, billionaire heir boyfriend would teach him something like this. Arianna’s tried to show me, but I haven’t been able to get the hang of it yet. My attempts end up too loose and floppy.
“Looks good.” I clap Maks on the back. “Let’s go.”
In the car, I’m restless, tapping my foot impatiently. “Turn on some music or something. I need a distraction.”
Maks’s eyes me from the driver’s seat. “You know I can’t hear over that shit.”
“What is there to hear?”
“I don’t know yet.” He sighs. “Fine. Here.” He tunes in to a local music station. Wailing opera pours from the speakers.
“What the fuck is this shit?” I catch his gaze in the rearview mirror.
“It’s called culture.”
I snort. “The fuck it is. You’ve been spending too much time around the hoity-toity. Don’t get all fancy on me, Maks.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it?—”
There’s a flash of light, then a loud boom.
The car lifts off the ground.
