Page 48 of Taken By My Grumpy Pakhan

Collin almost choked on his sandwich. “That’s one way to put it.”

“It’s the truth.”

He wiped the corners of his lips with a serviette before looking at me. “It’s primal male envy. He has the looks, the money, the charisma, the cars and the women. That’s way more than the average guy desires.”

“Yeah, but he’s like the biggest jerk.”

He nodded, gearing up for another bite. “You’ll find out not many people care for values and personality in the face of wealth and power.”

I watched his teeth sink into the thick stack of bread and vegetables, his statement echoing in my head.

He was right. A lot of the younger males in the company looked at Kazimir like he was a god, while the other half wanted to be him.

The women weren’t any different. They softened their tone, loosened a few buttons and walked with an extra sway to their hips whenever they came in contact with him.

Not that I was any different, but in my defence, I was watching from the outside. My view and knowledge of him was limited to his entry and exit from the elevator and the annual meetings.

Those gave very little insight as to who he was while magnifying my crush.

But now, I was in close range and I could barely stand him.

Those women had been in close range for years, seen him for who he truly was, and still threw themselves at him even though he barely acknowledged them.

Granted, the man was as handsome as sin and had a body that was carved in a way that promised the best night, but they could be subtle.

Part of my frustration was from the way my body reacted to him despite knowing all of these, but Collin didn’t need to know that.

“And you? Do you believe wealth and good looks excuse bad behaviour?”

He paused, regarding me briefly before speaking. “I believe manners maketh man.”

My shoulders slumped in relief. “Exactly what I’m saying. All that money and no decency equals gorgon.”

If my shower head could hear this, she would’ve yelled liar at the top of her nozzle.

I hurriedly added my next comment before my head began to conjure images. “I knew you had a functioning brain between those shoulders.”

Collin smiled. “You think my shoulders are nice?”

“That wasn’t what I said.” I internally winced at how that came out. “I mean, you don’t look bad, but I wasn’t checking you out or anything.”

His only comment was an unconvinced “Mhmm.”

How do I always get myself into these situations?

“Regardless of your grievances, you’re still going to spend the rest of the day with him and I know you’ll be needing food for that.”

I looked at my pasta. It still looked as yummy as it did when it arrived, but I just couldn’t work up the appetite.

Kazimir and I had fallen into a cold war—well, I had fallen into a cold war with him since he pulled his silly stunt at the conference.

I made it a point to ignore him when necessary. I pretty much did most of my work in Caroline’s office under the guise of needing her assistance.

He was chill at first, almost as though he didn’t notice what was happening, then he suddenly switched up.

I couldn’t tell if he was finally laying all the work on me or just being a plain asshole. I had loads of emails waiting, meetings to organize and appointments to make.

I’d convinced myself it was exactly what I wanted, to earn my place, but when a notification came this morning to secure an appointment with Svetlana, I knew he was straight-up being an asshole.