She glanced up at me as she opened the laptop I’d provided for her that would sync with whatever she did on the PC in the office I’d set up for her. “Why what?”
“Why didn’t you sleep well?”
“I had… dreams.”
Oh, fuck me, sweetheart. Are you dreaming about me like I dream about you?
The mental image of her in bed, twisting and moaning, had my dick getting hard.
“I want to start a conversation with you about something you mentioned.”
She raised her brows. “Okay…?”
“Shell companies. I think it’s about time I have you investigate as far as you can which shell companies might be involved with this new trend of messing with the Bratva’s accounts.”
She opened and closed her mouth, then nodded. “Okay.”
12
ELENA
“Okay? That’s it?” Adrik smirked, looking like a smug man in his big leather chair.
I’d been in here one time, on something like a tour when Paul was getting to know me and welcoming me as a member of the in-house accounting team.
Dark-brown wood panels made up the walls. Navy-blue furnishings accented the woodsy look, but the plush white carpet on the floor was my favorite. It was so soft, I could imagine napping on it! A thick ply like it was a blanket more than a rug. But on the other hand, I had to fret and worry that it could even get dirty, so purely bright and light like fleece underfoot.
“Yes,” I replied. “I would love to investigate that topic.” Dreading how that sounded, like I could be overly zealous and too interested, I bit my lip. “I mean, if you want. I’ve noticed, just by a passing glance?—”
“Elena.” He cut me off by simply stating my name.
But, oh, how I loved to hear it in his smoky, gruff tone.
I swallowed hard. “Yes?”
“Don’t backtrack and make excuses for yourself.”
I furrowed my brow. “Why not?” I asked in a quiet voice.
He huffed. “Because you don’t need to. Not with me.”
And what doesthatmean? Like I can trust you? I can be confident to be myself around you? Yeah, right.
I decided to take a chance on what he said, though, owning my interest. “I’ve mentioned it before, and I didn’t think you were listening.”
“I’m always listening.” He steepled his fingers, and I had a brain fart of trying to understand how that could make him look hotter. Because it made him appear contemplative? And men who thought were… sexier?
“Elena?”
I sighed. He was still messing me up after that kiss. Hot and cold. Intrigued and distant. Receptive then closed off. Which version was he going to be today, and for how long?
“So you remember?”
He nodded. “You mentioned your suspicion about a few unknown shell companies with strange transfers linked with the errors that have been showing up on the Volkov accounts.”
“That’s right.” My confidence bloomed brighter. Hehadpaid attention. “I’m getting a hunch that it’s a hidden enemy.” Again, my cheeks heated. “Well,yourenemy. Not mine. A Volkov enemy, and I’m not a Volkov. I’m just me, but you’re you and?—”
Shut up, El.
