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“Then why do we—” I exhale sharply and feel my head spin. It’s only when his hands come down around me that I realize I’ve fallen against him.
“I’m… I’m sorry. I…”
“You’re lightheaded,” he says. “Lie down.”
Before I can protest, he scoops me up into his arms and carries me to his bed. He nestles me into the luxuriously soft duvet. I feel like I’m being swallowed by a cloud.
“You’ve just been in a car accident,” he reminds me. “You need to take it easy.”
“I would, if you weren’t insisting on making my life hell,” I snap.
He smirks. “You remember what happened at that meeting, don’t you?”
“I didn’t hit my headthathard.”
“Good. It’s important that you do remember. Petyr Ivanov is a powerful and dangerous man. His family has been butting heads with mine for almost four decades now. And he’s not the only one who has an issue with me.”
“I’m shocked,” I tell him sarcastically. “Seeing as how you’re so friendly and likable.”
He ignores me. “The point is that I can’t just let you walk out there and live your life so long as you’re carrying my baby, Paige. The moment my enemies find out—and theywillfind out—they will come for you. Forbothof you.”
The words send a tremble through me. I gulp. “Okay. Let’s suspend disbelief for a moment and pretend that getting married is non-negotiable.”
“It is.”
I sigh. “What happens next? I mean… I have a job.”
He rolls his eyes. “You have a job as my assistant. Obviously, you can’t continue to work in that capacity after we’re married. Not for me or anyone else.”
“Which part of that is obvious?”
“The job is beneath you. At least, it will be once you’re my wife.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “You’re making it really hard for me to be reasonable, Misha.”
“Funny—I was about to say the same thing about you.”
“I’ll agree to marry you,” I blurt, the words flooding out of me before I lose my nerve. “But let’s get one thing straight: I will continue to work in any capacity I see fit.”
He considers that for a moment and sighs. “Fine.”
I’m shocked that he gave in that easily. “Really?”
“Really,” he says with a nod. “I know when to pick my battles.”
I snort in disbelief. “You don’t seem like the kind of man who concedes anything.”
Rolling his eyes, he leans against the bedpost and crosses his arms over his chest. His scent swirls in my nostrils, dark and elusive. “How are you feeling?”
“Annoyed.”
“Apart from that?’
“Tired,” I admit. “I never really asked what happened. Was it a hit-and-run?”
“It was a blatant act of retaliation.” His eyes do that thing where they flash, even though the light hasn’t changed. It makes me shiver. I’m glad that flash isn’t directed at me.
I frown. “You mean…?”
