AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I thought you’d say that.” Sergei’s tone was faintly disapproving. “You shouldn’t prioritize work over your health,pchelka.”
“I know that. It’s just sometimes I forget.” Instead of taking the elevator, I opted for the fire exit, the three flights of stairs serving as my daily form of exercise.
The billionaire sighed. “You never learn,pchelka.I may have to teach you a little lesson to drive my point home.”
“Ha.” I wanted to sound dismissive, but it came out a mumble instead since I had zero experience handling such innuendos.More proof,I thought glumly,that Sergei was right.I might be older than him, but he was definitely more sophisticated.
Sighing in relief when I finally made it to the lobby, I said, “I’ll be there in fifteen.” I hesitated. “Are you really sure this is okay?”
“Yes.” The billionaire’s tone was slightly exasperated. “So stop wasting my time. I hate waiting.”
The line went dead before I could respond, and I gritted my teeth, knowing he had only done that to annoy me. For whatever reason, the billionaire got a kick out of provoking me, and he succeeded more often than not.
At exactly fifteen minutes, I made it to Grachyov Enterprises’ basement parking, and as I switched the engine off, I spied a beautiful long-legged blonde in a business suit, followed by two men in black, walking towards me.
They reached me as I stepped out of my trusty Toyota, and the woman smiled politely at me. “Ms. Spears? I’m Sergei Grachyov’s secretary, and we’ve been asked to escort you to his office.”
“Oh.” I managed a smile even as I tried to conceal my disconcertment. I was only going to his office, so why did I need this many people with me?
Sergei’s secretary led me to the basement’s elevator, her aloof demeanor making me feel even more uncomfortable. The elevator stopped at the fifteenth floor, and from here the other woman, together with the security escort, led me to what looked like a...stock room.
I blinked as the woman bent to unlock the narrow metal door, and then I blinked again as I saw what was inside.
“This leads straight to Mr. Grachyov’s office,” Sergei’s secretary told me frostily as she pressed a button.
The elevator’s doors slid open, and I stepped inside gingerly. Turning around, I started to thank the woman, but the doors had already started to close, and the last thing I saw was the look of contempt in the woman’s blazing blue eyes.
I think I just made an enemy,I thought with a gulp. Heated battles and shouting matches in the courtroom she was used to, but potential catfights with other women? It was completely unfamiliar territory and scared the hell out of me.
The elevator opened to a tiny box of a room, with dark-colored walls and a door to my right. I tried the knob and it turned easily, the door opening to a vast carpeted room.
Oh.
At the center of the room was Sergei, seated behind a magnificent glass and steel desk. He had looked up the moment I opened the door, and he stood up as our gazes met.
A devastatingly sexy smile curved on his lips, and I willed my heart not to react, even just this once.Friends,I reminded myself desperately.You’re just friends, Fredericka Spears, so why can’t your heart stop racing every time you see him?
“Come in,pchelka.”
Nodding, I stepped out of the room and turning around, I was surprised to see that the other side of the door had a sleek, metallic design, almost like the door for a high-end, state-in-the-art, commercial-sized freezer.
“Wow.” I shook my head in amazement. “It’s like Narnia meets...50 Shades?”
The billionaire smirked, drawling, “Quite the description,pchelka,coming from a proper and well-respected attorney such as yourself.”
“Umm, oops?” But what I was really more concerned about was what I was doing here. I knew vice presidents of multinational companies like Grachyov Enterprises had to be huge, but the size of his office was insane. He made my own office look like a shoebox, and even the office of my boss would still look pathetic compared to this.
“A whole apartment could fit in here,” I remarked weakly.
The billionaire only shrugged. “It is sufficient for my needs.”
“Really?” I looked at him doubtfully. “You need2,000 square feetto work?”
Sergei laughed. “I love your sense of humor,pchelka.” Taking hold of my hand, he pulled me to him, and even as I stiffened in shock, he bent down and placed a lingering kiss on my cheek, his lips landing alarmingly close to the corner of my mouth.
Oh!
Even as heat uncurled in my stomach, spreading to the rest of my limbs, I managed to push him away, mumbling incoherently in protest.
