Page 21 of Avenging Azalea

“Shit.” Locking my phone, I placed it down on the desk as my assistant walked into my office.

“Is there anything else you’d like done before I head home, sir,” Levi asked.

“No, but if you can take care of this pile tomorrow.” I pointed to the items I’d already signed.

“Of course, sir. Are you sure you’re alright?”

Giving him a weak smile, I nodded. “Yes, I will be. Just need to get through another family dinner without a war breaking out.”

“I’m sorry, sir. I wish your family was on better terms.”

“So do I, Levi. So do I.” I said, standing and locking my desk and cabinets before grabbing my coat.

“Don’t forget the flowers on my desk for your mother,” he said, stepping out of my office.

“Thank you, and have a good night.”

“Good night, sir.”

Watching Levi leave, I remembered the uproar hiring a male personal assistant caused with my father and Ronan. They were pissed that I hadn’t hired someone they could sleep with, which meant I’d made the perfect choice. Nathaniel had a few tricks up his sleeve that I loved. He was a master at the subtle ‘Fuck you’ as he bucked against the system. I envied him and his tenacity.

With my employees gone for the night, the office was quiet. I secured my door and grabbed the bouquet as I left. Glancing out the window, the sky was a bright pink and orange. It would have been a great night to take Fawn out on the boat, beautiful and calm. She loved being out on the water, and I knew she would adore her birthday gift.

Slipping my hand into my pocket, I caressed the long velvet box, picturing the necklace designed especially for her. The wings encrusted with diamonds and emeralds would look stunning on my Little Bird.

The elevator dinged as the doors opened. I stepped inside, held my security card over the scanner, and pushed the button for the underground parking. Only family members were granted access to the heavily guarded garage.

A guard pulled my car around as I stepped out.

“Sir,” Rob said as he exited the driver’s seat. “No girls this evening,” he asked, looking around.

“No, it was bath day. Hence the sports car.”

“Oh…well, I’ll have to give them their cookies next shift.” Rob smiled.

“Thanks, Rob. You might as well lock up and head home early. My father left already and won’t be back this evening.”

“Thank you, sir. Have a good night.”

“You as well.”

I got into the Lamborghini Sian, which was custom-painted in Fawn’s favorite color. The green was one of a kind and sparkled in the sun. I could clearly remember the look on her face when I first brought it home. She didn’t know it yet, but I got her a matching one for her twentieth birthday. I had planned and purchased all her gifts for the next five years, which was insane. Who was I trying to fool? She’d already made me lose my mind. I just didn’t want to admit it.

Pulling into my parent’s driveway, I noted that I was the last to arrive. Grabbing the flowers, I got out and greeted the guards as I passed. The closed dining room doors did nothing to mask the raised voices. Great, another typical Mikhailov family dinner.

It sounded like a gun went off when I purposely banged the doors against the wall.

Father, Ronan, and Nathaniel were on their feet, quiet and alert, as they stared at me in the doorway.

“Can we at least have a nice meal before we tear the house down? Just once, I would like to enjoy one of the wonderful dinners that Mother has planned without an argument,” I said calmly while fuming inside.

“I think we can manage that,” Father said as he sat down.

My brothers followed his lead as I stepped inside. I should start buying black and white striped suits since I spent most of my time acting as a referee.

“Thank you,” my mother whispered when she stood to hug me. She smiled, and I held her a little tighter.

“These are for you.” I held out the bouquet of her favorites.